{"id":140366,"date":"2024-02-09T16:08:03","date_gmt":"2024-02-09T23:08:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/?p=140366"},"modified":"2024-02-09T16:15:06","modified_gmt":"2024-02-09T23:15:06","slug":"buddhist-viharas-and-eelam-part-13b4b","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/2024\/02\/09\/buddhist-viharas-and-eelam-part-13b4b\/","title":{"rendered":"BUDDHIST VIHARAS\u00a0 AND\u00a0 EELAM\u00a0 Part\u00a0 13B4b"},"content":{"rendered":"

KAMALIKA PIERIS<\/em><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n
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Medhananda was able to explore the Eastern Province with greater freedom than the north.  Medhananda has explored 80 Buddhist sites In the Eastern province. They included Agbo Raja Maha Vihara,  Ariyakara Raja Maha Vihara, Bollegama Raja Maha Vihara,    Balahandu vihara, Bambaragastalawa vihara, Boralukanda temple, Nilaveli. Bowattegala vihara,   Buddhangala hermitage,     Dighavapi,  Diviyagala vihara ,   Ganegama vihara ,  Girikumbara vihara ,  Habutala Karandahela vihara ,  Harasgala vihara , Henanegala cave temple,  Illukpitiya kanda len vihara Ampara. Kalkulam Udagala Dagoba,  Kiliveddi bodiya, Kirivehera  Raja Maha Vihara,    Kombanachhi Ruhunu Somawathi vihara , Kongala natabun vihara ,  Kopavela vihara , Kotaveheragala vihara ,    Kuchchaveli Maha vihara,   Kudimbigala  hermitage,  Kukuluvagala vihara, Lankapatuna Samudragiri vihara , Linemalai Sipavata vihara , Malayadikanda vihara,  Namalu vihara , Nawinna  Raja Maha Vihara ( Ampara),   Neelagiri  vihara and cave,  Niyaguna kanda vihara ,  Okanda vihara ,  Omunugala cave temple,  Panama raja maha vihara , Piyangala vihara ,  Pulakunava Maha vihara ,  Rajagala Maha vihara , Ratgala vihara ,  Rugama  Piyakalutota vihara,  Ruhunu magul maha vihara ,  Samangala hermitage, ,Samudragiri,  Sastravela vihara , Seruwila vihara ,  Sri Pana Raja Maha Vihara, Potuvil, Tilapola pansala,   Tiriyaya, Udayagiri Raja Maha Vihara ,     Vedikkinarmalai rock temple,  Veheragala cave temple, Veheragama kubira therun vanaya Ampara,  Veherakema  Mavala vihara , Velatti badda   aramaya and  Velgam vihara.     <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medhananda has also looked at ruins. These are generally of monasteries or vihara, but some were settlements. Medhananda found ruinsat Ananda kulam ,  Agbo Raja Maha Vihara  , Allai, Arantawala  Balagala, Bandaraduva Buriyakulam kanda , Dighavapi,    Etha bandi wewa, Galkanda ,  Hingurana sugar factory (ruins near it).  Ichchalanpattai, Kadolupotana kanda  Kandikudichchi aru, Kondavattavana,   Koravanvadu, Kantalai  track 6 and track 13 ruins,   Kivulevatta ,  Kulankullimalai  , Kunchinamalai, Mulgama kanda. Moraha Pokuna, Mundikulam malai    Narakamulla, Nuwaralagala,  Padi kemgala, Pallewela, Paragahakele,  Pulmoddai ,  Punyadi  ,  Ridikanda  Ranankaduwa,  Sembumalai Serupitiya, Seruwila, Sunetra wewa, Taravakulam,   Tirumangala, Toppigala , Valmandiyagala  Veheragala, Veheragoda ,  Veherakema, Veheratenna, and  Vilankulam.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medhananda has also looked at ancient wewas in the Eastern Province.  He found 115 ancient  wewa in Ampara district, 64 in Batticaloa district  and 300 in Trincomalee district.  In  Batticaloa and Trincomalee most of the  wewa were known a \u2018kulam\u2019. Medhananda has also listed  66 ancient wewas mentioned in  inscriptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medhananda  made it a point to record the ancient names of the places he explored. Mahakaccakodiya vihara in Vavuniya was Tittavalkada,  Kuchchaveli maha vihara was Samudradevi vihara.  Verugal was originally Veheragala. Kottiyar pattu was Kotthasara.   Panama   was known as Vajana rata  in 7th<\/sup> century.  A Gama donated to an aramaya become \u2018aramagam\u2019 which became \u2018Arugam\u2019. Rugam is the Tamilisation of this, said Medhananda . <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medhananda  commented on the ruins he saw. The Yan Oya valley is studded with many stupas and other buildings, he said.   Inscriptions show that there were Buddhist settlements there. At Lankapatuna Medhananda Found  an unprotected  moonstone, the rest have been destroyed. I found 6 inscriptions  there. After I told them the Department of Archaeology went and copied the  inscriptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most number of ruins were found at Ampara. One and a half miles to the east of the preset Devalahinda school, Ampara, there are many ruins of stupas, ponds, Buddha foot prints, and asnagharas. There is a wall fortification 7\u2019 wide, stretching for a distance of about 600 feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sembumale monastery complex spreads over an area of more than hundred acres. Somawathi vihara, Kombanachchiya had ruins no one has seen before. Places like Diviyagala, Damana and Timbirigolle in the vicinity also have inscriptions and ruins. Budu patum kande is  \u2018full of ruins\u2019. Medhananda  found a sandaka pahana there, also interesting  bricks.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Veherakema,  originally known as  Mavala vehera   is in the middle of the Lahugala forest. Medhananda took four hours to travel  the 7 or 8 miles to get there. He was the first to explore  Veherakema. He found a huge rock with the ruins  of a probable padhanaghara, columns  6 or 7  feet high and a plain moonstone without decoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Veheragoda ruins at Ampara, there is a   stupa which shows the earlier style of  stupa building. This  style is also seen at Buddhangala and Rajagala.  Veheragoda wewa  had a  kalugal sorrowwa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Karandahela, Medhananda found a  lotus petal moonstone,  very old bricks, a  huge cave, 512 feet long, 30 ft wide,  and 82 feet height   and a rock carved gal vangediya, one foot deep  with circumference of  7\u2019 2\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At Veheragalkanda, Medhananda   saw a foundation , 50\u2019 x50\u2019 with stone door frame facing the east 9\u20198\u201d in height There was another structure,  18\u20198\u2019  by 14 \u20181\u201d  with ten pillars in the middle, this could be a  gigantic doorway, said Medhananda . When I first visited  the place  there was a torso of a statue lying  there but \u2018now it is not to be seen\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bambaragastalawa has\u00a0 acres of\u00a0 ruins, many, many stupa on hill tops and flat ground,\u00a0 also remains of viharas,\u00a0 image houses, as well as steps, pillars and\u00a0\u00a0 caves. There was no\u00a0 road access to Bambaragastalawa. Medhananda had to go thorugh dense forest inhabited by wild animals.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Medhananda  said that many of the places he saw have not been looked at by the  Department of Archaeology. There are far more Buddhist ruins in Trincomalee district than the 54 given  by the Department, Medhananda said. In our exploration at Digamadulla, too we found many inscription and ruins never seen before. The ruins around Dighavapi have not been explored, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medhananda   had explored Bambaragastalawa,      Lenama, Budubava, Nalitta,   and found ruins which the Department of Archaeology had not found. There are no reports in the Department of Archaeology as to the ruins at Mahapattuva , 8 km from Timbirigolla Vidyalaya.  I found very fine archaeological  ruins at Kadavat maduva near Batticaloa  railway station.  No one had looked there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toppigala has not  been properly explored by the Department  of Archaeology .   Medhananda found 150 archaeological sites in Toppigala. All hillsides around Toppigala  such as Motagala, Vesibandagala,  Atubandagala, Varakamulla,  Kunchinamalai,  Devinigala,  Kavinigala, had vihara on it. Every hill side  around Thoppigala has a ruin of  an aramaya. There were inscriptions too. I spend 8 days exploring in Toppigala jungles, said Medhananda .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viharagal kanda at Trikonamadu  has ruins extending for 10 acres. These have not been explored before. The  ruins of  stupa, walls, caves,  asanaghara could be seen. There is an ancient wewa near ruins. The archaeological sites   at Vasi bandagala,  Aatubandagala, Iddagala, Nelugala,  Mavulivala, have not been explored before. There are lots of ruins . Siripalena, Siluminiseya, Devagala in Maduruoya  valley also  have unseen ruins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The area north of Badulla \u2013Eravur has not been  explored. Lots of  Buddhist      sites there in the forests, also ruins of irrigation schemes. There are Buddhist ruins also at Perillaveli in Eravur pattu, Batticaloa district. These are in dense forest and have not been seen by the  Department of archaeology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If one travels north along the sea coast road, starting from Trincomalee town, one can see many Buddhist ruins, even at present, he observed. Many ruins can be seen at Ridikanda area in Trincomalee district as well. In Batticaloa district, in the deep forest, there is Vasibandagala,   Atubandagala, Iddagala, Nelugala, and Mavulivala, full of ruins which have not been explored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medhananda  found 114 wewas at Dimbulagala  as well as an area which had held paddy fields in the  ancient  period. <\/em>Harasgala and Serankada vihara  near Maha oya were prosperous in ancient times said Medhananda. Veherapokuna in Maduru oya valley was an important  stopping place between Magama and Jaffna.  Ruins at Velatti badda       aramaya in Uhana, shows that this was a very developed aramaya.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medhananda  said that many of the places he has seen have not been looked at by the  Department of Archaeology. There are far more Buddhist ruins in Trincomalee district than the 54 given  by the Department, Medhananda said. In our exploration at Digamadulla we found many inscription and ruins never seen before. The ruins around Dighavapi have not been explored, either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Viharagal kanda at Trikonmadu  has ruins extending for 10 acres. These have not been explored before. The  ruins of  stupa, walls, caves,  asanaghara could be seen. There is an ancient wewa near ruins. The archaeological sites   at Vasi bandagala,  Aatubandagala, Iddagala, Nelugala,  Mavulivala, have not been explored before. There are lots of ruins . Siripalena, Siluminiseya, Devagala in Maduruoya  valley also  have unseen ruins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The area north of Badulla \u2013Eravur has not been  explored. Lots of  Buddhist      sites there in the forests, also ruins of irrigation schemes. There are Buddhist ruins at Perillaveli in Eravur pattu, Batticaloa district. These are in thick forest and have not been seen by the  Department of archaeology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are no reports in the Department of Archaeology as to the ruins at Mahapattuva , 8 km from Timbirigolla Vidyalaya. Found very fine archaeological  ruins at Kadavat maduva near Batticaloa  railway station.  No one had looked there.  Medhananda   had explored Bambaragastalawa,      Lenama, Budubava, Nalitta,   and found ruins which the Department of Archaeology had not found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Toppigala has not  been properly explored by the Department  of Archaeology .   Medhananda found 150 archaeological sites in Toppigala. All hillsides around Toppigala  such as Motagala, Vesibandagala,  Atubandagala, Varakamulla,  Kunchinamalai,  Devinigala,  Kavinigala, had vihara on it. Every hill side  around Thoppigala has a ruin of  an aramaya. There were inscriptions too. I spend 8 days exploring in Toppigala jungles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medhananda   found  that many areas, now thick forest,  had been populated in ancient times. The whole Thottama area was  populated.  A part was at Digamadulla under Ruhuna, a part was under Wellassa. Irrigation channels at Valmandiyagala showed that this was a large settlement. Periyakulam is actually Manamatta wewa and is part of the Sinhala irrigation  schemes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medhananda  found 114 wewas at Dimbulagala  as well as an area which had held paddy fields in the  ancient  period. .<\/em> <\/em>Harasgala and Serankada vihara  near Maha oya were prosperous those days, said Medhananda. Veherapokuna in Maduru oya valley was important  stopping place between Magama and Jaffna, s said Medhananda .  Ruins at Velatti badda       aramaya in Uhana, shows that this was a very developed aramaya. At Pulukunava  there are ruins all over the place. You see caves all over the hillside, with and without drip ledge and inscription. There are About 70 caves of different sizes.    This whole area has been a developed Sinhala Buddhist area, said Medhananda .  ( Continued)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

KAMALIKA PIERIS Medhananda was able to explore the Eastern Province with greater freedom than the north.  Medhananda has explored 80 Buddhist sites In the Eastern province. They included Agbo Raja Maha Vihara,  Ariyakara Raja Maha Vihara, Bollegama Raja Maha Vihara,    Balahandu vihara, Bambaragastalawa vihara, Boralukanda temple, Nilaveli. Bowattegala vihara,   Buddhangala hermitage,     Dighavapi,  Diviyagala vihara ,   […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[104],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-140366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-kamalika-pieris"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=140366"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140366\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=140366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=140366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lankaweb.com\/news\/items\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=140366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}