Rajagala Archaeological Site

Rajagala (lit: The monarch rock) or Rassahela is an ancient Buddhist monastery complex situated in Uhana Divisional Secretary's Division in Ampara District, Sri Lanka. The site can be reached by traveling about 1.5 km distance from the Bakkiella junction which is on the Ampara - Mahaoya main road located about 26 km far from the Ampara town. The ruins of the ancient monastery have extended in an area about 1025 acres in the Rajagalakanda Mountain.

Name

Rajagala and Rassahela, the present names of the monastery are believed to be come in to the parlance recently. During the past period, a number of names had been used to identify this location. Girikumbila Viharaya, Kumbheelathispaw Viharaya, Ariyakara Viharaya, Ariyakoti Viharaya, Ariththara Vehera are some of such names mentioned in several chronicles and inscriptions. These names were using in the Anuradhapura era (377 B.C.–1017 A.D.) but may have been forgotten from the memories with the time.

Rajagala rock inscriptions Period        : 8-10 centuries A.D. Transcript : Svasti Senhu vajanin  A(ritta)ra vehera vasi vat-himiyanat satarpasa vayutu karana kot.....>> Translation : Hail! By  the  order  of Sen.  In order to provide the four requisites for their lordships residing in the Arittara monastery ......>> Notes       : This  inscription  (right)  records about  a  grant  by  a  local  ruler of  Rohana, to the  monastery called Arittara Vehera. Citation : Paranavitana, 1934

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Beside the ancient capitals of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa, Rajagala is considered as the place which has the highest number of archaeological monuments and ruins concentrated. It is also the only place where an inscription confirms about the enshrinement of the relics of Arhant Mahinda Thera, the Buddhist monk who brought the Buddhism to Sri Lanka during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa (307 - 267 B.C.). 

All the structures and buildings found in Rajagala are belonged to the Anuradhapura era. Ruins ranging from the 2 century B.C. to the 10 century A.D. have been identified (De Silva, 1990). As today, more than 700 monuments have been discovered from the site. 

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History

According to the information reveal by the chronicles and inscriptions in-situ, Rajagala was founded by Prince Lanjatissa (reigned 119-109 B.C.) , the eldest son of King Saddhatissa (137- 119 B.C.). The great chronicle Mahawamsa and Deepawamsa describe that Prince Lanjatissa built the Girikumbila Viharaya when he was in Digamadulla region during the reign of his farther. Mahawamsa further gives detail about the inauguration ceremony of the Girikumbhila Viharaya. It states that king donated robes (thunsivuru) for a sixty thousands of Buddhist monks who attended to the ceremony. Several inscriptions which have been found in the site record about further donations made to the monastery by Lanjatissa and his wives such as Buddhadatta, Shamika, Yahasini etc. (Nicholas, 1963; Sirisoma, 1990). 

• Rajagala cave inscription of Buddhadatta
  
  
  Period  : 2nd - 1st centuries B.C.
  Script   : Early Brahmi
  Language   : Old Sinhalese
  Transcript  : Devanapiya maharajhasa Gamini Tisaha Puta Maha[yasajhaya upasi]ka Butadataya lene aga[ta ana]ga[ta catu] di[sa] sagasa
  Translation : The cave of the female lay devotee Buddhadatta, wife of Mahaya, son of the great king Gamani Tissa, the friend of the Gods, [is given] to the Sangha of the four quarters, present and absent.
  

  Notes : Lanjatissa is denoted by Maha aya
  Reference : The information board at the site by the Department of Archaeology and the Ministry of National Heritage.

• Rajagala cave inscription of Shamika
  
  
  Period : 2nd - 1st centuries B.C.
  Script  : Early Brahmi
  Language   : Old Sinhalese
  Transcript  : Devanapiya maharajhaha Gamini Tisaha Putaha Tisa ayaha jhaya upasika Samikaya lene
  Translation : The cave of the female lay devotee Samika, wife of prince Tissa, son of the great king Gamani Tissa, the friend of the Gods.
  

  Notes : Lanjatissa is denoted by Prince Tissa 
  Reference : The information board at the site by the Department of Archaeology and the Ministry of National Heritage.

After founded by Prince Lanjatissa, Girikumbila Viharaya received the royal patronage of kings of Anuradhapura, especially from the viceroys of Ruhuna territory. Local elites and general people also had involved in the development of the temple.

After its beginning, there is no any reference in Mahawamsa regarding the temple until seven centuries. However the information available in other literary resources as well as in the inscriptions in-situ and nearby areas are important in bridging this gap. Literature sources such as Seehalavattupakaranaya, Rasavahini, Attakatha and Saddharmalankaraya contain several stories related with Girikumbila Viharaya. The tale of Mahadatta Thera, Ariyakara Vihara Vasthu and the story of Dhamma (in Rasavahini) give some information connected with the monastery. 

About one hundred of inscriptions have been discovered so far in Rajagala. Among them, the rock inscription regarding the Arhant Mahinda Thera [(also called Mahendra (Sanskrit) or Mihindu] is historically important and considered as the most valued inscription of archaeological interest found in the monastery. It mentions about Mahinda and Itthiya, names of the two of seven missionaries who brought the Buddhism to Sri Lanka as described in the ancient chronicles.

 

Rajagala rock inscription of Saint Mahinda Period        : Circa 200 B.C. Script         : Early Brahmi Language  : Old Sinhalese Transcript  :Ye ima dipa paṭamaya idiya agatana Iḍika-[tera-Ma] hida-teraha tube Translation : This is the Stupa of elder Ittiya and the  elder Mahinda,  who came  to this island by its foremost good fortune. Citation : Paranavitana, 1962

This inscription marks the spot where the Stupa  (Mihindu Seya) was erected over a portion of the relics of Arhant Mahinda Thera. Senarath Paranavithana who edit this inscription presume that the Stupa located adjacent to this inscription (right picture) may have been built soon after the demise of the Arhant Mahinda. The Mahawamsa says that after the cremation of Arhant Mahinda, the relics were enshrined in Stupas throughout the country. The aforesaid inscription confirms this fact given in the Mahavamsa. 

References

1) De Silva, R., 1990. Painting (Early period 247 B.C. to 800 A.D.). Nandadeva W. (Editor in chief), Archaeological Department Centenary (1890-1990): Commemorative series (Vol. V). Painting. p. 31.
2) Nicholas, C.W., 1963. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol. VI). Special Number: Colombo. Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch), p.27.

3) Paranavitana,  S., 1934. Three rock inscriptions at Rassahela. Epigraphia Zeylanica: Being  lithic  and  other  inscriptions  of  Ceylon (Vol. IV).  Archaeological Survey of Ceylon. pp.169-176.

4) Paranavitana, S., 1962. An inscription of circa 200 B.C. at Rajagala commemorating saint Mahinda. University of Ceylon review by Ceylon University Press. pp.159–162.
5) Sirisoma, M. H., 1990. Brahmi inscriptions of Sri Lanka from 3rd century B.C. to 65 A.D. Nandadeva W. (Editor in chief), Archaeological Department Centenary (1890-1990): Commemorative series (Vol. II). Inscriptions. p. 23.

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This page was last updated on 9 October 2019