Unāwatuna Viharaya (Sinhala: උනාවැටුන විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple in Monaragala District, Sri Lanka. The temple is situated in Unãwatuna village belonging to the Buttala Divisional Secretary's Division.
Etymology
The name Unāwatuna is said to be evolved from Unāvæṭuna. In the Sinhala language, the word Una (උනා) means loosed while væṭuna (වැටුන) means fallen. This etymology is explained through a few folk stories among the locals. According to one story, there was a period when King Dutugemunu (161-137 B.C.) had a battle with his brother, Prince Saddha Tissa. When he was on his way to Yudaganawa to battle with Saddha Tissa, a casket he was bringing to the field became loose and fell onto the ground where it is thought to be the present temple premises. According to the folklore, the king didn't take the casket back but made a small Stupa covering it.
A protected site
The ancient Dagoba, places with ruins of buildings and ancient wall at the premises of Unawatuna Raja Maha Vihara belonging to Unawatuna village in the Divisional Secretary’s Division of Buttala are protected archaeological monuments declared by a Gazette notification, published on 9 March 2016.
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References
1) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka: Extraordinary, no: 1957/18. 9 March 2016. p.3A.
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This page was last updated on 14 October 2023
