Abhayagiri vihāra

The Abhayagiri Temple is a facility in Anuradhapura in present-day Sri Lanka (Ceylon) and was founded by King Vattagamani Abhaya, according to tradition, in gratitude for the support in a serious political crisis by the monk Mahatissa, in the early 1st century AD founded. Mahatissa was a representative of Mahayana Buddhism, in this cult of the religious worship of statues and a sprawling cult of relics had gained considerably in importance. Therefore Mahatissa was of the monastic order of the Maha Vihatissa - have been violated - to which he originally belonged. The temple enjoyed royal protection and thus became the center of attraction for supporters of Mahatissa. An Indian monk named Dhammarucci was appointed abbot of the new monastery, which quickly had over 500 monks in the first few years and was peopled in its heyday in the 3rd century after Christ's birth with up to 5000 monks, preferably with scientific studies, art and philosophy employed. The monastery existed until the last days of the town of Anuradhapura. Even under King Gajabahu ( 114-136 ) erected the stupa of the temple, which reached the enormous height of 84 meters. In the 5th century, the Chinese monk Faxian visited the facility and described a standing Buddha statue of jade with six meters height.