Famous Temples in India

Architecture

The site has possibly been christened as “Sahet” derived from the expression “shresthi math” which means “monastery built by a rich person”. A gated complex houses excavations that started in 1863 and now is on the list of two erstwhile monasteries. There are 3 temples here out of one temple is a monastery which has a shrine and mandap in the centre, the second one is Gandhakuti (fragrant chamber) and is one of the most important sites as Lord Buddha’s quarters were located here and the third one is built on the site of Kosambakuti it is also said to be the chamber used by Lord Buddha. There is also a sacred Anandabodhi tree which is believed to have been planted from the Bodhgaya tree, where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Some of the chief buildings attached to the Jetavana were, Mahagandhakuti, Kaverimandalamala, Kosambakuti, and Candanamala. Other buildings like the Ambalakotthaka-Asanasala are also mentioned. According to Tibetan sources the Jetavana Monastery Shravasti was built according to a plan sent by the Devas of Tusita and contained sixty large halls and sixty small halls. The grounds of the monastery were thickly covered with trees, and on the outskirts of the monastery was a mango-grove. In front of the gateway was the Bodhi-tree planted by Anathapindika, from a sapling of the Mahabodhi Tree.

King Asoka visited Sravasti in 249 B.C. as part of his pilgrimage to the holy Buddhist shrines and erected two pillars, each 70 feet high, on both sides of the eastern gate of Jetavana, as well as some stupas to enshrine the relics of the Buddha. During the time of the Kusana kings, Kaniska and Huviska, in the 1st-2nd century A.D., new shrines were installed to enshrine Buddha images which were becoming popular at the time.

The Gandhakuti- Buddha's dwelling in Jetavana - The space covered by the four bedposts of the Buddha's Gandhakuti in Jetavana is one of the four avijahitatthanani. For Vipassi Buddha, the setthi Punabbasumitta built a monastery extends for a whole league, while for Sikhi, the setthi Sirivaddha made one covering three gavutas. The Sangharama built by Sotthiya for Vessabhu measured half a league in extent, while that erected by Accuta for Kakusandha covered only one gavuta. Konagamana's monastery extended for half a gavuta, while Kassapa's covered sixteen karisas. Anathapindika's monastery covered a space of 18 karisas. Lamps burnt from dusk to dawn. One day a rat, holding in its mouth a lamp wick, set fire to the banners and canopies, destroying entirely the seven sections or stories. The vihara was later rebuilt in two sections. Two main entrances, one on the east, one on the west, were built. Fa Hsien found thupas erected at the places connected with the Buddha, each with its name inscribed.

Buddhist Railing at the Jetavana monastery - Buddhist railing, a rectangular structure with four entrances, one in the center of each side is located behind the modern Jetavanana museum. The rows of columns within enclosure had once held the superstructure.

Monks’ Living Units (Pancavasa) at the Jetavana monastery - Monks’ Living Units or Pancavasa are located south-west of the Jetavanana stupa. The layout is set up in five-in-dice form. The larger building in the center is surrounded four smaller buildings at the four corners. While the senior monk would have lived in the building at the center, other monks would have lived in the other four buildings at the corner. All the five buildings consist of elegant flight of steps adorned with moonstones, guardstones, and balustrades.

Image House (Patimaghara) at the Jetavana monastery - Image House (Patimaghara), the largest image house found in Anurdhapura, is located to the west of stupa. It is vaulted image house known as gedige. The eight meter high monolithic door side-posts make way for the twenty-five chamber stone reliquary (yantragala) and the lotus pedestal of the Buddha image. The continuation of this vaulted type image houses are found at Polonnaruwa: Thuparama, Lankatilaka and Tivanka image house.

Refectory or Danasala at the Jetavana monastery - The Refectory is located south-east of the stupa. The Refectory herein is mall that that of Abhayagiri monastery. The stone-paved central courtyard house a large canoe-like trough cut in stone that served rice and a smaller trough that would have served gruel. Judging by the enormity of the rice boat, it could be safely concluded, that the refectory would have been capable of serving 3000 monks at a time. 

Chapter House (Uposathagara) at the Jetavana monastery - Chapter House is located south-east of Jetavana Stupa. Hapter house was where the monks performed religious rites, meditated and held discussions on religious texts. The primary task of the Chapter House was to function as an assembly hall so that the monks who breached the code of conduct were allowed to confess enabling the head monks to guide the errant. The massive columns cut in stone testify to the multi-storeyed impressive structure that had existed in its glorious days.