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Nuwarakanda Viharaya |
Nuwarakanda Raja Maha Vihara (Sinhala: නෑටිය නුවරකන්ද රජ මහා විහාරය) is an ancient Buddhist temple and archaeological site located in Netiya, in the Wariyapola Divisional Secretariat, Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. It is famous for its rock cave monastery architecture, Brahmi Inscriptions, and its historical links with King Valagamba (103, 89-77 B.C.).
History
The history of the Nuwarakanda Vihara can be dated back to the 3rd century B.C. due to the presence of Early Brahmi cave inscriptions at the site. The Department of Archaeology has documented approximately 20 such inscriptions carved below the drip-ledges of the caves. These inscriptions typically record the names of donors who donated the caves to the Buddhist monks.
Nuwarakanda Inscription of Pitiraja
Period: 3rd century B.C.-1st century A.D.
Script: Early Brahmi
Language: Old Sinhala
Transcript: (1) Gamini-Abaya-Pitamaharajhaha jhamata-Kanatishaha (lene) (2) agata-anagata-catu-disha-shagasha dine
Translation: The cave of Kanha Tissa, the son-in-law of the great king Piti(raja), is given to the Sangha of the four directions, present and absent.
Notes: Pitiraja (Peethroo-raja: Father-king) of above inscription is the title by which king Valagamba (103, 89-77 B.C.) is referred to in the Mahavamsa (Paranavitana, 1970).
References: Paranavitana, 1970. p.71.
Also, it is said in chronicles that a minister of King Valagamba built Tissarama or Uttaratissarama monastery and in one of the cave inscriptions at Nuwarakanda Viharaya records the foundation of the monastery named Tisapavata Mahavihara by Kanatisa, a minister of Pita Maharaja (Nicholas, 1963).
A Protected Site
The thirty drip-ledged caves, Asanagharaya, two ancient Buddha shrines and chaitya of Nuwara Kanda ancient Vihare premises in the Grama Niladhari Division of Nettiya, in Wariyapola Divisional Secretary’s Division are archaeological protected monuments, declared by two government gazette notifications published on 6 July 2007 and 6 June 2008.
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References
Books, Government Gazette Notifications, Journal Articles
1) Paranavitana, S., 1970. Inscriptions of Ceylon: Volume I: Early Brahmi Inscriptions. Department of Archaeology Ceylon. pp.lx,71.
(2) Nicholas, C. W., 1963. Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). Special Number: Colombo. Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch). p.103.
3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1505. 6 July 2007. p.547.
4) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1553. 6 June 2008. p.531.
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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.
