Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya
Description
Yatagala Raja Maha Viharaya is an example of the several masterpieces in the Unawatuna, Galle area that reveals the antiquity of Sri Lanka, Maintaining some complex tasks of art originating from various kingdoms.
The temple is on a rock and consists of a 9 m reclining Buddha statue. Temple walls are decorated with murals, and the temple follows a related formation to the Rock Cave Temple of Dambulla.
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Over the centuries, three Sri Lankan kings supported the temple, including King Parakrama Bahu the Second, who had the 18 statues of Buddha lying down in the cave of the temple built. Then, during the reign of King Sri Vikrama Rajasinghe of Kandy, the temple was bestowed with gifts of land and other valuable items.
During the British colonial era, the temple's chief priest formed a strong friendship with Governor Marshall, and one of the Buddhist schools established during that time was named after him.
At one point, 18 temples were under the administration of Yatagala Rajamaha Viharaya, and it was also given the custodianship of Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Vihara and Magul Maha Vihara.
The temple was made a holy place in recent years, and work has begun to bring it back to its former glory. Infrastructure was built by the government, and donors to the temple helped build a golden fence around the Bodhi Tree and a statue of Buddha in deep meditation. The temple's cavern was also turned into a meditation hall, and a granite Samadhi Buddha statue was installed inside.
Archaeologists believe that the granite boulders around the Bodhi Tree may have been deliberately placed to create a rocky garden, which may have been why the Bo Tree was planted at this location.
