Vehera Benda Kutiya (Srawasthipura) Vehera Benda Kutiya , also known as Kutiya Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: වෙහෙර බැන්ද කුටිය, කුටිය රජමහා විහාරය), Veherabendakutiya is a forest hermitage established around a small hillock in Srawasthipura near Anuradhapura town, Sri Lanka. The Kudarathmale inscription which is popularly called the Vehera Benda Gala rock inscription is found engraved on the top of the hillock of this temple. Presently, the temple is surrounded by a forest of about 50 acres (Bambaradeniya, 2004). History The Vaharala -type (release from slavery) Kudārathmalē inscription reveals that the Buddhist monastery at this site was in existence since the 6th-7th centuries A.D. (Paranavitana & Godakumbura, 1963). It further reveals detailed information including the date, the month, and also the regnal year dated from the coronation of the king who effected the manumission (Paranavitana & Godakumbura, 1963; Wickramasinghe, 2005). Kudaratmale Inscription Period: 6-7th centuries A.D. Script: Later Brahmi Language: Old S…