Step with History

Wattarama Sri Arahantha Maliyadeva Rajamaha Viharaya

2021-12-14T01:44:00.023-08:00

Wattarama Sri Arahantha Maliyadeva Rajamaha Viharaya

Wattarama Sri Arahantha Maliyadeva Rajamaha Viharaya is located in the Kegalle District of the Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. The last great Arahant of the Buddha Sasana, Arahant Wanagupta Maliyadeva, and 500 other Arahants who were the crown jewels of Sathkorala lived in this sacred place. Historical information as well as genealogical records and archaeological records as well as information on ruins and inscriptions scattered throughout the area indicate that this land has a long history dating back to the Anuradhapura era. This temple is located about 8.5 Km from Kegalle town and about 4.5 Km from Polgahawela near the main road. This sacred place of historical and archaeological value is revered by local and foreign Buddhists.

History has it that during the reign of King Pathis II, the area was inhabited by the Naga tribes. For the same reason, King Pathis II had to revive Buddhism with Vattarama as its center. One of the branches that emerged after the planting of the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in the Mahamevna Uyana in Anuradhapura has been planted in Wattarama Maliyamahapaya. Wattarama Vihara was known by various names in the past. In the early days, it was known as Chandrarakanthipura and later as Thalawathupitiya.

This place is also known as Wattarama as there are thousands of monasteries around it. The Pali commentary also mentions the name as Kalala Grama Mandalaramaya. It is said that from the beginning it was famous as a monastery where Arahants lived.

The history of Wattarama seems to have improved as well as deteriorated over time. Wijesundera Lewke Adhikaram, who ruled the Kegalle District at that time around 1744 AD, took action to develop this temple. The old Vihara Mandiraya and murals believed to have been made by him reflect the talents of the Kandy artists. Ven. Pethiyagoda Sri Dhammapala Vipassi, Godigamuwe Sri Ratanapala and Medagama Gunaratana Theras who used to work at the Wattarama Temple in the past have developed and maintained this temple in a prosperous condition.

Historical sites in this sacred area

- Old Vihara Mandiraya

- New Vihara Mandiraya

- Siripathula

- The Poya House

- Pothgula

- Bo Tree

- Malimahapaya

- Stone Seat

Location: Wattarama Raja Maha Viharaya (Click Here)

Thissa Wewa, Anuradhapura

2021-07-10T03:29:00.001-07:00

Thissa Wewa

In 300 BC, Thissa Wewa built by King Devanampiyatissa has a capacity of 2500 acres. After the kingdom of Anuradhapura, it was considered as a lake of water obtained for royal and religious ceremonies. Only Panda Wewa (5^th century BC) and Abhaya Wewa (5^th-4^th century BC) are older.

The water of Thissa wewa was used for the activities of Sri Maha Bodi and the Department of Archeology has discovered a tunnel that carries water to the Sri Maha Bodhi. The 54-mile-long Jaya Ganga carries water to Thissa Wewa. According to Mahawansa, King Bhatikabaya (20 BC-9 AC) used a machine to pump water up to Ruwanweli Seya and sprinkled water on flowers that covered the entire stupa.

An inscription of King Mihidhu (IV) states the rules regarding the use of water in Thissa Wewa. It covers 910 acres of cultivated land area and the maximum water capacity is 3215-acre feet.

- Location: Thissa Wewa (Click Here)

Sri Maha Bodhiya, Anuradhapura

2021-07-09T13:00:00.010-07:00

The Sacred Bo-Tree (Sri Maha Bodhi)

The Sacred Bo-tree; Jaya Sri Maha Bodiya of Anuradhapura is a unique place of worship that is highly revered by the Sinhala Buddhists and is also known as the oldest living human-planted tree in documented history. The present age of the Sri Maha Bodi is 2,271 years (2021).

Statue of Sangamiththa Theraniya

Around 236 BC, at the request of King Devanampiyathissa, Emperor Dharmashoka of India sent the southern branch of the Sri Maha Bodi in Bodhgaya to Sri Lanka by his daughter Arahant Sangamiththa Mahatheree. Then King Devanampiyathissa planted the Bodhi Tree in his Royal Park “Maha Megavana Udyanaya” in Anuradhapura, under the guidance of Arhant Mihidu Maha Thero.

There are four main festivals (Duruthu Mangalle, Parana Avurudu Mangalle, Nanumura Mangalle and Karthika Mangalle) are held for the honor of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi. Spraying & Bathing in the Bodhi Tree from the Thisa Wewa is a major feature of the Poson festival. It is held for the purpose of alleviating drought & obtaining rain.

Almost every king who has ruled since ancient times has taken steps to protect the Sacred Bo-Tree; Jaya Sri Maha Bodiya of Anuradhapura.

-Location: Sri Maha Bodiya, Anuradhapura (Click Here)

Somawathiya Raja Maha Viharaya, Polonnaruwa

2021-07-09T04:11:00.017-07:00

Somawathiya Raja Maha Viharaya

Somawathiya Raja Maha Viharaya is a Buddhist temple located in the Somawathiya National Park on the left bank of the Mahaweli River in Thamankaduwa Divisional Secretariat Division of Polonnaruwa District of North Central Province, Sri Lanka. In Somawathi Dagoba is highly revered for enshrining the right tooth relic of Lord Buddha.

Archeological excavations and Historical books such as Palidathuwansaya, Sinhala Dhathuwansaya & Jinakalamaliniya reveal facts about the Somawathi Dagoba. This Dagoba and the land was gazette as an archeological Reserve on July 07, 1967. It no secret about Incredible unnatural phenomena which has been accruing around the stupa. These have been witnessed by thousands of pilgrims.

The story of Somawathiya Raja Maha Viharaya

Princess Somawathi (sister of King Kavanthissa who ruled Magampura in Ruhuna) married prince Abhaya the son-in-low of King Shiva of Kelaniya, and lived in GiriNuwara. Upon the arrival of King Dutugemunu, Prince Abhaya left GiriNuwara with princess Somawathi to King Shiva.

After that, prince Abhaya made a Somapura kingdom near the Mahaweli River in a colony donated by King Shiva. Prince Abhaya constructed Somawathi Dagoba on the request of his wife who wanted to engage in religious activities. And then, Prince Abhaya built a dagoba with a temple in the middle of a beautiful Sal Forest where 60 Arahants lived. Upon completion of the dagoba, the prince and princess requested a Mahinda Thero for giving relics to the dagoba, then Mahinda Thero donated the right tooth relic of Lord Buddha. After the completion of the dagoba, the prince named this Viharaya in his princess’s name Somawathi and handed over the temple to Mahinda maha thero and sixty other monks and also, there are four temples were built on all four corners and a temple in the inner courtyard on the north side of the main entrance for the protection of the Somawathi Dagoba.

Current Location

According to the chronicles, the Somawathi Dagoba is located in the Ruhuna area in the east of the Mahaweli River. But over time, now it is connected to the North Central Province about half a mile from the Mahaweli River.

Reformation

In the 9 BC, King Naga built another dagoba around the old dagoba for the protection of the Tooth Relic and sacrificed the village of Rajapitiya and 28 amunas (Measurements of the area used in ancient Sri Lanka was a system derived from paddy agriculture) from a paddy field called Rajali to the temple and also, two inscriptions were formed.

A 10 rows board the inscription placed near the dagoba, that in 164 AC, King Kanittathissa renovated the Somawathi Dagoba & Temple. In 112 AC, an inscription on the Ericsson (This rock got its name because a photographer called Eric Swan who was killed by a wild elephant near this rock on which the inscription is located) stone states that King Gamini Abhaya (Gajabahu I) donated the income of a village to this temple. Archaeological excavations have revealed that the Somawathiya Raja Maha Viharaya is surrounded by a large wall and the courtyard is 1000 feet east and 600 feet north, south, and west.

Inscriptions

Ruins

Carved SriPada

Ruins

Terrorist Attack

In 1987, terrorists went to Somawathi Viharaya and killed about a Buddhist monk and seven civilians. A few days later, on December 15 of 1987 terrorists returned to the temple, stole the “Chuda Manikya” (the large gemstone placed at the very top of the dagoba) and dug about one and a half feet into the base of the dagoba. since 1966, S. Dissanayake is the caretaker of this land. So, the terrorists have brutally killed 10 people including his children. On the same day, the leader of this terror group died at the stupa by mistakenly firing his own weapon and they left.

Restoration after the terrorist threats

Fifteen years later, the Sri Lanka government recaptured the temple grounds through a ceasefire agreement between the terrorists, the gravel roads were reconstructed and open to the pilgrims in 2002. The “Chuda Manikya” was later discovered by the archeological Department.

Bo tree

Buddha Statue

Front Gate

- Location: Somawathi Raja Maha Viharaya (Click Here)

Dewanagala Raja Maha Viharaya

2021-07-05T08:18:00.020-07:00

Dewanagala Raja Maha Viharaya

Dewanagala Raja Maha Viharaya is a Buddhist Temple of great historical value located in the Aranayake area in the Kegalle District of the Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka and also, this Temple is situated on top of the Dewanagala rock which is 1089 feet above sea level. It is believed that this was built by King Parakramabahu (1153-1186) during the Polonnaruwa period and also believed that it was created by King Wattagamini Abhaya, better known as King Walagamba (89-77 BC) who ruled during the Anuradhapura Kingdom.

How did Dewanagala get its name? 👀

According to the folklore, this place has different stories about how Dewanagala got its name.

- This sacred place was named Dewanagala as the God of Aluthnuwara (God Dedimunda) came to Dewanagala after the Higule Kirungalpaya.

- This place is called Dewanagala on the ground that it is second to Bathalegala.

One of the inscriptions on the top of the rock states that King Parakramabahu(I) had donated this Dewanagala land to the commander of his army named Kirthi Nuwaragala (Kith Nuwara Gal), who had invaded Burma and captured Kusumiyapura.

The full translation of this inscription is found on the publication “Lakdiva Sellipi” by Kothmale Amaravansha Thero published by M. D. Gunasena in 1969. Dewanagala is Known as the “Parana Nuwara” in the ancient name book.

Dewanagala receives the patronage of King Wimaladharmasooriya(I) (1592 – 1604) of the Kandyan Kingdom. The second inscription states that king Wimaladharmasooriya made many donations to this sacred place on behalf of Ven. Rathanalankara Thero helped a lot for Kingship. It is said that the Dagoba, Bomaluwa, and the Pond were built by King Wimaladharmasooriya. The Kandyan period is considered the golden era here.

There is a Tampita Viharaya built during the Kandyan Kingdom and today a new building has been constructed around it. The Tampita Viharaya has an elaborate dragon’s arch (Makara Thorana) and a seated Buddha statue beneath it. Two statues of deities stand beside seated Buddha and there are also two-seated Buddha statues next to the God statues and more two seated Buddha statues facing each other.

The Mahavamsa mentions a temple built by King Dhathusena in the Dhasen Pavuva during the Anuradhapura period. It is said that Dewanagala was known as Dhasen Pawwa at that time which is also named as Kithsen Pawwa and Duniyasela Viharaya.

Tampita Viharaya

At the top of the Dewanagala, you can see beautiful paddy fields, peaks as well as beautiful views of Alagalla, Aluthnuwara, Rahalagala, Bathalegala, Asupini Alla, Uthuwankanda, Samasara Kanda etc. so, Dewanagala is a sacred place built & developed during the most valuable royal eras in the history of Ceylon, because of the evidence can found in temple premises connect to “Anuradhapura”, “Polonnaruwa” & “Kandy” Kingdom’s time.

Gal Viharaya

Gal Viharaya(inside)

Pond at Dewanagala Temple

- Location : Dewanagala Raja Maha Viharaya (Click Here)

Step with History

Wattarama Sri Arahantha Maliyadeva Rajamaha Viharaya

Wattarama Sri Arahantha Maliyadeva Rajamaha Viharaya

Historical sites in this sacred area

- Old Vihara Mandiraya

- New Vihara Mandiraya

- Siripathula

- The Poya House- Pothgula- Bo Tree- Malimahapaya- Stone Seat

Thissa Wewa, Anuradhapura

Thissa Wewa

Sri Maha Bodhiya, Anuradhapura

The Sacred Bo-Tree (Sri Maha Bodhi)

Somawathiya Raja Maha Viharaya, Polonnaruwa

Restoration after the terrorist threats

Dewanagala Raja Maha Viharaya

Dewanagala Raja Maha Viharaya

- The Poya House

- Pothgula

- Bo Tree

- Malimahapaya

- Stone Seat