Katu Seya

Katu Seya (Sinhala: මිහින්තලය කටුසෑය) is an old Stupa located in the premises of Mihintale Monastery in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka.

History

It is believed that the smithy implements and the tools used in the construction work of the Mihintale complex have been enshrined in this Stupa. According to the remaining architectural features, it has been found that this was a Stupa-centered monastic complex that belonged to the Mahayana tradition of the Anuradhapura Period.

During the excavations carried out in the early 19th century, several copper plates containing the inscriptions of Mahayana Sutra verses in Sanskrit and Sinhalese were found at the site. Those inscriptions are believed to be written during the 8th-9th centuries A.D.

Attribution

1) Katu seya Mihintalaya by L Manju is licensed under CC BY SA 4.0

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This page was last updated on 14 January 2023

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Keerimalai Pond

Keerimalai Pond (Sinhala: කීරිමලේ පොකුණ; Tamil: கீரிமலை நீரூற்று), also known as Mongoose-hill Pond or Mugati Kanda Pokuna, is a bathing pond located in close proximity to the Keerimalai beach in Jaffna District, Sri Lanka. The ancient Naguleswaram Temple is also located near this pond.

Pond

Many freshwater springs are found mainly along the coast of the Jaffna peninsula and Keerimalai is one such freshwater spring. According to the Hindu beliefs which are usually based on their traditional mystic emotions and religious literary works, the freshwater spring at Keeramalai is a holy place endowed with miraculous powers. It is believed by Hindus that bathing in the freshwater of this spring can cure various skin infections and induce childless women to achieve pregnancy (Dias et al., 2016; Wijebandara, 2014).

There is another belief that the springs of Keerimalai have an underground connection with the Bottomless Well at Nilavarai, a freshwater well located about 11 km away from the Keerimalai pond (Raghavan, 1971).

Legends

According to a legend, the face of a priest called Yamadakkini Muni became a Mongoose face as a result of a curse chanted by God Siva (Wijebandara, 2014). To cure the deformed face, the priest came to Sri Lanka and bathed in this pond. It is said that after getting the bath and doing the rituals at the Siva temple, he got his human face again (Wijebandara, 2014).

In the 7th century A.D., a Chola princess named Mathurapuraveeravalli (or Marutappiravikavalli), the daughter of Tisai Yukkira Colam, the King of Madurai was endowed with a horse face (Ananthanathan, 1993; David, 2011). After hearing about the healing properties of the spring at Keerimalai in the Jaffna peninsula, she came to Sri Lanka and bathed in the freshwater spring. After bathing in the Keeramalai spring, Mathurapuraveeravalli's face became human and beautiful (David, 2011).

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Attribution

1) Keerimalai Pond, Jaffna by AntanO is licensed under CC BY SA 3.0

References

1) Ananthanathan, A.K., 1993. Temple, religion and society. East and West, 43(1/4), pp.155-168.
2) David, K. ed., 2011. The new wind: Changing identities in South Asia. Walter de Gruyter. p.185.
3) Dias, M.; Koralage, S.B.; Asanga, K., 2016. The archaeological heritage of Jaffna peninsula. Department of Archaeology. Colombo. pp.50, 203.
4) Raghavan, M.D., 1971. Tamil culture in Ceylon. Kalai Nilayam. p.40.
5) Wijebandara, I.D.M., 2014. Yapanaye Aithihasika Urumaya (In Sinhala). Published by the editor. ISBN-978-955-9159-95-7. pp.129-130.

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Sangilian Thoppu

Sangilian Thoppu/Sangiliyan Thoppu (also called Sangilian Facade, Cankilian Thoppu or Poothathamby Walaivu) is an old arch found in Nallur in Jaffna District, Sri Lanka. The arch is located on the Jaffna-Point Pedro road, about 950 m distance from Nallur Kandasamy Temple.

History

Mainly there are two opinions regarding the origin of this monument. As this monument is named after King Sangili/Sangilian (1619 A.D.), some believe that this arch could be a part of his palace (Dias et al., 2016). King Sangili is considered as the last king of the Jaffna Kingdom.

According to the other opinion suggested by some authors such as Dr. Kunarasa, this arch was a part of the headquarter of Poothathamby Mudaliyar, a Tamil administrator who lived during the Dutch period (Dias et al., 2016; Wijebandara, 2014). The arch is also known as Poothathamby Walaivu (arch) by the locals (Dias et al., 2016; Wijebandara, 2014).

Facade

The monument is in well preserved state. It has been made of brick and plastered with lime mortar (Dias et al., 2016). Presently a shelter has been erected over the facade.

A protected monument

The entrance of Sangili Thoppu Palace belonging to the village of Nallur in the Grama Niladhari Division of Sangiliyan Thoppu bearing No. J-109 in the Divisional Secretariat Division, Nallur is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government Gazette notification published on 23 February 2007. 

Attribution

1) Cankili Thoppu by AntanO is licensed under CC BY SA 4.0

References

1) Dias, M.; Koralage, S.B.; Asanga, K., 2016. The archaeological heritage of Jaffna peninsula. Department of Archaeology. Colombo. p.208.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1486. 23 February 2007. p.129.
3) Wijebandara, I.D.M., 2014. Yapanaye Aithihasika Urumaya (In Sinhala). Published by the editor. ISBN-978-955-9159-95-7. pp.112-114.

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This page was last updated on 10 January 2020
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Sri Saddharmagupta Piriven Viharaya, Dombawala

Sri Saddharmagupta Piriven Viharaya is a Buddhist temple located in the village of Dombawala in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. The temple can be reached by traveling along the Udugampola-Divulapitiya road about 700 m distance from the Udugampola roundabout. 

The old library building of this temple is considered important and was conserved in 2010, by the Archaeological Department. It holds a large number of valuable Ola-leaf manuscripts and about 175 of them were indexed by the Archaeological Department during the period of 2014-2015. 

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Nachchaduwa Wewa

Nachchaduwa Wewa (Sinhala: නාච්චාදූව වැව) is a reservoir situated in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka, and is owned by the Department of Irrigation. The reservoir is considered as one of the earliest irrigation works in the country. 

History

According to tradition, Nachchaduwa Wewa was constructed by King Mahasena (277-304 A.D.) or Moggallana II [(531-551 A.D.) Arumugam, 1969; Fernando, 1980; Nicholas, 1963; Parker, 1909]. 

H. Parker in his book "Ancient Ceylon (1909)" mentions that the bricks which have been used to construct the tank sluice are in the same dimensions as those of some bricks used in the repairs of the high-level sluice at Nuwara Wewa (Parker, 1909). Therefore, he points out that the work at both reservoirs could be done at about the same time. He further mentions that the bricks used to build the upper part of the Bisokotuwa belong to a later period, probably a time a little earlier than the 12th century (Parker, 1909). Also, the large rectangular wedge holes found in some stones of the waste-weir, according to Parker, probably have come from the restoration work carried out by King Parakramabahu I [(1153-1186 A.D.) Parker, 1909]. Therefore, depending on these facts he suggests that the Nachchaduwa tank might be the Mahadaragalla tank made by King Mahasena (277-304 A.D.).

 

However, It is said that King Moggallana II (531-551 A.D.) built a tank named Pattapasana Wewa by damming the Malwathu Oya (Nicholas, 1963). The name Pattapasana was the name of an ancient sub-district and the name Patpahan-bim occurs in a medieval inscription in the Nachchaduwa area (Nicholas, 1963). Therefore, according to the view of Nicholas,the present tank at Nachchaduwa could be that ancient Pattapasana Wewa built by Moggallana II (Nicholas, 1963). King Vijayabahu I (1055-1110 A.D.) and King Parakramabahu I (1153-1186 A.D.) are said to have restored the Pattapasana Wewa (Nicholas, 1963).

The chronicle, Mahavamsa mentions a tank named Nandivapi with an account related to young Dhatusena II (Fernando, 1921). It is said that the most closer name which can be suggested for Nandivapi is the Nachchaduwa tank. In the Pali language, the meaning of both Nandi and Nachcha is nearly similar to each other: Nandi - 'pleasure' and Nachcha - 'dancing' (Fernando, 1921).

The bricks of several ruins located around the Nachchaduwa tank are said to be similar in size to some bricks found in ancient irrigation works such as Tissa Wewa, Nuwara Wewa, Sigiriya, etc. (Fernando, 1921). Therefore, it is strongly believed that this tank is also an early irrigation work in the country.

Recent renovations

The present tank was restored in 1906 and improved in 1917 (Arumugam, 1969). It was breached in 1957 but restored again in the next year, 1958 (Arumugam, 1969).

Reservoir

The reservoir is fed by the Malwathu Oya and the feeder canal from Kala Wewa. It has an irrigable area of 2833 ha and a catchment area of 598.74 square km (Dahanayake & Rajapakse, 2017).

Attribution

1) Nachchaduwa Wewa by hassage is licensed under CC BY 2.0

References

1) Arumugam, S., 1969. Water resources of Ceylon: its utilisation and development. Water Resources Board. p.317.

2) Dahanayake, A.C. and Rajapakse, R.L.H.L., 2017. Application of a process-based, distributed, hydrological and material transport model to assess water resources and pollute transport in Malwathu oya basin, Sri Lanka. The 7th International Conference on Sustainable Built Environment, Earl’s Regency Hotel, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

3) Fernando, A.D.N., 1980. Major ancient irrigation works of Sri Lanka. Journal of the Sri Lanka Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 22, pp.1-24.

4) Fernando, W.M., 1921. Naccaduwa Tank. The Ceylon antiquary and literary register. Vol. VI: Part. IV. p.229.

5) Nicholas, C. W., 1963. Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). Special Number: Colombo. Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch). p.168.

6) Parker, H., 1909. Ancient Ceylon: An account of the aborigines and of part of the early civilisation. Luzac & Co. London. pp.405-409.

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Ratnapura National Museum

The National Museum of Ratnapura, Sri Lanka is one of the Museums Administered by the Department of National Museums. It has been established in an old mansion building known as Ehelepola Walawwa.

Archaeological discoveries of the pre-historic period, specimens of natural heritage, artefacts, and models of geological, anthropological, and zoological related to Sabaragamuwa Province are mainly exhibited in this museum (Abeyawardana, 2002; Embuldeniya & Karunarathna, 2019).

History

The building which houses the present museum was built during the period 1811-1814, by Ehelepola Wijesundara Wikramasinghe Chandrasekara Senevirathna Amarakoon Wasala Panditha Mudiyanse (Ehelepola Maha Nilame), the then Maha Adikaram and District Agent (Disawe) of King Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe (1798-1815 C.E.).

Ehelepola Maha Nilame (1773 - 1829) is considered a powerful leader who emerged during the final phase of the Kandyan Kingdom. He was born to a Sinhalese Buddhist family lived in Ehelepola village in Matale District. During this period, the country was ruled by a Nayakkar ruler, King Sri Vikrama Rajasingha. Therefore, Ehelepola wanted to establish the Sinhalese Buddhist Kingdom in the country again instead of Nayakkars by capturing Sri Vikrama Rajasingha with the help of British rulers. That attempt failed but, under British rule, he was said to be living as an unofficial king in the country until the year 1818. In 1818, the great rebellion of Uva was started by Sinhalese against the British rulers as a violation of conditions in the Udarata Givisuma/Kandyan Convention (an agreement signed on 10 March 1815 between the British and the Chiefs of the Kandyan Kingdom). Ehelepola was majorly suspected of making this rebellion and therefore he was house arrested by the British rulers for 7 years and finally exiled (in 1825) to Pamplemousses in Mauritius island. Ehelepola died on 5 April 1829, and his final rituals were done according to the Buddhist tradition.

The building was later used as the official residence of the British government agents of the Sabaragamuwa Province (Abeyawardana, 2002).

In 1942, the National Museums Ordinance was passed. As a result of that, in 1946, the Ehelepola Walawwa building became one of the national museums in the country (Rambukwella, 2014).

Building

The building has been constructed in accordance with Dutch architecture. In front of the building is a big veranda designed with brick pillars and wooden carvings. The main hall of the inner house has been divided into two rows and each side contains three rooms. However, some alterations have been added to the building later. Totally four storerooms are found in the house. The roof is constructed using the Sinhala Ulu. There are indications that the entire land was surrounded by a big canal.

A protected monument

The Ehelepola Walawwa located in the Divisional Secretary’s Division of Ratnapura is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government Gazette notification published on 3 September 1993.

References

1) Abeyawardana, H.A.P., 2002. Heritage of Sabaragamuwa: Major natural, cultural and historic sites. Sabaragamuwa Development Bank and The Central Bank of Sri Lanka. ISBN: 955-575-077-7. pp.14-15.
2) Embuldeniya, P., Karunarathna, K.G.M., 2019. Significance of developing museums in Sri Lanka as tourist attractions: with special reference to national museums. EPRA International Journal of Research and Development. Vol. IV. Issue 2. pp.14-21.
3) Rambukwella, M.W.C.N.K., 2014. Heritage representation in culturally diverse societies: a case study of the Colombo National Museum in Sri Lanka (Doctoral dissertation, School of Museum Studies). p.131.
4) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1096. 3 September 1993.

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This page was last updated on 17 January 2022
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Kandy National Museum

The National Museum of Kandy, Sri Lanka is one of the Museums Administered by the Department of National Museums. Presently, the museum has a large collection of artefacts (approximately 4000 items) mainly representing the subject areas of history and ethnology of the Kandyan Period.

History

The museum has been established in 1942 in an old building called Palle Vahala (Embuldeniya & Karunarathna, 2019; Rambukwella, 2014). During the reign of King Sri Vickrama Rajasingha (1798 -1815 A.D.) this building was used as the quarters of the royal queens (Embuldeniya & Karunarathna, 2019; Rajapakse, 2016).

The first collection of artifacts deposited in the Kandy museum belonged to Mr. John Andy Dickson, the Government Agent for Kandy who served for the British government in 1832. He had a large number of antiques mainly collected from Kandy and Matale Districts in his residence and most of them were artifacts belonging to the subject of ethnology. On retirement, he donated this collection of artifacts to the Kandyan Art Association. The re-donation of these artifacts by the Kandyan Art Association became the basis of the establishment of the present Kandy Museum. 

The museum was declared open to the public on 27 August 1942, by a Gazette notification published under the Gazette No. 11.20.97.37. 

The museum building

The building has been built according to the architectural traditions of the Kandyan Period (Embuldeniya & Karunarathna, 2019). The attractive large roof, center courtyard and windows, the stone-paved floor, lime-plastered walls, and large doorways can be identified as the main architectural features of this building.

Artifacts

The museum is used to display artifacts, mostly pertaining to the Kandy Period and the Kandy region (Rambukwella, 2014). They include various types of textiles, household items, ornaments, arms and armaments, brass, bronze and iron implements, Dutch and English coins and other items, Buddhist statues and decorative wood carvings, ivory and metal objects, wall paintings, panels and coins (Rambukwella, 2014). Majority of these artifacts are from the 18th and 19th centuries A.D. (Rambukwella, 2014).

Crown of King Rajasinghe II (replica)

The original crown of King Rajasinghe II (1635-1687 A.D.) was exhibited in this museum since its establishment, but the crown was stolen in 1961.

This replica was made akin, out of copper and gold gilt in 1972, on the order of Willium Gopallawa, the then president of Sri Lanka. Several parts belonging to the original crown have also been added to this replica.

Reference: National Museum of Kandy


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References

1) Embuldeniya, P., Karunarathna, K.G.M., 2019. Significance of developing museums in Sri Lanka as tourist attractions: with special reference to national museums. EPRA International Journal of Research and Development. Vol. IV. Issue 2. pp.14-21.
2) Rajapakse, S., 2016. Pauranika Sthana Ha Smaraka: Mahanuwara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. ISBN:955-9159-34-8. p.39.
3) Rambukwella, M.W.C.N.K., 2014. Heritage representation in culturally diverse societies: a case study of the Colombo National Museum in Sri Lanka (Doctoral dissertation, School of Museum Studies). pp.401-402.

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This page was last updated on 15 May 2022
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Dighavapi Viharaya

Dighavapi Viharaya (or Deeghavapi Raja Maha Viharaya) is an ancient Buddhist temple situated in Ampara District, Sri Lanka. The colossal Stupa of this temple is believed to be built to mark the spot where Buddha seated himself on the occasion of his third and last visit to Sri Lanka (Parker, 1981). Therefore the site is one of the 16 most sacred places (Solosmastana) of the Buddhists of the country.

Legends

According to the Great Chronicle, Mahawamsa, the Buddha on his third visit to Sri Lanka had come to Dighavapi after spending the day at the foot of Sumanakuta (present Sri Pada mountain). Dipavamsa, the oldest chronicle of Sri Lanka also mentions that the Buddha visit Dighavapi after arriving in Kalyani [(present Kelaniya) Nicholas, 1963].

History

The name Dighavapi (lit: Long tank) is found in several early historical records. Pali chronicles and commentaries record this area as Dighavapi-mandala or Dighavapi-rattha (Nicholas, 1963). In Sinhalese literature and inscriptions, the area called Digamandulu or Digamadulla (Nicholas, 1963).

Chronicles record that King Kakavanna Tissa of Rohana [or Kavan Tissa (205-161 B.C.)] stationed his second son, Prince Tissa, at Dighavapi with troops in order to guard the open country against Elara (205-161 B.C.), a South Indian invader who was at the time ruling in the Anuradhapura Kingdom (Nicholas, 1963). After Elara was overthrown by Prince Dutthagamani Abhaya [Dutugemunu (161-137 B.C.)], the Dighavapi area was again given to Prince Tissa to direct the work of harvest. Prince Tissa remained there for 23 years until the death of his brother King Dutugemunu (Nicholas, 1963). During this period, the two sons of Prince Tissa had built Buddhist temples in the surrounding area: the eldest son, Lanjatissa built the Kumbhila or Girikumbhila Vihara (modern Rajagala), and the younger son, Thulaththana built the Kandara Vihara (also known as Alakandara or Lokandara Vihara). After the death of King Dutugemunu, Prince Tissa ascended the throne as King Saddhatissa (137-119 B.C.) in 137 B.C. He built the Stupa of Dighavapi and made several valuable offerings to it (Nicholas, 1963; Parker, 1981).

The Dighavapi Stupa is called in the Sinhalese chronicles as Dighanakha or Diganaka (Nicholas, 1963; Withanachchi, 2013). However, there are no further records about this Stupa in the chronicles (Parker, 1981) until the 18th century (Nicholas, 1963). In the middle of the 18th century, King Kirti Sri Rajasinghe (1747-1782 C.E.) had visited a Stupa called Nakha Cetiya but its relation to the Dighavapi (Dighanaka) Stupa is unclear. However, the area was locally known as Nakha Vehera prior to its re-occupation by the Sangha in about 1924 (Nicholas, 1963).

Dighavapi gold leaf inscription and caskets

Dighavapi Gold Leaf Inscription of King Kanittha Tissa (165-193 C.E.)

Transcript :  Sidha:  Naka  maharajhaha  puta Malutisa rajhaha sovana tube

Translation : Hail: The gold stupa (reliquary) of King Malutisa (Kanittha Tissa), the son of the great king Naka [Mahallaka Naga (135-141 A.D.)].
Reference: Sirisoma, 1991. p. 222.

In 1986, a gold-leaf inscription was discovered deposited inside a reliquary recovered from the western frontispiece (Vahalkada) of Dighavapi Stupa (Sirisoma, 1991). The reliquary was found along with two other gold reliquaries and all of them were in a stone casket embedded in the aforesaid frontispiece.

The inscription contains only one line and has been written in the scripts belonging to the 2nd century A.D. (Sirisoma, 1991). 

Four golden caskets

In November 2020, four golden caskets were discovered at the southern vestibule of the Dighavapi Stupa by archaeologists who engaged in the conservation process of it. The golden caskets were found deposited in a large casket carved out of stone. According to the Department of Archaeology, this is the single largest discovery of golden caskets recovered during an excavation in Sri Lanka.

Ruins

Dighavapi is identified as a large monastic complex that existed during the period of Rohana Principality (Withanachchi, 2013). Ruins of that ancient monastery are found today scattered nearly 1/2 miles distance from the boundary of Dighavapi Stupa (Withanachchi, 2013).

From the excavations, it has been identified that the Dighavapi Stupa had been constructed with two rampart walls (Withanachchi, 2013). Remains of Vahalkada are also visible at the site. 

 

Dighavapi Archaeological Museum

A small site museum of the Archaeological Department has been established in the premises of Dighavapi Viharaya. The museum is used to exhibit antiquities recovered from the temple as well as from the surrounding area. 

 

A protected site

The Dighavapi Dagoba and all the ruins found in the land reserved for the Dighavapi Viharaya in the village of Dighavapiya in the Divisional Secretary’s Division, Addalachchanai are archaeological protected monuments, declared by the government Gazette notifications published on 18 April 1947 and 31 December 1999.

 

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References

1) Nicholas C. W., 1963.  Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). Special Number: Colombo. Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch), pp.24-27.
2) Parker, H., 1981. Ancient Ceylon (Vol. 41). Asian educational services. p.318.
3) Sirisoma, M.H. (Edited by Uduwara, J.), 1991. No.43. Dighavapi gold leaf inscription of King Kanittha Tissa (164-192 A.D.). Epigraphia Zeylanica: Being lithic and other inscriptions of Sri Lanka: Vol. VI: Part: 2. Archaeology Survey of Ceylon. pp. 221-223.
4) The Gazette of Ceylon, no: 9692. 18 April 1947.
5) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, no: 2106. 31 December 1999.
6) Withanachchi, C. R., 2013. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Ampara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-44-5. pp.17-18.

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Dambulla Somawathi Stupa and Archaeological Ruins

Not to be confused with Somawathi Stupa, Polonnaruwa

The ancient Buddhist monastery complex which is popularly known as Dambulla Somawathi Stupa (Sinhala: දඹුල්ල සෝමාවතී ස්තූපය) is located in Matale District, Sri Lanka. The site is situated west of the world-famous rock cave temple, Dambulla Raja Maha Viharaya.

History

There is an inscription of the first century A.D. engraved on the rock wall of a cave located on the hillside to the west of the Dambulla rock (Seneviratna, 1983). It records the construction of a Stupa named Catavanaceta (Catavana chetiya) and a donation made to it by a Thera named Sedadeva (Seneviratna, 1983). Some have assumed that the Catavana chatiya of this inscription may be the Stupa presently known as Somawathi Stupa (Seneviratna, 1983).

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Reference

1) Seneviratna, A., 1983. Golden Rock Temple of Dambulla; Caves of infinite Buddhas. UNESCO-Sri Lanka Cultural Triangle Project. Central Cultural Fund. Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Sri Lanka. pp.21-23,65-66.

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Neelagiriseya

Neelagiriseya (Neelagiriya Maha Seya or Neelagiri Dagoba) is an ancient Stupa located in the woods of the Lahugala-Kitulana National Park in Ampara District, Sri Lanka.

History

Archaeological evidence has confirmed that Neelagiriseya had been in existence from the 2nd century B.C. Although the origin of this temple is not clearly known, there are several views about its establishment. According to one of such views, this is the Pasanadipika Viharaya built by King Mahadathika Mahanaga [(9-21 A.D.) Nicholas, 1963; Withanachchi, 2013]. However, some authors believe that this is a work of King Suratissa [(247-237 B.C.) Medhananda, 2003; Withanachchi, 2013].

Few scholars such as Rev. Handupelpola Punnyarathana, hold the view that this Stupa could be the Mahanuggala Stupa built by King Kavantissa (205-161 B.C.), as mentioned in the great chronicle, Mahawamsa (Somadeva, 2011). Rev. Ellawala Medhananda has quoted the same opinion in his book 'Pācīna passa – uttara passa, nägenahira paḷāta hā uturu palātē Siṃhala bauddha urumaya' (Medhananda, 2003; Somadeva, 2011). If it is true, this is the temple where King Kavantissa had made the ten giants swear never to pick sides in a war between his two sons, Gemunu and Tissa (Medhananda, 2003).

According to an inscription belonging to the reign of King Mahasen (277-304 A.D.), this institute had been called at the time Kulabariya Maha Vehera (Withanachchi, 2013). That inscription records a donation of Kahawanu to the aforesaid temple for the ceremonies named Ariyawamsa (Withanachchi, 2013).

Excavation, 2011

During the excavations done in 2011, archaeologists found two inscriptions within the monastery premises (Somadeva, 2011). The older of the two belongs to the reign of King Bhatikatissa (22 B.C.-7 A.D.). It records a decree proclaimed by a Queen named Chula Seeval Devi, a daughter of King Bhatikatissa (Somadeva, 2011). The inscription, however, has been erected during the period of Bhatikatissa when he was a viceroy (Uparaja) in Ruhuna. Therefore, according to Somadeva, one can assign this inscription to the period of King Kutakannabhaya (44-22 B.C.), the predecessor of King Bhatikatissa (Somadeva, 2011).

The second inscription also records a decree announced by a King named Jetthatissa. Here the king's name, according to Somadeva, could be either King Jettatissa I (263-273 A.D..) or Jettatissa II [(328-337 A.D..) Somadeva, 2011]. However, the palaeography of this inscription is said to be more related to the reign of King Jettatissa I (Somadeva, 2011).

Here, both inscriptions refer to a monastery named Uttara Seevali Pabbatha Vihara as a recipient institution of the above-proclaimed donations (Somadeva, 2011).

Stupa

From the archaeological evidence found so far, this structure had been constructed during the pre-Christian era. The layer of stone which makes the Stupa pavement is said to belong to the 7th century A.D. The Yupa-stone and the basal rings are made of stone and bricks.

Presently, the Stupa is 73 feet (22.25 m) in height and has a circumference of 629 feet [(191.71 m) Withanachchi, 2013]. However, according to the studies, the height of the present Neelagiri Stupa is not complementary with the size of the circumference of its base and represents only about one-third of its complete/original height (Wijerathna et al., 2019; Withanachchi, 2013).

Restoration

The restoration work of Neelagiri Stupa was started in 1960 but it became unsuccessful due to the terrorist activities of LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) around the Lahugala region. The Stupa was opened only after 2010 and restoration work was begun again in 2011 (Wijerathna et al., 2019). During the excavations, small Stupas with a bubble shape and paddy-heap shape were found from the site (Wijerathna et al., 2019).

A protected site

Neelagiri Dagaba and the adjoining premises with buildings with stone pillars in inscriptions and sites with archaeological ruins, cave complex with cave inscriptions and pre-historical arts situated in Perani Lahugala PP 10 Grama Niladari Division in the Divisional Secretary’s Division, Lahugala are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government Gazette notification published on 10 October 2014

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References

1) Medhananda, Ven. E., 2003. Pacheena passa - Uttara passa: Negenahira palata ha uturu palate Sinhala bauddha urumaya (In Sinhala). Dayawansa Jayakody & Company. Colombo. ISBN: 978-955-686-112-9. pp.115-119.
2) Nicholas, C. W., 1963. Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). Special Number: Colombo. Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch). p.22.
3) Somadeva, R., 2011. The Archaeological Survey in Neelagiri seya Area in Lahugala of Ampara District: Neelagiriseya Survey: The interim report. Postgraduate Institute of Archaeology. pp.1-23.
4) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1884. 10 October 2014. p.917. 
5) Wijerathna, W.H.T.S., Ranasinghe, R.A.M.P. and Karunananda, P.A.K., 2019. Structural Assessment and Restoration of Neelagiri Maha Seya in Ampara, Sri Lanka. OUSL Journal, 13(2). pp.101-123
6) Withanachchi, C. R., 2013. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Ampara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-44-5. pp.21-23.

Location Map

This page was last updated on 7 June 2022
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map

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Kshetrarama Maha Viharaya (Lakshapathiya)

Kshetrarama Maha Viharaya, also known as Kekirideniya Pansala, is a Buddhist temple located in the village of Lakshapathiya in Moratuwa, Colombo District, Sri Lanka.

History

Kshetrarama temple was established in 1829, by the chief monk Ven. Weligama Sri Sumanatissa Thera who was at the time residing at Walane Saranapala Maha Viharaya. The occupation ceremony of the monks' dwelling is said to be taken place in 1889, after performing the religious rituals for the death of Weligama Sri Sumanatissa Thera.

Monuments

Among the monuments of archaeological interest, the old image house and the two-storied Seema Malakaya building are important. The Seema Malakaya building in Kshetrarama Viharaya is considered a rare and unique monument as its architectural features are not seen at any other Buddhist temples in the country. It bears architectural patterns belonging to the period of the Second World War (1939 – 1945).

The old image house is a small quadrangular structure and can be seen on the right side of the main entrance. Only a rock-cut Buddha statue, its halo, and a stone flower altar are found inside the image house. It seems that the original appearance of the image house has been altered due to the renovations done recently.

The library of the temple also contains a large number of valuable Ola-leaf manuscripts such as Tripitaka and other religious writings. 

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Location Map

This page was last updated on 17 January 2023

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Oluvil Lighthouse

Oluvil lighthouse is one of lighthouses in the country. It is located in the coastal village of Oluvil on the southeastern shore of Sri Lanka.

Construction

The feasibility studies for the development of Oluvil port were done during the period of 1995 - 1999 and after that the lighthouse was erected immediately along with a circuit bungalow and officers quarters by Sri Lanka Port Authority (SLPA) near the port site. The lighthouse was declared open on 19 June 1999 by the then Sri Lanka's Minister for Port Development, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, M. H. M. Ashraff.

Tower

The tower is 84 feet tall (Ameerdeen, 2006).

References

1) Ameerdeen, V., 2006. Ethnic Politics of Muslims in Sri Lanka. Centre for Minority Studies. p.143.

Location Map

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Vallipuram Gold Plate and Buddha Statue

Vallipuram Gold Plate, also called Vallipurama Ran Sannasa, (Sinhala: වල්ලිපුරම් රන්පත) is a small sheet of gold, containing an inscription written in the Old Sinhalese language (Dias et al., 2016; Paranavitana, 1983). It was discovered in a Hindu temple located in Vallipuram, Wadamarachchi Division, Jaffna District (Medhananda, 2003; Paranavitana, 1983). As it is the oldest gold plate inscription found in the country, this artefact is considered very important to a person who researches the history of Sri Lanka as well as the Sinhala language in the 1st century A.D.

Besides the gold plate, other ruins such as some funerary urns, bricks, pottery, coins and a Buddha image of stone in the Amaravati style were discovered at the site (Veluppillai, 1981).

The gold sheet

The gold sheet was found in 1936, together with some other objects beneath the foundation of an ancient structure on land adjacent to the Vallipuram Vishnu temple (Dias et al., 2016; Medhananda, 2003; Paranavitana, 1983). The sheet was brought to Paranavitana in 1937, by Rev. W. Rahula who had got it from a friend named S. Thangarajah (Fernando, 1990; Paranavitana, 1983). Mr. Thangarajah had got it from his cousin Rajah of Puloli, the finder of the sheet (Fernando, 1990).

After taking the necessary estampages and photographs, the sheet was returned to its owners. Later the National Museum Department made an attempt to obtain the gold sheet. Mudaliyar Rasanayagam, a well-known antiquarian from Jaffna had been made to intervene and the finder was prepared to sell the sheet for 500 rupees (Fernando, 1990). However, suddenly the sheet vanished (Fernando, 1990). Marcus Fernando in his article mentions more details about the lost of the gold sheet as follows;

Sometime after the period to which this Chapter relates Mr. Nissanka Wijeyeratne (Now Dr.), then Secretary to the Minister of Cultural Affairs, made an effort to trace this gold-sheet. When that effort proved a failure, he ordered the Department of Archaeology to make an exact copy of the gold-sheet and to exhibit same at the Archaeological Museum, Jaffna. This order was carried out by the Department. When communal troubles erupted in 1983 this imitation sheet was removed to the Jaffna Kachcheri.

Then, one fine day, somebody created a flurry saying that the lost Vallipuram Gold-sheet was found in the Kachcheri vault, Enquiries, however, showed that what was found was the replica and not the original.

Citation : Fernando, 1990. p.113.

Rediscovery ?

The destiny of the vanished gold plate is obscure. However, a gold plate titled "Vallipuram Gold Plate" is currently on the display at the National Museum of Colombo but that artefact is seemed to be an imitation of the original gold plate.

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Inscription

The inscription has been engraved only on one side of a very thin gold sheet. It records the construction of a Vihara at a place called Badakara Atana by a person named Piyaguka Tissa, when the minister Isigiraya was the Governor of Nagadipa, during the reign of King Vasabha [(67-111 A.D.) Dias et al., 2016; Medhananda, 2003; Paranavitana, 1983].

• Vallipuram Gold Sheet
  
  Reign  : King Vasabha (67-111 A.D.)
  Period : 1st century A.D.
  Script  : Later Brahmi
  Language : Old Sinhala
  Material : Gold
  Length x width x weight : 10.1 cm x 4.2 cm x 5 g
  Location : Vallipuram

• Content : 
  
  
  Transcript : Sidha! Maharaja-Vahayaha rajahi amete Isigiraye Nakadiva Bujameni Badakara-atanehi Piyaguka-Tisa Vihara karite
  Translation : Success! in the reign of the great king Vasabha, when the minister Isigiraya was governing the Nagadeepa, Piyaguka Tissa caused a Vihara to be built at Badakara Atana.
  References : Paranavitana, 1983; The National Museum of Colombo.

The inscription contains 40 letters in 4 lines and has been written in the scripts of Brahmi that was in vogue in the first and second centuries A.D. (Paranavitana, 1983)

This inscription reveals that the king had a minister for North in his reign and therefore it confirms that King Vasabha had ruled the whole country including Nakadiva (Dias et al., 2016; Prematilaka & Hewage, 2018). Nakadiva in Old Sinhala is the equivalent of Pali Nagadipa and it gives evidence that the northern part of the island was known at the time as Nagadipa, the name which is found in the Pali chronicle Mahawamsa (Dias et al., 2016) .

Dr. Alvappillai Veluppillai, a Sri Lankan Tamil author, however, strove to show that some of the claims done for the Vallipuram gold plate by S. Paranavithana (1983) are in too exaggerated mode (Veluppillai, 1981). Through an article published in 1981, he had tried to suggest several Dravidian elements related to the gold plate (Veluppillai, 1981).

Vallipuram Buddha Statue

According to the account given in the "Ceylon Antiquary and Literary Register (1916-17)" by J. P. Lewis (the Government Agent for the Northern Province in 1903-1904), a Buddha statue of about 2.5 m tall had been unearthed in the precinct of the modern Vishnu temple at Vallipuram (Dias et al., 2016). It remained in a lumber-room of this Hindu temple until 1902 (Schalk, 1996). Lewis had obtained that statue from the caretaker priest of the Vishnu temple and installed it under a Bodhi tree located in the Jaffna Old Park. 

However, in 1906, the statue was presented by Governor Sir Henry Blake to the King of Siam (present Thailand), who was particularly anxious to have it, as it was supposed to be of an archaic type (Schalk, 1996). The statue is now preserved in a Buddhist Vihara (Wat Benchamabophit, which is known by tourists as "the Marble Temple) in Bangkok in Thailand (Dias et al., 2016; Schalk, 1996). A replica of this statue is also being displayed at the National Museum of Colombo.

The Buddha statue is made of limestone and in the Amaravathi style (Paranavitana, 1983). Depending on the characteristic features of the statue it has been dated to the 9th-10th centuries A.D.

References

1) Devendra, D. T., 1959. Seventy Years of Ceylon Archaeology. Artibus Asiae. pp.23-40.
2) Dias, M.; Koralage, S.B.; Asanga, K., 2016. The archaeological heritage of Jaffna peninsula. Department of Archaeology. Colombo. pp.166-167, 204-205.
3) Fernando, M., 1990. (Editor in chief: Wijesekara, N.) Section III: History of the Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka: 1930-1950. Archaeological Department Centenary (1890-1990): History of the Department of Archaeology (Vol. 1). Commissioner of Archaeology. pp.88-89, 113.
4) Medhananda, Ven. Ellawala, 2003. Pacheena passa - Uttara passa: Negenahira palata ha uturu palate Sinhala bauddha urumaya (In Sinhala). Dayawansa Jayakody & Company. Colombo. ISBN: 978-955-686-112-9. pp.421-425,520.

5) Paranavitana, S., 1939. Vallipuram Gold Plate Inscription of the reign of  Vasabha. Epigraphia Zeylanica (Vol. IV). Colombo. pp.229-237.
6) Paranavitana, S., 1983. Vallipuram Gold Sheet Inscription. Inscriptions of Ceylon, Late Brahmi Inscriptions, 2 (part 1). Archaeological Survey of Sri Lanka. pp.79-81.
7) Prematilaka, L., Hewage, R., 2018. A guide to the National Museum, Colombo: Department of National Museum. ISBN: 978-955-578-035-3. p.14.
8) Schalk, P., 1996. The Vallipuram Buddha Image" Rediscovered". Scripta Instituti Donneriani Aboensis, 16, pp.295-312.
9) Veluppillai, A., 1981. Tamils in Ancient Jaffna and Vallipuram Gold Plate. Journal of Tamil Studies, 19, pp.1-14.

Location Map

This page was last updated on 14 January 2023

A short note for local school students

වල්ලිපුරම් රන් සන්නස

වල්ලිපුරම් රන් සන්නස යනු පුරාණ සිංහල භාෂාවෙන් රචිත ලිපියක් අඩංගු කුඩා රන්පතකි. එය ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ යාපනය දිස්ත්‍රික්කයේ වඩමාරච්චි කොට්ඨාශයට අයත් වල්ලිපුරම් පිහිටි හින්දු කොවිල් පරිශ්‍රයකින් හමුවිය‍. මෙරටින් හමුවූ පැරණිතම රන්පත වීම හේතුවෙන්, ශ්‍රී ලංකාවෙහි ඉතිහාසය හා ක්‍රි.ව. පළමු සියවසේ සිංහල භාෂාව පිළිබඳ හදාරන්නෙකුට ඉතා වැදගත් වන පුරාවස්තුවක් ලෙස මෙම රන්පත සැළකේ.

රන්පත හැරුණු විට ගඩොල් කොටස්, මැටි බඳුන් කැබලි, කාසි හා අමරාවතී සම්ප්‍රදායට අයත් බුද්ධ ප්‍රතිමාවක්ද මෙම පරිශ්‍රයෙන් හමුවී තිබේ.

රන්පත

1936 වසරේදී අනෙකුත් පුරාවස්තූන් සමග මෙම රන්පත සොයා ගනු ලැබුනේ වල්ලිපුරම් විශ්ණු කෝවිලට ආසන්න භූමියක පිහිටි පුරාණ ඉදිකිරීමක අත්තිවාරම පහළිනි. එස්. තංගරාජා නම් තම මිතුරෙකුගෙන් ලැබුණු රන්පත 1937 වර්ෂයේදී ඩබ්. රාහුල හිමියන් විසින් පරණවිතාන මහතා වෙත ගෙන එනු ලැබිණ. එස්. තංගරාජා මහතා වෙත මෙම රන්පත ලැබී තිබුනේ එය සොයාගනු ලැබූ ඔහුගේ ඥාතියෙකු වූ රාජා නැමැති අයෙකුගෙනි.

රන්පතෙහි අවශ්‍ය කරන ඡායාරූප හා පිටපත් ලබාගැනීමෙන් අනතුරුව එය නැවත එහි අයිතිකරුවන් වෙත ලබාදීමට පියවර ගැණුනි. පසුව යාපනයේ සුප්‍රසිද්ධ පුරාවස්තු එකතුකරන්නෙකු වූ මුදලියර් රාසනායගම් මහතා හරහා එම රන්පත අයත් කර ගැනීමට ජාතික කෞතුකාගාර දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව ප්‍රයත්න කල අතර ඒ අනූව රන්පතෙහි හිමිකරුද එය රු.500ක මුදලකට අලෙවි කිරීමට සූදානම් විය. කෙසේනමුදු, හදිසියේම රන්පත අතුරුදන් විය.

රන්පත නැවත සොයාගැනීමේ ප්‍රයත්න අසාර්ථක වීමෙන් පසු එවක සංස්කෘතික කටයුතු අමාත්‍ය ලේකම්වරයා වූ නිශ්ශංක විජයරත්න මහතා විසින් යාපනය පුරාවිද්‍යා කෞතුකාගාරයේ ප්‍රදර්ශනයට තැබීම පිණිස තවත් එවැනිම රන්පතක අනුරුවක් තනන ලෙස පුරාවිද්‍යා දෙපාර්තමේන්තුවට උපදෙස් දෙනු ලැබුණි. පුරාවිද්‍යා දෙපාර්තමේන්තුව විසින් එම උපදෙස් ක්‍රියාවට නැංවූ අතර, 1983 වර්ෂයේදී ජාතිවාදී කෝලහාල ඇතිවීමත් සමග තනනු ලැබූ නව රන්පත යාපනය කච්චේරිය වෙත ගෙන යන ලදී.

අතුරුදන් වූ වල්ලිපුරම් රන්පත යාපනය කච්චේරි ගබඩාවේ තිබී හමුවූ බවට පසුයම් දිනයකදී අයෙකු විසින් කලබලයක් ඇතිකොට තිබුනත් සිදුකල විමර්ශන වලින් තහවුරුව තිබුනේ හමුවූ රන්පත සත්‍ය රන්පත නොව පසුව තැනූ එහි අනුරුව බවටයි.

නැවත හමුවීම?

අතුරුදන් වූ රන්පතෙහි ඉරණම පැහැදැලි නැත. කෙසේනමුදු "වල්ලිපුරම් රන් සන්නස" නමින් රන් තහඩුවක් වර්තමාන කොළඹ ජාතික කෞතුකාගාරයෙහි ප්‍රදර්ශනයට තබා තිබුනත් එය සත්‍ය රන් තහඩුවෙහි අනුකෘතියක් බැව් දැකගැනීමට හැකිය. 

ලිපිය

ඉතා තුනී රන්පතක එක් පසෙක පමණක් මෙම ලිපිය රචනා කොට තිබේ. වසබ රජුගේ රාජ්‍ය සමය තුල අමාත්‍ය ඉසිගිරිය විසින් නාගදීපය පාලනය කරන කල පියගුක තිස්ස විසින් බඩකර-අතන නම් ස්ථානයේ විහාරයක් ඉදිකරන ලද බව මෙම ලිපිය මගින් දැක්වේ.

ලිපියෙහි පේලි 4ක් තුල රචිත අක්ෂර 40ක් වන අතර ක්‍රි.ව. පළමු හා දෙවන සියවස් වල භාවිත වූ බ්‍රාහ්මී අක්ෂරයන්ගෙන් හා පුරාණ සිංහල භාෂාවෙන් ලිපිය රචනා කොට තිබේ. මෙම ලිපිය මගින් වසබ රජුගේ රාජ්‍ය සමය තුලදී දිවයිනේ උතුරුදෙස සඳහා අමාත්‍යවරයෙකු වූ බව හෙළිදරවු කරන අතර එමගින් වසබ රජු "නකදිව" (නාගදීපය) ඇතුළු සමස්ථ දිවයිනම පාලනය කල බව තහවුරු කරයි. "නකදිව" යනු පාලියෙහි නාගදීපය සඳහා වන පුරාණ සිංහල යෙදුම වන අතර එමගින් අදාල සමයේදී දිවයිනේ උතුරු කොටස, පාලි මහාවංශයෙහි දැක්වෙන "නාගදීපය" යන නාමයෙන් හඳුන්වා තිබූ බවට සාක්ෂි සපයයි.

කෙසේනමුදු, ආචාර්ය අල්වපිල්ලේ වේලුපිල්ලේ මහතා, සෙනරත් පරණවිතාන මහතා විසින් වල්ලිපුරම් රන්පත සඳහා ඉදිරිපත් කල සමහර කරුණු අතිශයෝක්ති සහගත බව පෙන්වීමට වෑයම් දරණ ලදී. 1981 වසරේදී ලිපියක් පලකරමින් එතුමා, වල්ලිපුරම් රන්පත හා සබැඳෙන සමහර ද්‍රවිඩ ලක්ෂණ පිළිබඳව අදහස් දක්වා තිබුණි.

වල්ලිපුරම් බුද්ධ ප්‍රතිමාව

ජේ.පී. ලුවිස් ගේ "Ceylon Antiquary and Literary Register"හී දැක්වෙන විස්තරය අනූව, වත්මන් වල්ලිපුරම් විෂ්ණු කොවිල පිහිටි පරිශ්‍රයෙන් මීටර 2.5ක් උසැති බුද්ධ ප්‍රතිමාවක් හමුව තිබෙන අතර එය 1902 වර්ෂය දක්වා කෝවිලෙහි කාමරයක තබා තිබුණි. එලෙස තබා තිබූ බුද්ධ ප්‍රතිමාව කෝවිලෙහි පූජකවරයාගෙන් ලබාගත් ලුවිස් පසුව එය යාපනය පැරණි උද්‍යානයෙහි පිහිටි බෝ ගසක් යට ස්ථාපනය කිරීමට කටයුතු කරන ලදී.

කෙසේනමුදු, 1906 වර්ෂයේදී එම බුද්ධ ප්‍රථිමාව ආණ්ඩුකාර ශ්‍රීමත් හෙන්රි බ්ලේක් විසින් සියම් (වත්මන් තායිලන්තය) රජුට තෑගි කරනු ලැබූ අතර වර්තමානයේදී එය එරට බැංකොක් නුවර මාබල් විහාරය ලෙස හඳුන්වන පුදබිමෙහි දැකගත හැකිය. මෙම ප්‍රතිමාවෙහි අනුරුවක් වත්මන් කොළඹ ජාතික කෞතුකාගාර පරිශ්‍රයෙහි ප්‍රදර්ශනයට තබා ඇත.

හුණුගලින් නිර්මිත බුද්ධ ප්‍රතිමාව අමරාවතී සම්ප්‍රදායට අයත්ය. පිළිමයෙහි වූ අනන්‍ය ලක්ෂණ අනූව එය ක්‍රි.ව. 9-10 සියවස් වලට අයත් පුරාකෘතියක් ලෙස කාල නිර්ණය කොට තිබේ.

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Abhaya Wewa

Abhaya Wewa or Abhayavapi, also known as Basawakkulama Wewa (Sinhala: අභය වැව, බසවක්කුලම වැව, අභයවාපි), is an old tank located in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka.

History

According to historical sources such as Mahawamsa (Chap:10, v.88), King Pandukabhaya (437-367 B.C.), the grandson of Panduwasa Deva (504-474 B.C.), constructed the Abhaya tank at Anuradhapura in the 4th century B.C. (Arumugam, 1969; Fernando, 1980; Seneviratna, 1991). It is probably the most ancient irrigation work in the country (Arumugam, 1969).

The tank was restored in 1874 (Arumugam, 1969).

Inscriptions

Basavakkulama pillar inscription of King Sena II (853-887 A.D.)
A pillar inscription belonging to the 9th century A.D. was discovered on the bund of the present tank (Ranawella, 2005). It is now kept at the Inscription Gallery of Colombo National Museum.

The inscription records about a decree issued by King Sena II, prohibiting illegal fishing in Abaya-wewa (Ranawella, 2005).

Abhaya Wewa pillar inscription of Queen Lilavati (1197-1200 A.D.)
This pillar inscription was also found on the bund of the Abhaya Wewa at Anuradhapura (Muller, 1984; Ranawella, 2005). It is now on the display at the Inscription Gallery of Colombo National Museum.

The inscription records about a land grant made by a gentleman named Lag Vijayasingu Kit, the prime minister of the Queen Lilavati, to the monks who were living in the monastery named Ruvan-paya (Ranawella, 2005).

Basavakkulama Rock Inscription of King Mahanama (410-432 A.D.)

This inscription was discovered incised on a rock in a private land located about a quarter of a mile to the north of the spill of Abhaya Wewa (Paranavitana, 1960).

Tank

Abhayavapi (after restoration in 1874)
Area of tank: 1235 acres
Capacity: 1580 acre-feet
Depth: 15 1/2 feet
Length of bund: 3/4 mile
Length of feeder channel: 1/4 mile
from Tissa Wewa L.L. sluice
No. of sluices: one
No. of spills: one

References

1) Arumugam, S., 1969. Water resources of Ceylon: its utilisation and development. Water Resources Board. p.321.

2) Fernando, A.D.N., 1980. Major ancient irrigation works of Sri Lanka. Journal of the Sri Lanka Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, 22, pp.1-24.

3) Muller, E., 1984. Ancient Inscriptions in Ceylon. Asian Educational Services. New Delhi. pp.69-70.

4) Paranavitana, S., 1960. New Light on the Buddhist era in Ceylon and early Sinhalese chronology. University of Ceylon Review, Vol. XVIII, No.3& 4, 1960 pp. 129-155

5) Ranawella, S. (Ed.), 2005. Sinhala inscriptions in the Colombo National Museum: Spolia Zeylanica. Vol 42. (2005). Department of National Museums, Sri Lanka. pp.10-14,97-99.

6) Seneviratna, A., 1991. The Ritualization of Space in Buddhist Architecture in Sri Lanka. Concepts of Space: Ancient and Modern. p.372.
 

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This page was last updated on 14 January 2023

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Sri Subodharama Raja Maha Viharaya

Sri Subodharama Raja Maha Viharaya, also known as Karagampitiya Viharaya (Sinhala: කරගම්පිටිය ශ්‍රී සුබෝධාරාම රජ මහා විහාරය), is a historic Buddhist temple situated in Dehiwala in Colombo District, Sri Lanka (Hettige & Sudasinghe, 2015; Wickramasinghe, 2015). Located about 10 km distance from Colombo, the temple can be reached by travelling along the Colombo - Galle main road and turning to the Subodarama Viharaya road which is located at a distance of 250 m from the Dehiwala junction.

History

Karagampitiya Subodharamaya has a history extending from the reign of King Parakramabahu VI of Kotte [(1412-1467 A.D.) Embuldeniya, 2014]. During this reign, a village called Medimala (Nedimale) had been offered to the Natha Devalaya at Pepiliyana (Chutiwongs et al., 1990). At the time, the western part of this village was occupied by the fishing community and hence that part was known as Karagampitiya. To banish enemies and protect the fishermen in the village, the king had erected a Devalaya at the foot of a Na-tree located on a hillock of Karagampitiya (Chutiwongs et al., 1990). However, this Devalaya is said to be destroyed by the Portuguese and its stone pillars were brought by them to construct the Saint Anthony's Church at Mount Lavinia (Chutiwongs et al., 1990).

During the Dutch Period, a Dutch church and an Ambalama were built at Karagampitiya. It is said that the first incumbent of Karagampitiya Viharaya, Hikkaduwe Indrajothi Thera was living in that Ambalama (Chutiwongs et al., 1990). In 1881, during the British period, when the Methodist Church of Mount Lavinia was built, the stone pillars which had been brought to the Dutch church were again returned to the temple at Karagampitiya (Chutiwongs et al., 1990).

The Buddha images of the Karagampitiya temple belong to 1780 and are said to be a work of the same artist of Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya (Chutiwongs et al., 1990). In 1796, during the reign of King Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha (1781–1798 A.D.), the Stupa was added to the temple. Soon after the completion of Vihara, a sapling of Sri Maha Bodhi at Anuradhapura was planted on the temple premises (Chutiwongs et al., 1990). In 1895, constructions of the preaching hall and Sath-Sathi-Mandiraya (the shrine containing the paintings of the First Seven Weeks of Buddha) were finished. In 1800, during the reign of King Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe (1798-1815 A.D.), the Sunandaramaya temple at Ambalangoda was the headquarter of the Buddhist monks' sect of Amarapura Nikaya. It is said that the name of Sunandaramaya was also used at the time to identify this Karagampitiya Viharaya (Chutiwongs et al., 1990). The outer ceilings and exterior wall paintings of the image house were done in 1897. In 1898, the floor of the image house was decorated with some fragments of Dutch porcelain and coins (Chutiwongs et al., 1990). The Buddha statues and paintings in the inner chamber were redone in 1932 as well as in 1950 (Chutiwongs et al., 1990).

Paintings

The Mural paintings of the main shrine room of Karagampitiya Viharaya are belonged to the 19th century and are categorized under the Southern School art style (Wijerathna et al., 2011). Of them, the earliest are found in the inner walls of the ambulatory spaces (Thenuwara, 2006). The paintings found in the image house as well as in the preaching hall are considered important as they contain visual evidence to understand the 19th-century textile designs in the country (Karunaratne & Bhagya, 2018; Wickramasinghe, 2015).

Queen Victoria at Karagampitiya Viharaya

Indicating the coronation as the queen of all colonial countries, a portrait of Queen Victoria has been painted over the inner entrance door of the image house of Karagampitiya temple (Chutiwongs et al., 1990). A similar portrait of her also can be seen in the image house of Kotte Raja Maha Viharaya (Chutiwongs et al., 1990).

Mosaic art

Mosaic art created by fragments of porcelain products and coins can be seen in the image house as well as in the Sath-Sathi-Mandiraya (Embuldeniya, 2019). In the image house, the mosaics are at the sanctum and the outer chamber (in front of the two entrances of the sanctum). Among the mosaic, the figures of animals (tusker, horse, lion, leopard, rabbit, etc.), florals (coconut tree, banana tree, lotus flowers, etc.), auspicious objects (flags, Sesath, Chamara, etc.), and other (such as a clock) are found (Embuldeniya, 2019).

Besides the image house, mosaic art could be seen in the inner chamber, verandah, and the entrance pandol of Sath-Sathi-Mandiraya (Embuldeniya, 2019).

A protected site

The image house, Sathsathi Mandiraya, Bana preaching hall, Awasage and relic chamber belonging to Karagampitiya Subodharama Purana Vihara premises in the Karagampitiya Grama Niladhari Division in Dehiwala Divisional Secretariat Division are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government Gazette notification published on 23 February 2007.

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Attribution

1) Subodharama Vihara 4 by L Manju is licensed under CC BY SA 4.0

References

1) Chutiwongs, N.; Prematilaka, L.; Silva, R., 1990. Sri Lanka Bithu Sithuwam: Karagampitiya (Paintings of Sri Lanka: Karagampitiya). Sri Lanka Archaeological Authority: Centenary publication. Central Cultural Fund. pp.33-40.
2) Embuldeniya, P., 2014. Countries which imported porcelain Products to Sri Lanka during 19th century: with special reference to mosaic art. Book of Abstracts, Annual Research Symposium, Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka. p.52.
3) Embuldeniya, P., 2019. Mosaics at Karagampitiya Subodharama Vihara, Sri Lanka. EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research. Vol: 5, Issue: 3. pp.19-27.
4) Hettige, U. and Sudasinghe, A.U., 2015. Dancing costumes on the timber paintings in the Karagampitiya temple sermon hall (Dharma mandapaya). p.13.
5) Karunaratne, P.V.M. and Bhagya, N., 2018. A study of an iconic representations of textile designs in temple paintings of Sri Lanka. World Scientific News, 103, pp.19-31.
6) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1486. 23 February 2007. p.123.
7) Thenuwara, C., 2006. The Murals of the Karagampitiya Subodharama Temple: An Investigation of the Pictorial Language of these murals of the Southern Province of Sri Lanka (Doctoral dissertation). p.IV.
8) Wickramasinghe, A.T.P., 2015. An Analysis of 19th century female clothing in Sri Lanka: depicted from Kathaluwa and Karagampitiya temple paintings.
9) Wijerathna, D.S., Ariadurai, S.A. and De Silva, N., 2011. Study on pictorial expression of the mural paintings at Subodharamaya temple murals of Karagampitiya, Dehiwala. pp.145-148.

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This page was last updated on 21 August 2022

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