Constructions
The Jethavana stupa was built by Mahasen in the land belonging to Mahavihara. This is the highest stupa in Sri Lanka, and is among the tallest in the world. It is also the largest brick building ever built.
The Mahavamsa, the ancient chronicle of Sri Lanka, states that Mahasen constructed sixteen large tanks and two irrigation canals. The largest among these is the Minneriya tank, which covers an area of 4,670 acres (18.9 km2). The tank has a circumference of 21 miles (34 km), and its 44-foot (13 m) high bund is 1.25 miles (2.01 km) long. The Minneriya tank provides water for a large area, and its water supply is maintained by the Elahara canal. Henry Ward, a governor of Sri Lanka when it was a British crown colony, had stated;
No wisdom and no power in the ruler can have forced such efforts even upon the most passive oriental nations, without general persuasion that the work was one of paramount necessity and that all would participate in its benefits
The sixteen tanks given in the Mahavamsa as built by Mahasen are as follows. Some of these tanks have been identified, and the present names of the ones that have been identified are given in brackets.
- Manihira (Minneriya)
- Mahagama
- Challura
- Khanu
- Mahamani
- Kokavata
- Dhammarama
- Kumbalaka
- Vahana
- Ratmalakandaka (Padawiya)
- Tissavadamanaka (Kawudulla)
- Velangavitthi
- Mahagallaka
- Cira
- Mahadaragallaka (Nachchaduwa)
- Kalapasana
In addition to these, Mahasen also built the canal Pabbathantha ela, and also completed the canal Elahara ela, which was started by King Vasabha.
Read more about this topic: Mahasena Of Anuradhapura