Lahugala Kota Vehera

Lahugala Kota Vehara
ලාහුගල කොට වෙහෙර
Basic information
Location Lahugala, Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates 06°52′41.1″N 81°45′10.6″E / 6.878083°N 81.752944°E / 6.878083; 81.752944Coordinates: 06°52′41.1″N 81°45′10.6″E / 6.878083°N 81.752944°E / 6.878083; 81.752944
Affiliation Buddhism
District Ampara
Province Eastern Province
Heritage designation Archaeological protected monument (10 October 2014)[1]
Architectural type Buddhist Temple

Lahugala Kota Vehera (Sinhalaː ලාහුගල කොට වෙහෙර) or Kota Vehara Raja Maha Vihara is an ancient Buddhist temple situated in Lahugala, Ampara District, Sri Lanka. The temple is located in Pansalgoda Grama Niladari division of Lahugala DS and lies on Colombo - Batticaloa main road about 10 km (6.2 mi) far from Pothuvil town. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 10 October 2014 under the government Gazette number 1884.[1] The protected monuments include the ancient Dagaba, building sites with stone pillars, flight of steps carved on natural rock plain and drip ledged caves. The Stupa in the Vihara has been identified as one of four Kota Vehera Styled structures found around Sri Lanka.[2]

Kota Vehera inscriptions

Ruins of an ancient pond and image house

Inscription no. 1

Reign: Bhathika Tissa (19 BC - 9 AD)
Period: 1st century AD
Script: Later Brahmi
Language: Old Sinhala
Text: Siddham! Devanapiyatisa rajaha marumakanakaha Kutakana rajaha puta Gamini Abaya......
Content: "Hail! Gamini Abhaya, son of Kutakanna Tissa, grandson of king Devanampiya Tissa......"

Inscription no. 2

Reign: Gajabahu I (112 - 134)
Period: 2nd century AD
Script: Later Brahmi
Language: Old Sinhala
Content: "Sabaya, the minister of king Gamini Abhaya (Gajaba) having exempted from taxes the hundred karises (400 amunas) of paddy land under Digalaka tank, donated it to Digalaka Vihara. Furthermore ten karises (40 amunas) of paddy land were offered for the activities of the Cetiya and one karisa (4 amunas) has been donated for lighiting lamp at the Stupa"

See also

  • Dadigama Kota Vehera
  • Deliwala Kota Vehera
  • Damila Maha Seya

References

  1. 1 2 Gazette 1884 & 10 October 2014, p. 917.
  2. ↑ "Lahugala Kota Vehera – ලාහුගල කොටවෙහෙර". Amazing Lanka. Retrieved 18 January 2017.

Notes

  • "PART I : SECTION (I) — GENERAL Government Notifications" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. 1884. 10 October 2014.
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