How Jetawanarama Dagoba confused with the Abhayagiriya Dagoba . This confusion has resulted due to both dagobas being similar in size and appearance.

The Abhayagiriya Dagoba, among the largest dagobas in SriLanka ,is located in Anuradhapura. It is commonly believed that the dagoba was constructed by King Valagambahu in 103AD, although there is no archaeological proof to this effect. Some believe it to have been created by King Gajaba I.

Legend says that the dagoba was built on a spot where a hermitage had once stood. Valagambahu, who had just ascended the throne, had to face an Indian invasion and was fleeing the city in his chariot.A jain monk named Giri who was at the hermitage had seen the fleeing King and had taunted him. Fourteen years later, King Valagambahu reclaimed the throne after defeating his enemies; he had Giri executed and the hermitage razed to the where the Abhayagiri Dagoba and 12 pirivena builings were constructed.

The completed building was presented by the King to Kupikkala Mahatissa Maha Thera, who had helped him during the hard days.
This was the first instance when such an edifice was bestowed on an individual and not on a community of monks, as was the custom those days.
The dagoba was the centerpiece of amonastery where over 5,000 monks resided According to the Dipavansa, King valagambahu constructed the Abhayagiri monastery and the sil
athupa enclosed in its dagoba. The Chinese monk Fa Hisen who visited SriLanka during the fifth century, had been told by monk of the Abhayagiri Vihara that the dagoba had been constructed over a foot print of the Buddha.

According to Fa Hsien, the dagoba was 400 feet in height. It had been renovated by many kings over the years.

The four doorways in the dagobaâ??s courtyard had been constructed by King Kanishtatissa while they had been renovated by King Voharikatissa.

The dagoba was destroyed in the 10th century due to a Chola invasion. It was later rebuilt by Parkramabahu the Great to reach a height of 280 feet.

A 35 feet section of the pinnacle had later been destroyed and the dagoba now stands at 245 feet. The courtyard on which the dagoba stands is 587 feet on one side. The stones lining the courtyard are said to have been donated by pilgrims. King Sena 111 had worked tirelessly to line the courtyard.

There are four ponds out side the wall lining the dagoba.

There had been designed to collect the rain water which flew from the dagoba grounds.

Near the western stairway to the dagoba, an image of an elephant pulling a tree can be seen.

A large slab with a foot print believed to be of the Buddha is seen on the northern side of the dagoba while unusual moon â??stones can be found on the eastern and western steps.

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