Pashchimarama Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: පස්චිමාරාම රජමහා විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated on the bank of Kirindi Oya in Debarawewa village in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka.
History
The construction of this temple is attributed to Mahanaga, the younger brother of King Devanampiyatissa [(247-207 B.C.) Abeyawardana, 2004]. As per the view of Abeyawardana, this was an important Buddhist temple before it went into obscurity with the change of the capital during the 12th century (Abeyawardana, 2004). The temple was renovated again after the area was colonized in the 20th century (Abeyawardana, 2004).
There is an ancient standing Buddhist statue and its basal structure on the temple premises. The statue is 2.6 m in height with its pedestal and is made out of limestone (Somadeva, 2006). According to Somadeva, this statue depicts the features of the Andra style and hence can be dated to the 8th century A.D. (Somadeva, 2006).
A Protected Site
The Stupa and other building ruins at Pashchimarama Vihara premises in Debarawewa village in Tissamaharama Divisional Secretariat Division are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government gazette notification published on 1 November 1996.
References
1) Abeyawardana, H.A.P., 2004. Heritage of Ruhuna: Major natural, cultural and historic sites. Colombo: The Central Bank of Sri Lanka. ISBN: 955-575-073-4. p.127.
2) Somadeva, R., 2006. Urban origins in southern Sri Lanka. Doctoral thesis in Archaeology at Uppsala University. p.135.
3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 948. 1 November 1996.