Samangala Aranya Senasanaya (Samangala forest hermitage) is a Buddhist temple situated in the village of Samangala in Ampara District, Sri Lanka. The mountain, Samangalakanda is located about 5.6 km to the west of 28 Junction on
the Ampara - Maha-Oya road.
History
A large number of caves with drip ledges have been found on the slope of the eastern side of the Samangalakanda mountain (Withanachchi, 2013). Some caves contain Early Brahmi Inscriptions (3rd century B.C.- 1st century A.D.) inscribed just below the drip ledges.
Inscriptions
According to the opinion of Rev. Ellawala Medhananda, the last name mentioned in this cave inscription (thisha aya) indicates the name of King Saddha Tissa [(137 B.C. – 119 B.C.) Medhananda, 2003; Withanachchi, 2013]. Therefore, this inscription gives evidence of the political connectivity between the aforesaid king and the Digamadulla region during the early Anuradhapura Period (Withanachchi, 2013).
An inscribed sketch resembling a figure similar to Sanchi Stupa in India has been found on a tall rock boulder near a cave (Medhananda, 2003). Also, the remains of old rubble walls are still visible in front of several caves (Withanachchi, 2013).
Inscriptions
''Transcript: Upa rajhaha puta aya abaya puta thishaha puta thisha ayana karite maha lene agata anagata chatudisha shagasha dine''
Citation: Medhananda, 2003. p. 214.
An inscribed sketch resembling a figure similar to Sanchi Stupa in India has been found on a tall rock boulder near a cave (Medhananda, 2003). Also, the remains of old rubble walls are still visible in front of several caves (Withanachchi, 2013).
A protected site
Samangala mountain range with drip-ledged cave complex containing inscriptions belonging to Samangala village situated in the Grama Niladhari Division No. W/104B/2, Bandaraduwa in the Divisional Secretary’s Division Uhana is an archaeological protected site, declared by a government Gazette notification published on 10 October 2014.
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References
1) 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.212-215.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1884. 10 October 2014 p.923.
3) Withanachchi, C. R., 2013. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Ampara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-44-5. pp.11,18.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1884. 10 October 2014 p.923.
3) Withanachchi, C. R., 2013. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Ampara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-44-5. pp.11,18.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 14 January 2023
