Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: කැළණිය රජ මහා විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Kelaniya in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. Local devotees consider this place one of the most sacred 16 Buddhist sites ( Solosmasthana ) in the country. History Ancient Kelaniya
The name Kelaniya (or Kalyani) is found in ancient chronicles such as Mahawamsa as one of the abodes of Nagas who, according to chronicles, is a class of super-humans taking the form of serpents living in a subterranean world (Paranavitana, 1961). The name is also found in a pre-Christian inscription in Mandagala in Hambantota District and in a 5th-century Inscription at Diyagama near Kalutara (Nicholas, 1963). Legends
According to chronicles, the Buddha in the eighth year after his enlightenment visited Kelaniya in Sri Lanka with his followers on the full moon day of Vesak and this visit was done upon the invitation by the Naga King Maniakkhika. It is said that the king built a Stupa here by enshrining the gem-studded thron…