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Metigahatenna Cave Temple |
Shaila-Abyanthararama Viharaya or Metigahatenna Viharaya (Sinhala: ශෛලඅභ්යන්තරාරාම විහාරය/ මැටිගහතැන්න විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Metigahatenna village in Badulla District, Sri Lanka.
History
As the presence of an Early Brahmi Inscription, the history of this site can be dated back to pre-Christian times. This inscription indicates that the cave of this site was an abode of Buddhist monks during the 2nd-1st century B.C.
Metigahatenna Cave Inscription
Period: 2nd-1st centuries B.C. Script: Early Brahmi Language: Old Sinhala
Transcript: Upasaka-Dinaha lene Manapadashane shagasha
Translation: The cave (named) Manapadassana of the lay devotee Dinna (is given) to the Sangha.
Citation: Paranavitana, 1970. p.57.
A Protected Site
The drip-ledged cave with inscriptions in the premises of Shaylabhyanthararama ancient cave temple in Metigahatenna village in the Grama Niladhari Division No. 18 of Metigahatenna in Lunugala Divisional Sectetary’s Division is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government gazette notification published on 1 June 2023.
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References
Books, Government Gazette Notifications
1) Paranavitana, S., 1970. Inscriptions of Ceylon: Volume I: Early Brahmi Inscriptions. Department of Archaeology Ceylon. p.57.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka; Extraordinary. No: 2334/41. 1 June 2023. p.4A.