Veheragala Aranya Senasanaya is a Buddhist forest hermitage situated in Unuwathura Bubula village near Maha Oya in Ampara District, Sri Lanka.
History
As evidenced by the inscriptions and other ancient monuments insitu, the origin of this site can be dated back to the 3rd century B.C. (Wijeratna, 2021). A 1st century A.D. rock inscription discovered from this temple reveals that there was a Stupa built for a Pacceka Buddha (Wijeratna, 2021).
Period: 2-4 centuries A.D. Script: Later Brahmi Language: Old Sinhala
Transcript: Dasa mini/veni Pacceka Budha tube pagiya uwasika karitehi
Translation: The Stupa of the 10th Private Buddha is done by devotee Pagiya
Notes: A Private Buddha (Sanskrit: Pratyekabuddha; Pali: Paccekabuddha; Sinhala: Pase Budu) realizes the Truth without the aid of teachers or guides but is not able to impart it to others. The attainment of Nirvana in this manner is one of the three Bodhis recognized by the Theravadians and by the Mahayanists.
Reference: Wijeratna, 2021; Paranavitana, 2001
This inscription is considered important as it is one of the two inscriptions in the country that mentions about a Pacceka Buddha (Wijeratna, 2021). The other inscription is found inscribed on a rock at a place called Diggala in the Savarangal Wewa Mukalana area in Kurunegala District (Paranavitana, 2001).
Monuments
The site extends in an area of about 40 acres (Wijeratna, 2021). Inscriptions belonging to the period between the 3rd century B.C. - 4th century A.D. have been discovered from the site (Wijeratna, 2021). Of them, nine are cave inscriptions while the remaining one is a rock inscription (Wijeratna, 2021). Two dilapidated Stupa mounds and stone pillars of ancient buildings have also been identified (Wijeratna, 2021).
A protected site
Weheragalakanda with all other archaeological remains including cave inscriptions and all drip-ledged caves, rock inscriptions, hillock of Dagoba, flight of steps and chronicles at the premises of Weheragala Aranya Senasana (Latitude 07º 77790' N and longitude 081º 35448' E) belonging to Weheragala village situated in Grama Niladhari Division Unuwathura Bubula in the Divisional Secretary’s Division Mahaoya is an archaeological protected site, declared by a government gazette notification published on 10 October 2014.
References
1) Paranavitana, S., 2001 (Edited by Dias, M.). Inscriptions of Ceylon:
Vol. II. Part II. Archaeological Survey Department, Sri Lanka.
p.291.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1884. 10 October 2014. p.924.
3) Wijeratna, D.M.C.B., 2021. Veheragala Aranya Senasanaya (In Sinhala). Puravidu Welipila. Vol: II Issue: II. ISSN: 2719-2210. p.35-37.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1884. 10 October 2014. p.924.
3) Wijeratna, D.M.C.B., 2021. Veheragala Aranya Senasanaya (In Sinhala). Puravidu Welipila. Vol: II Issue: II. ISSN: 2719-2210. p.35-37.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 12 April 2022
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map
