Makulana Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: මකුලාන රජ මහා විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Arampola village in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka.
History
Although there is no credible evidence, folk tradition links the history of this site to the time of Buddha. It is said that a local Brahmin named Kanaka received some hair-relics of Buddha from Tapassu and Bhalluka, the two merchants who, according to Buddhist literature, offered food to the Buddha immediately after his enlightenment. After receiving the hair-relics into a casket, Kanaka was on his way back and he decided to spend the night at the rock where the present Makulana temple has been built. He placed the casket on the rock and spent the night. On the next day, when Kanaka was ready to start his journey, he found that a spider has built a web around the casket and due to that it couldn't be moved from the place. Kanaka informed this miraculous incident to the king who was ruling the area. It is said that the present Stupa of Makulana temple was built by the king around that casket.
However, available archaeological evidence proves that this site has a history running back to the medieval Anuradhapura Era (Anuradha & Kumari, 2015). A slab inscription of the 10th century A.D. has been found from this site (Ranawella, 2005).
Makulana Vihara Slab Inscription
Reign: Abha Salamevan (unidentified) Period: 10th century A.D. Script & Language: Medieval Sinhala
Transcript: (1) Abha Salamevan Mapurmaka pasva (2) nne Mata pura atvak davas Radgalu ......>>
Translation: On the 8th day of the waxing moon in the month of Mat (October-November) in the 5th year of His Majesty Abha Salamevan; the interest of the five Kalandas of gold, which was deposited by Madiya of Radgala shall be continued as a Bramadeya gift
Citation: Ranawella, 2005. p.66.
Also, a lavatory stone belonging to the latter part of the Anuradhapura Period has been found from this site (Anuradha & Kumari, 2015).
A protected site
The ancient Dagoba, inscriptions, ancient buildings, rock surface with column base marks, ancient steps, rock surface with ancient pickaxe marks and ruins of other buildings situated in Makulana Raja Maha Vihara in Arampola Grama Niladhari Division bearing No. 685 Mawathagama Divisional Secretariat Division are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government gazette
notification published on 23 February 2007. References
1) Anuradha, R.K.S.; Kumari, A.S., 2015. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Kurunegala Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-37-2. p.72.
2) Ranawella, S., 2005. Inscription of Ceylon. Volume V, Part
III. Department of Archaeology. ISBN: 955-91-59-57-7. p.66.
3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1486. 23 February 2007. p.524.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 7 January 2023
