Dakkhina_Stupa
Dakkhina Stupa (Sinhala: දක්ඛිණ ස්තුපය, lit. 'Dakkhiṇa Stupaya', Tamil: தக்கின தூபி, lit. 'Dakkhiṇa Thupa') is a 2nd-century BC large brick Stupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Earlier thought to be a monument of King Elara,[1] it was later identified as the Stupa of ancient Dakini (Dakkhina) Vihara by Senarath Paranavithana with the help of a Brahmi inscription of the 3rd century A.D. unearthed from the ground between the southern and western Vahalkadas of the Stupa.[2][3]
This structure was for centuries locally known as the tomb stone of king Ellalan, known as Elara Sohona, which was worshipped by Tamils and Sinhalese.[4][5] However, after this monument was identified as the Dakkhina Stupa, Paranavitana pointed out that this site could mark the cremation ground of King Dutugamunu (161 BC – 137 BC).[6][7] Although, some did not agree with this identification[8] some are in the opinion that this Stupa may have been built over the cremation site of King Dutugemunu.[9]