Asgiriya Raja Maha Vihara ( si, අස්ගිරිය රජ මහා විහාරය) is an ancient Cave temple situated in

Gampaha District Gampaha District ( si, ගම්පහ දිස්ත්‍රික්කය ''gampaha distrikkaya'', ta, கம்பஹா மாவட்டம் ''Kampahā Māvaṭṭam'') is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the second level administ ...

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්‍රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...

. The temple is located on top of a hillock on the Gampaha - Minuwangoda road and approximately away from Gampaha town. The temple has been formally recognised by the

Government A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state. In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...

as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 22 November 2002 under the government

Gazette A gazette is an official journal, a newspaper of record, or simply a newspaper. In English and French speaking countries, newspaper publishers have applied the name ''Gazette'' since the 17th century; today, numerous weekly and daily newspapers ...

number 1264.

Name

It is said that the name of Asgiri was formed after the lost of horse of Prince Uttiya, the brother of King Kelanitissa, in this area.

History

It is believed that the history of this temple goes to the reign of King Valagamba (89-77 BC). According to the legends King Valagamba, who fled from

Anuradhapura Anuradhapura ( si, අනුරාධපුරය, translit=Anurādhapuraya; ta, அனுராதபுரம், translit=Aṉurātapuram) is a major city located in north central plain of Sri Lanka. It is the capital city of North Central ...

after invasions from

South India South India, also known as Dakshina Bharata or Peninsular India, consists of the peninsular southern part of India. It encompasses the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Telangana, as well as the union territo ...

in 104 BC, stayed in this historical places from time to time. During the reign of King Parakramabahu VI this Asgiriya Rajamaha Vihara had received the patronage by provincial king

Sakalakala Wallabha Sakalakala Wallabha, was the viceroy or provincial king of the sub kingdom of Udugampola in the Kotte Kingdom during the sixteenth century. He was the son of King Veera Parakramabahu VIII of Kotte and his chief queen's sister. His brother, Thani ...

Structures

This cave temple with drip ledges has been constructed with wattle and daub. To the right of the cave temple, a Devalaya can be seen. The image house of the cave temple has been built a little high from the floor ground. A wooden flight of stairs had been made to enter it. Inside the image house, there is a Samadhi Buddha statue with features of art in the

Kandyan period The Kandyan period covers the history of Sri Lanka from 1597–1815. After the fall of the Kingdom of Kotte, the Kandyan Kingdom was the last Independent monarchy of Sri Lanka. The Kingdom played a major role throughout the history of Sri Lanka. ...

. On either side, images of Buddha in Abaya mudra can be seen. The canopy of the cave is decorated with lotus flowers and with various other flower designs. In the upper ground surface of the rock, a Sannasa (Deed of grant) with the picture of a horse is found. Also, there is a pond made on the rock and the Stupa is situated adjacent to it. In the top portion of the rock surface, there is a stone with a footprint of Buddha. On the other side of the rock surface, a big cave with drip ledges can be sen.

References

{{reflist Buddhist temples in Gampaha District Buddhist caves in Sri Lanka Archaeological protected monuments in Gampaha District

Name

History

Structures

See also

References