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Mulgirigala Viharaya |
Mulgirigala Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: මුල්ලේගම මුල්ගිරිගල රජමහා විහාරය) is a Buddhist cave temple situated in Mullegala village in Marumgoda Grama Niladhari Division of Nawagattegama Divisional Secretariat in Puttalam District, Sri Lanka.
History
The Early Brahmi Inscriptions at the site indicate that this temple has a long history rooting back to the pre-Christian era. Six early Brahmi inscriptions and one later Brahmi inscription were copied and published in 1970 by the eminent archaeologist S. Paranavithana (Paranavitana, 1970). Of them, one inscription contains a few non-Brahmi symbols (Paranavitana, 1970).
Period: 3rd century B.C.-1st century A.D.
Script: Early Brahmi
Language: Old Sinhala
Transcript: Bata-Sivabuti ca parumaka-[Su]managutaha ca shadaya lene
Translation:
The cave is a co-donation of Lord Sivabhuti and of Chief Sumanagutta.
Reference: Paranavitana, 1970. p.84.
Locals also link the history of this temple to King Dappula who reigned in the late Anuradhapura Period. The Stupa on the temple premises have been renovated later. The building presently used as the residence of the monks is said to have been constructed about 300 years ago.
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References
Books
1) Paranavitana, S., 1970. Inscriptions of Ceylon: Volume I: Early Brahmi Inscriptions. Department of Archaeology Ceylon. pp.84,100.