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Yakgiri Lena Viharaya |
Yakgiri Lena Viharaya (Sinhala: සේරුවැව යක්ගිරි ලෙන් විහාරය) is a Buddhist cave temple situated in Seruwewa village in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. The site can be reached by travelling from Kurunegala town towards Hiripitiya until reach the Rangama Junction and then towards Gonagama. The name board to the temple is found on the junction that comes just after crossing the railway road.
History
Locals link the history of this temple to Arhat Mahinda Thera. Although there is no concrete evidence, it is said that he visit this site after arriving in Sri Lanka in the reign of King Devanampiyatissa (247-207 B.C.) of Anuradhapura (Anuradha & Kumari, 2015). However, the Early-Brahmi Inscription engraved just below the drip-ledge of the main cave temple confirms that this site was an abode for the Buddhist monks since the pre-Christian era.
Yakgiri Lena Vihara Inscription of Yasopala
Period: 3rd century B.C.-1st century A.D.
Script: Early Brahmi
Language: Old Sinhala
Transcript: Parumaka-Yashopalaha lene agata-anagata-catu-disha-shagasha
Translation: The cave of the chief Yasopala, [is given] to Sangha of the four quarters, present and absent
References: Paranavitana, 1970. p.73.
The ancient structures of the temple show architectural features from both the Anuradhapura and Kandyan Periods (Anuradha & Kumari, 2015).
A Protected Site
The cave temple (Len Vihara) and the drip-ledged caves with inscriptions belonging to the Seruwewa Yakgirilen Viharaya premises situated in the No. 767 Seruwewa Grama Niladhari Division of the Kurunegala Divisional Secretary Division are archaeological protected monuments, declared by two government gazette notifications published on 6 June 2008 and 24 July 2009.
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References
Books, Government Gazette Notifications
1) Anuradha, R.K.S.; Kumari, A.S., 2015. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Kurunegala Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-37-2. pp.15-16.
2) Paranavitana, S., 1970. Inscriptions of Ceylon: Volume I: Early Brahmi Inscriptions. Department of Archaeology Ceylon. p.73.
3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1553. 6 June 2008. p.532.
4) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1612. 24 July 2009. p.1024.
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Attribution
To Whom
LankaPradeepa.com extends its gratitude to Mr Navod Hemal for providing the necessary photographs required for this article. All the photos are published here with the permission of the author.
