Mihintale
According to Dipavamsa and Mahavamsa, Thera Mahinda came to Sri Lanka from India on the full moon day of the month of Poson (June) and met King Devanampiyatissa and preached the Buddhist doctrine.
Meeting this peaceful young monk was a turning point in his life, thereafter, he renounced war.
In his quest to spread the message of peace instead of war, Ashoka sent his son Mahinda, to the island of Lanka, which was also known as “Sinhalé”.
Thus, “Mahinda” was the Indian name, which in Sinhalé, became “Mihindu.” In Sinhala Mihin-Thalé literally means the “plateau of Mihindu”.
After the 10th century, no inscriptions have been found in Mihinthale, possibly due to the migration of the kingdom from Anuradhapura to Polonnaruwa.
All the Vaahalkadas are decorated with sculptures of dwarfs, animals, humans, divine figures and floral motifs.
The four vahaalkadas facing the four cardinal points have different animals on the top of the square pillars - the elephant on the east, the lion on the north, the horse on the west and the bull on the south.
Most Indian and Sri Lankan archaeologists believe that there is a symbolic relationship between these animals and the four cardinal directions.
However, in a moonstone of Sri Lanka and the Lion Capital of Saranath, we find these four animals sculptured in the moving position.
Thus, one could come to the conclusion that the four animals lion, horse, elephant and bull symbolize Lord Buddha who is associated with the Four Noble Truths.
Since a part of a pipeline has been discovered here, it can be concluded that a systematic and well-planned pipe-borne scheme was provided.
The rules and regulations pertaining to the administrative purposes of the monastery are engraved on these 2 stone slabs.
This inscription installed by King Mihindu (956 - 976 AD) contains records of payments made to the service staff.
This large stupa known as the Maha Seya is on the summit of the Mihintale hill, built by King Mahadathika Mahanaga (7-19 AD) the base of which is 136 ft (41 m) in diameter.
Even during very windy weather pilgrims do not fail to visit this rock, which has iron railings to help them to climb.
In ancient books such as the Mahavamsa it is written that Mahinda came to Sri Lanka by travelling through the air.
It is believed that on new moon day Kalu Buddha Rakkhita Thera sat under the Thimbiriya tree, close to the Kaludiya Pokuna, and preached a sermon based on the Kalakarama Sutta.
Its name is derived from the figures of snakes with their hoods spread out in the background; it is one of the most famous ponds at the site.
Mahavansa mentions a pond named Nagacatuska connected with the information regarding the arrival of Thera Mahinda in Sri Lanka.
Also the chronicle records much later that king Aggabodhi I (575-608 AD) built a pond named Nagasondi.
[3] To the side of the Ambasthala Dagoba is a flight of rock-carved steps leading to a large white Buddha statue.
