Image title: Bodhighara (overview)

English text:

Bodhighara means a house built around the Bodhi Tree. The Bodhighara belonging to the Sandagiriya Monastic Complex had been built around the 8th Century AD. The tradition of building Bodhigharas in Sri Lanka had its beginning arround the 1st Century AD. The Inscriptions of this period use the word 'Pariki Boya meaning Bodhi Parigraha' indicating Bodhighara. The brick built square in the middle of the edifice indicates the location of the Bodhi Tree.

The Bodhi Tree would be denoted in Sanskrit as Bodhivṛkṣa (बोधिवृक्ष, bodhi-vriksha).

For more details, see previous photo.

Gallery information:

These photos were taken at the Sandagiri Stupa which forms part of an ancient Buddhist Monastic complex in Tissamaharama (Southern Sri Lanka). It is believed that the Sandagiri Stupa was built in the 3rd century BCE by king Mahanaga. The archaeological site includes various other structures such as the Uposatha-Ghara, Bodhi-Ghara, and Jantha-Ghara. The Stupa also finds mention in the Mahamvasa chronicles.