Mahiyangana Raja Maha Vihara

Description

The Mahiyangana Raja Maha Vihara is an ancient Buddhist temple in Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka, with a significant historical and religious significance. It is one of the Solosmasthana, the 16 sacred religious locations in Sri Lanka. This temple is believed to be the site of Gautama Buddha's first visit to Sri Lanka.

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Buddha's Visiting:

According to historical sources, including the ancient chronicle Mahavamsa, the Buddha visited the Mahiyangana area in the ninth month after enlightenment. This visit marked his first journey to Sri Lanka. At that time, Sri Lanka was inhabited by yakshas. The Mahavamsa recounts that the Buddha subdued the yakshas and discussed Dhamma with them. After this, he sent the yakshas to an island named Giri, intending to purify the land and establish Buddhism there. This marked the beginning of Buddhism's presence in Sri Lanka.

Chronology:

A Yakka chieftain named Saman, who later came to be regarded as a deity, attained Sotāpanna (Sovan) after listening to the Buddha's discourse during his visit. He requested a token from the Buddha to worship in his absence, and the Buddha gave him a handful of hair from his head. Saman enshrined this hair in a small stupa, which is said to be the first stupa built in Sri Lanka.

Over the centuries, several Sri Lankan kings renovated and enlarged this stupa. King Devanampiyatissa is noted for depositing the relic of Griwah-Dawtoe (a neck bone) and enlarging it to a height of 30 cubits. Subsequent rulers, such as Dutthagamani, raised the stupa's height to 120 feet (37 meters). Other monarchs like Voharika Tissa, Sena II, Vijayabahu I, and Kirti Sri Rajasinha also performed repairs and maintenance at the temple.

More recently, in 1942, a group led by D. S. Senanayake was established to renovate the temple. The stupa's new pinnacle was installed in 1980, marking the completion of restoration work that had started in 1953. The Mahiyangana Raja Maha Vihara is being cared for and restored, which is a testament to its lasting importance in Sri Lankan Buddhist history and culture

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