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Cosmic Portals on Earth: An exploration of the cosmography of ancient Stupa architecture of Sri Lanka, with special reference to Mahathupa

Part 2 Dissertation 2025
Chamin Kalubowila
City School of Architecture | Sri Lanka
Ancient monuments, derived from the depths of early knowledge systems, stand as profound examples where metaphysical ideals are seamlessly merged with technological ingenuity. Today, we attempt to understand these creations through the lens of contemporary knowledge, seeking to comprehend the unknown through what is currently known. This study proposes an interdisciplinary framework that bridges evidence-based analysis with interpretative inquiry, aiming to merge past and present understandings. In doing so, it seeks to reposition the broader understanding of such sacred monuments within the conceptual landscapes from which they originally emerged.

Focusing on the Mahathupa in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, the research explores the monument’s complex cosmography, an expansive and layered subject shaped by ancient knowledge that demands investigation from multiple understandings.

Through the analysis of four key architectural narratives central to its cosmic representation - archaeology, anatomy, religion, and technology, the study reveals how the Mahathupa synthesizes cultural belief, architectural form, spiritual symbolism, and technological insight into a unified cosmological expression.


Tutor(s)
Rashika Abeywardhana
Samanthika Piyasena
Chiranthi Warusawitharana
2025
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