Somawathiya Viharaya is a Buddhist temple in Polonnaruwa District. It is believed to have been constructed by Nakula, son of King Mahadatika Mahanaga.
Somawathi Raja Maha Viharaya Not to be confused with Somawathi Viharaya, Dambulla S omawathiya Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: සෝමාවතිය රජමහා විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in the middle of Somawathiya National Park in Polonnaruwa District, Sri Lanka. History Somawathi Vihara is believed to have been constructed by Prince Giri Abhaya, the brother-in-law of Prince Kavantissa of Ruhuna [(205-161 B.C.) Ranawella, 2005]. The chronicle Dhatuvamsa states that Somawathi Vihara was situated in the same region close to the Mangala Maha-cetiya (probably the present Seruvila Raja Maha Viharaya ) built by Kavantissa (Ranawella, 2005). However, some inscriptions discovered from the present Somawathiya premises have proved beyond doubt that it was not the Vihara built by Giri Abhaya but that it is a Vihara named Pajina Nakela Araba built by a Prince named Nakula, son of King Mahadatika Mahanaga [(9-21 A.D.) Dias, 2001; Nicholas, 1963; Paranavitana, 1983; Paranavitana, 2001; Ranawella, 2005]. Presently, the Wilgam Vehera Vihara…
