Dambulla Somawathi Stupa and Archaeological Ruins

Dambulla Somawathi Stupa is an ancient Buddhist monastery complex located west of the world-famous rock cave temple, Dambulla Raja Maha Viharaya.
Not to be confused with Somawathi Stupa, Polonnaruwa
Dambulla Somawathi Stupa
Dambulla Somawathi Stupa

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

History

The history of Dambulla Somawathi Stupa is unclear. There is a Later-Brahmi Inscription belonging to the first century A.D. engraved on the rock wall of a cave located on the hillside to the west of the Dambulla rock (Paranavitana, 2001; Seneviratna, 1983). It records the construction of a Stupa at Catavana (Catavanaceta: the Stupa of the Cata-forest) and a donation made to it by a Thera named Sedadeva, the disciple of Naga Mahadeva Thera (Seneviratna, 1983). As the cave of this inscription is located close to the Somawathi temple complex, it is assumed that the Catavana chaitya mentioned in this inscription is not other than the present Somawathi Stupa (Paranavitana, 2001; Seneviratna, 1983).

According to the view of the eminent archaeologist S. Paranavitana, this place was known in ancient times as Cata or Cata-pavata (Paranavitana, 2001). The Pali chronicle Mahavamsa mentions a place named Catapabbata (Pali equivalent of Catapavata) as that of the site where three wondrous bamboo stems appeared miraculously at the inauguration of the reign of Devanampiyatissa (247-207 B.C.) of Anuradhapura (Paranavitana, 2001). Mahavamsa's commentary mentions that King Saddhatissa (137-119 B.C.) built a Vihara there (Paranavitana, 2001; Seneviratna, 1983).

Ruins of a Bodhighara, Dambulla Somawathi Ancient Sandakada Pahana and Korawak Gala

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References

Books

1) Paranavitana, S., 2001 (Edited by Dias, M.). Inscriptions of Ceylon: Vol. II. Part II. Archaeological Survey Department, Sri Lanka. pp.278-280.
2) 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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