Kushtarajagala in Weligama is a large ancient rock-cut Bodhisattva statue, famed in folklore as the “Leper King,” dating to around the 7th–8th century
Kushtarajagala Statue K ushtarajagala (lit: the rock of the Leper King; Sinhala: කුෂ්ඨරාජගල), is a rock-cut Bodhisattva statue sculptured on the face of a large rock boulder situated in Weligama, Matara District, Sri Lanka. Located in close proximity to Weligama Agrabodhi Viharaya , the statue is considered one of the finest Mahayana sculptures found in the country (Abeyawardana, 2004). History The exact history of this statue is not clear but several folk stories associated with Kushtarajagala describe how the present name and the statue originated. According to one story, a Sinhalese king who suffered from a Kushta (skin disease) constructed this statue after his illness was cured at this site (Abeyawardana, 2004). Another story tells that a foreign king who was suffering from a skin disease (leprosy) came to Agrabodhi Viharaya and made a vow at the shrine of God Vishnu to offer alms if he recovered from his disease. After getting cured, the king fulfilled his vow and carved his image here to commemorate the…
