Muhudu Maha Vihara (
Sinhalaː මුහුදු මහා විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple at
Pottuvil
Pottuvil ( ta, பொத்துவில், translit=Pottuvil; si, පොතුවිල, translit=Potuvil) is a town in the Ampara District of Sri Lanka, located in the Eastern Province on the eastern coast of the Island. It is situated ...
in
Ampara District
Ampara District ( ta, அம்பாறை மாவட்டம், translit=Ampāṟai Māvaṭṭam; si, අම්පාර දිස්ත්රික්කය, translit=Ampāra Distrikkaya) is one of the 25 districts of Sri Lanka, the s ...
,
Eastern province of
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 ...
.
This temple, near a wide beach, was built over 2000 years ago by
King Kavan Tissa of Ruhuna. The ruins and remains of ancient stupas, Seema Malaka, Avasa Geya and statues can be seen at the site. Important ruins at the temple premises include stone statues of Buddha and two statues of old kings or gods.
History
This viharaya marks the landing place of
Viharamahadevi
Viharamahadevi ( Sinhala:විහාරමහාදේවි) was the mother of King Dutugamunu, Saddhatissa and the Queen consort of King Kavantissa (King of the Ruhuna Sri Lanka). Some scholars suggest that her original name was 'śavera', wh ...
, daughter of
Kelani Tissa
King Kelani Tissa is a king who ruled Kelaniya of Sri Lanka. His brother was Uttiya. His daughter was Viharamahadevi
Viharamahadevi ( Sinhala:විහාරමහාදේවි) was the mother of King Dutugamunu, Saddhatissa and the Queen c ...
, who was destined to become the queen of King Kavan Tissa of the Rohana kingdom.
According to the ancient chronicle ''Rajavaliya'', it is stated that in the second century BC after
Kelaniya
Kelaniya ( si, කැලණිය ta, களனி) is a suburb of Colombo in the Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is known for the Buddhist temple built on the banks of the Kelani River, which divides the suburb from Colombo District. The templ ...
was submerged by the sea due to a natural disaster, Devi the daughter of King of Kelaniya was cast to sea in a Golden Vessel to appease the gods, and washed ashore near the Muhudu Maha Vihara in Pottuwil. Later she became the main consort of king Kavan Tissa of
Ruhuna Kingdom, under the name Viharamahadevi.
See also
*
Magul Maha Viharaya
Notes and references
External links
Muhudu Maha Viharaya, Pottuvil
Buddhist temples in Ampara District
Archaeological protected monuments in Ampara District
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