Gautam Buddha Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya, Kelyaniya, Sri Lanka

Gautam Buddha was in Samadhi at this place. According to the Mahavamsa, on his third and final visit of the Buddha eight years after his awakening, on Wesak Poya Day the Buddha turned the Dharma wheel at this location.

The original stupa at Kelaniya enshrined a gem-studded throne which had been the object of dispute between two Naga Kings, Chulodara and Mahodara. After hearing the Buddha teach, the Naga kings paid homage to the Buddha with overwhelming faith. The Naga King Maniakkika, the then ruler of Kelaniya, was also present at Budhdha’s Dharma sermons and pleaded for a support to worship. So the Buddha bestowed the jeweled throne as a suitable offering support.

In the afternoon, the Buddha moved toward the interior of the island and once again entered meditation on the Brahmaviharas, or the Four Immeasurables. In the evening, he addressed the nagas saying,

Here we see an instance of the Buddha himself designating a specific focus of devotion, objects, or places marked by his presence. These sacred reminders are classified in later Theravada Buddhist texts as one of three types of relics, known as paribhoga, or relics of use or enjoyment. Often these include locations that are so designated because the Buddha remained in samadhi there, “using” the location and thereby imprinting it with his blessings.

King Maniakkika constructed a stupa to enshrine the gem-studded throne in Kelyaniya for the benefit of thousands of devotees to worship. He also again entreated the Budhdha to visit the holy site. According to the Mahavamsa, on his third and final visit of the Buddha eight years after his awakening, on Wesak Poya Day the Buddha turned the Dharma wheel at this location.

According to the text, “The sins of a life time are all rendered null, Once Kelaniya is worshiped a single time.”