Solosmasthana
16 sacred sites hallowed by Buddha's visits in Sri Lanka.
Solosmasthana refers to sixteen sacred sites in Sri Lanka that Buddhists revere as places where Gautama Buddha once set foot. Scattered across the island, these worship sites rank among the country’s most significant religious landmarks.
According to ancient Buddhist and historical records, the Buddha visited Sri Lanka three times. The Mahavamsa chronicle details these journeys and names eleven of the Solosmasthana. Other texts, including the Pujavaliya, Samantapasadika, and Butsarana, also describe the visits.
The Buddha’s first trip occurred in the ninth month after his enlightenment, to Mahiyangana. There, the Mahavamsa states, he subdued the yakshas and relocated them to an island called Giri, preparing the ground for Buddhism to later flourish in Sri Lanka—a land where he foresaw the Dhamma would shine “in all its glory.” His second visit, in the fifth year after enlightenment, brought him to Nagadipa to resolve a conflict between two Naga kings, Chulodara and Mahodara, over a jeweled throne. The third and final journey, in the eighth year after enlightenment, included five hundred bhikkhus and was prompted by an invitation from the Naga king Maniakkika, who had asked the Buddha to his realm during the previous visit. After teaching at Maniakkika’s dwelling, the Mahavamsa records that the Buddha went on to Samantakuta, Diva Guhava, Dighavapi, and the sites where the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya, and Sela Cetiya now stand. The Samantapasadika adds that Muthiyangana was also visited during this trip. Some of the remaining sites may have been included in the Solosmasthana because later Buddhist kings built monumental stupas there.
As the ancient kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa declined, most of these sixteen places fell into neglect. Only in the twentieth century did the Sangha and Sri Lankan Buddhists turn their attention to all of them, undertaking renovations. A Pali gatha that praises the Solosmasthana and lists each site is still recited by Buddhists, especially when making offerings to the Buddha.
- Field
- Buddhist pilgrimage sites
- Country
- Sri Lanka
- Number of sites
- 16
- Associated figure
- Gautama Buddha
- Primary source
- Mahavamsa
Lore & Background
Ancient Buddhist and historical sources of Sri Lanka assert that the Buddha visited the country on three occasions. These three visits are given in some detail in the ancient chronicle Mahavamsa, which describes his journeys to eleven of the Solosmasthana. Other sources such as the Pujavaliya, Samantapasadika and Butsarana also mention these visits. The first visit was made to Mahiyangana in the ninth month after the Buddha attained enlightenment. The Mahavamsa says that he conquered the yakshas there and sent them to an island named Giri, thereby setting the background for the establishment of Buddhism in the country later on, where the Buddha knew that the Dhamma would prevail 'in all its glory'.
Reader's Guide
The Solosmasthana represent the most significant Buddhist pilgrimage circuit in Sri Lanka, rooted in the tradition that Gautama Buddha visited the island three times. The second visit was to Nagadipa in the fifth year after enlightenment, where he settled a dispute between Naga kings Chulodara and Mahodara regarding a jeweled chair. In the eighth year after enlightenment, the Buddha made his third and final visit accompanied by 500 bhikkhus, going first to Kelaniya at the invitation of Naga king Maniakkika. After a discourse there, the Mahavamsa records that the Buddha visited Samantakuta, Diva Guhava, Dighavapi, and the places where the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, Ruwanwelisaya, Thuparamaya and Sela Cetiya now stand. With the decline of the ancient kingdoms of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, most of the Solosmasthana were abandoned. It was not until the 20th century that all of them received the attention of the Sangha and Buddhists in the country and were renovated. A Pali gatha, praising the Solosmasthana, is in use among Buddhists, listing all of the sites and recited especially when making offerings to the Buddha.
Did You Know?
- The Buddha's first visit to Sri Lanka was to Mahiyangana in the ninth month after his enlightenment.
- The second visit was to Nagadipa in the fifth year after enlightenment, to settle a dispute between Naga kings over a jeweled throne.
- The third visit, in the eighth year after enlightenment, included 500 bhikkhus and was at the invitation of Naga king Maniakkika.
- Only eleven of the sixteen Solosmasthana are described in the Mahavamsa.
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