Kalagam Vehera or Gal Anda Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: පුරාණ කලාගම් වෙහෙර, ගල් ඇඳ රජමහා විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Halmillawetiya village near Kebitigollewa in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka.
History
This temple has been identified as the ancient Kalagam Vehera which is mentioned in the Attani pillar that was unearthed in 1961 at a site near the present temple premises. The pillar contains an inscription of King Kassapa IV (909-914 A.D.).
Kalagam Vehera pillar inscription
This pillar which had been broken into three parts at the time of its discovery measures 7 ft. by 11 in. by 7 in. and the inscription has been engraved on all sides of it (Ranawella, 2001). The record refers to a grant of immunities proclaimed by King Kassapa IV in respect of a monastery named Kalagam Vehera of Vedara Pirivena attached to the Mangul Pirivena of Abhayagiri Viharaya (Ranawella, 2001).
The site consists of a large Stupa built on a raised squire platform, a stone seat and an Asanaghara building.
References
1) Ranawella, S., 2001. Inscription of Ceylon. Volume V, Part I. Department of Archaeology. ISBN: 955-9159-21-6. pp.271-273.
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This page was last updated on 29 January 2023