Wilgam Vehera Viharaya | Ancient Somawathi Viharaya of Giri Abhaya?
Wilgam Vehera Viharaya | Ancient Somawathi Viharaya of Giri Abhaya? Not to be confused with Velgam Vehera Viharaya Wilgam Vehera (Sinhala: විල්ගම් වෙහෙර විහාරය) Vilgamvehera, Vilgam Vehera, Wilgamvehera is a Buddhist temple situated a few kilometres north of Seruvila Raja Maha Viharaya near Thoppur town in Trincomalee District, Sri Lanka. History Wilgam is the ancient name of the present Seruvila (or Seruwavila) in Trincomalee District (Nicholas, 1963). Although there is no certain archaeological evidence, it is suggested that the Stupa on present Wilgam Vehera Vihara premises is probably the ancient Somawathi Stupa which is believed to have been erected by Prince Giri Abhaya, the brother-in-law of Prince Kavantissa of Ruhuna (205-161 B.C.). The chronicle Dhatuvamsa states that Somawathi Vihara was situated in the same region close to the Mangala Maha-Cetiya (probably the present Seruvila Raja Maha Viharaya ) built by Kavantissa (Ranawella, 2005). However, as per popular belief, the Stupa at present Somawathi Raja Maha Viharaya in Polonnaruwa is the ancien…