Niyuguna Kanda Viharaya, also known as Niyuguna Purana Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: නියුගුණකන්ද විහාරය), is a Buddhist temple situated in Niyuguna village near Eragama in Ampara District, Sri Lanka.
History
The site consists of a large number of ancient ruins including a dilapidated Stupa mound on the top of the mountain, rock-cut flight of steps, pillars of ancient buildings and structures, caves and rock inscriptions (Medhananda, 2003; Withanachchi, 2013). Many caves with drip ledges have been found on the slope of the southern side of the Niyuguna Kanda mountain and some of them contain Early Brahmi Inscriptions inscribed just below the drip ledges (Medhananda, 2003; Withanachchi, 2013).
Period: 3rd century B.C.- 1st century A.D. Script: Early Brahmi Language: Old Sinhala
Transcript: Bata bama datasha lene shagasha dine
Transcript: Bata bama datasha lene shagasha dine
Translation: The cave of lord Brahmadatta was given to Buddhist monks
Citation: Medhananda, 2003. p.192.
Besides the cave inscriptions, a few rock inscriptions have been discovered from the site (Medhananda, 2003). Of them, one mentions about a Stupa and a land grant made to this place (Medhananda, 2003). According to the view of Medhananda, some ruined buildings at this site belong to the 4th century A.D. (Medhananda, 2003).
A protected site
The hill called Niyuguna Kanda with caves with inscriptions and drip-ledges, rock inscriptions, hillock covering Chaitya, stairways and mound ruins belonging to Helagampura (Malayadigama) village situated at No. 5-2- 34-050-04 Irakkamam 05 Grama Niladhari Division in Eragama (Irakkamam) Divisional Secretariat is an archaeological protected site, declared by a government Gazette notification published on 10 October 2014.
References
1) Medhananda, E., 2003. Pacheena passa - Uttara passa: Negenahira palata ha uturu palate Sinhala bauddha urumaya (In Sinhala). Dayawansa Jayakody & Company. Colombo. ISBN: 978-955-686-112-9. pp.189-193.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1884. 10 October 2014 p.915.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1884. 10 October 2014 p.915.
3) Withanachchi, C. R., 2013. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Ampara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-44-5. pp.48-49.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 18 January 2023
