Haththikuchchi Viharaya is a 2nd-century AD ancient Buddhist monastery with over 50 rock inscriptions, spanning 3rd century BC to 10th century AD.
Haththikuchchi Viharaya (Rajanganaya) H aththikuchchi Viharaya (Sinhala: හත්ථිකුච්චි විහාරය) is an ancient Buddhist monastery complex situated in Rajanganaya, Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. History The ruins of the Haththikuchchi ancient monastery complex extends in an area of about 300 acres (Anuradha & Kumari, 2015). A large number of rock and cave inscriptions dating from the 3rd century B.C. to 10th century A.D. are found at the site (Anuradha & Kumari, 2015). Of them, some inscriptions belong to the Vaharala-sellipi type and they record about the freeing of slaves from their compulsory services. On the Haththikuchchi rock and its base, more than fifty rock inscriptions dating from 2nd to 9th centuries A.D. are found. Among them, a 2nd century A.D. inscription reveals the old name of this site as Atiku(ci)ya Vihara and therefore the site is identified by archaeologists with the ancient Haththikuchchi Viharaya, a well-known monastery mentioned in old Pali Commentaries (Nicholas, 1963). Haththikuchchi Vihara Rock In…
