Handagala Kanda Viharaya

Handagala Kanda Viharaya

Handagala Kanda Viharaya (Photo credit: Dishan Danushka Ekanayaka, Google Street View) Handagala Kanda Viharaya (Sinhala: හඳගලකන්ද පුරාණ ගල්ලෙන් විහාරය) is an ancient cave temple situated 4 km northwest of Ratmalgahawewa junction in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka. History Although the person who initiated the construction of the site is not known, the drip-ledged caves with Early Brahmi Inscriptions of the 2-1 century B.C. indicate that this site was a Buddhist monastery of the Anuradhapura Period since the pre-Christian era (Nicholas, 1963). The place names occurring in these inscriptions include the name "Mataligama" which may be the same as "Mahatalitagama" where the Pandyas inflicted their shattering defeat on the army of King Sena I [(833-853 A.D.) Nicholas, 1963]. Handagala Vihara Cave Inscription of Naga and Tissa Period: 2-1 century B.C.                   Script: Early Brahmi Language: Old Sinhala Transcription: Bata-Nagaha lene shagasha Mataligamika-puta gamika-T…