Question 1

Who was King Devanampiya Tissa of Sri Lanka?

Accepted Answer

Devanampiya Tissa was the third king of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, ruling approximately from 250 to 210 BCE. He is best remembered for welcoming Buddhism to Sri Lanka after the monk Mahinda arrived at Mihintale during the king's reign. His patronage transformed Anuradhapura into a major centre of Theravada Buddhist civilisation.

Question 2

When did Buddhism arrive in Sri Lanka under Devanampiya Tissa?

Accepted Answer

Buddhism is traditionally held to have arrived in Sri Lanka around 247 BCE, when the monk Mahinda — associated with the Indian emperor Ashoka — encountered Devanampiya Tissa on Mihintale hill near Anuradhapura. The king converted shortly after and immediately began building monasteries and stupas to support the new religion.

Question 3

What is the Sri Maha Bodhi and how is it connected to Devanampiya Tissa?

Accepted Answer

The Sri Maha Bodhi is a sacred fig tree in Anuradhapura, grown from a cutting of the original Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, India, under which the Buddha attained enlightenment. Mahinda's sister Sanghamitta brought the sapling to Sri Lanka during Tissa's reign, and the king planted it in the Mahamegha Garden. The tree has been continuously tended for over 2,200 years.

Question 4

What did Devanampiya Tissa build in Anuradhapura?

Accepted Answer

The king is credited with founding the Thuparamaya Dagoba — considered Sri Lanka's first stupa — to house a collarbone relic of the Buddha, as well as the Mahavihara Monastery, Isurumuniya Vihara, and the Cetiyapabbata Monastery on Mihintale. These structures formed the nucleus of Anuradhapura's sacred city, most of which is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Question 5

What is the Poson Poya festival and why does it relate to this king?

Accepted Answer

Poson Poya is a full-moon public holiday in Sri Lanka, observed each June, that commemorates the introduction of Buddhism to the island during the reign of Devanampiya Tissa. The largest celebrations take place at Mihintale, where pilgrims climb the ancient steps to the summit that marks the site of Mahinda's first sermon to the king.

Question 6

Where is Mihintale and how do I visit it?

Accepted Answer

Mihintale is a granite hill located approximately 12 kilometres east of Anuradhapura in the North Central Province. It is easily reached by road from Anuradhapura town. Visitors typically allow two to three hours to climb the stone steps, explore the summit shrines, and view the ancient refectory and hospital ruins on the hillside.

Question 7

What was the relationship between Devanampiya Tissa and Emperor Ashoka?

Accepted Answer

The two rulers maintained a close diplomatic friendship. According to the Mahavamsa, they exchanged letters and gifts, and Ashoka sent his own son Mahinda as a Buddhist missionary to Tissa's court. The alliance gave Tissa's Buddhist project both religious authority and institutional support from one of the most powerful empires in the ancient world.

Question 8

Is Anuradhapura worth visiting to understand Devanampiya Tissa's era?

Accepted Answer

Anuradhapura is the single most direct way to experience the legacy of Devanampiya Tissa. The Sri Maha Bodhi, the Thuparamaya Dagoba, and the Isurumuniya Vihara all date from his reign or shortly after, and the sacred precinct as a whole reflects the Buddhist city he helped to create. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage property and can be explored in a full day.

King Devanampiya Tissa

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