Yatala Vehera

Yatala Vehera
Yatala Vehera Viharaya (Sinhala: යටාල වෙහෙර) is a Buddhist temple situated in Debarawewa, near Tissamaharama in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka. History The ancient name of Yatala Vehera is not known (Nicholas, 1963). Three inscriptions belonging to the 6th to 7th centuries A.D. and two belonging to the 10th century A.D. have been discovered at the site (Devendra, 1956; Nicholas, 1963; Ranawella, 2005). Locals are in believe that Yatala Vehera was built and donated to Aritta Thera by regional King Mahanaga (3rd century B.C.) as a memento of his queen giving birth to his son, Prince Yatthalakatissa, at this spot when they were fleeing from the wrath of the queen of King Devanampiyatissa (247-207 B.C.) of Anuradhapura (Abeyawardana, 2004). The chronicle Mahavamsa mentioned a temple named Yatthalaya Viharaya that was built at the place where Mahanaga's son, Yatthalakatissa, was born (Nicholas, 1963). However, according to Nicholas, the present Yatala Vehera at Tissamaharama is not the …