Henakaduwa Purana Viharaya (Tangalle)

Henakaduwa Purana Viharaya (Tangalle)
Henakaduwa Purana Viharaya , also known as Henakaduwa Sri Sudarshanarama Viharaya or Kadadora Devalaya of Kataragama (Sinhala: හේනකඩුව පුරාණ විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Marakolliya village near Tangalle in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka. History According to the local tradition, some of the buildings of this temple were constructed by King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747-1782 A.D.) of Kandy (Bohingamuwa, 2005). Folklore There are several folk stories about the origin of this temple and the first of which is related to the arrival of Lord Kataragama to Sri Lanka. It is said that Lord Kataragama who was with his assistant named Kadavara rested in a chena ( Hena in Sinhala) at this place for a while on their way from Devinuwara to Kataragama. After getting up from there, he started his journey but after reaching the Wadigala area he remembered that he had forgotten his sword ( Kaduwa in Sinhala) at the chena where he rested. Although he returned there to bring his sword back, it is s…