- Area: Sri Lanka
- Type: Attractions
- Group: Buddhism Viharaya
Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara is an ancient Buddhist temple located in the middle of Badulla town in the Badulla District of Uva Province in Sri Lanka.
History
Buddhists believe that this site has been visited by Gautama Buddha, and it is regarded as one of the Solosmasthana, the 16 sacred places in the country. In the 8th year after attaining the Enlightenment, the Buddha made his 3rd visit to Kelaniya on the invitation by a king of the Naga people named Maniakkitha. During this visit, a local chieftain named Indaka invited Buddha to visit his place in Badulla. At the end of sermons made by Buddha there, Indaka wanted something to worship in memory of Buddha’s visit. The Buddha is said to have given him a few of his hair and a few drops of sweat that turned into pearls (mukthaka). Indaka had enshrined this sacred hair and pearls in a stupa, believed to be the stupa here. Indaka, the chieftain of the Deva people is now regarded as a deity, reigning the Namunukula mountain range and Muthiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya.
This site is not cited in well-known historical chronicles such as Mahavamsa, Bodhi Vamsa, or Dhātuvansa but is mentioned in the Samantapasadika which is older than the former documentaries. It states, “The Lord Buddha visited this island thrice. Third time He arrived with 500 monks. Being entered into Nirodha Samapatti (attainment of ceasing of feeling and perception) He stayed here…”, turning the site into most sacred religious one for the Buddhists. This is also regarded as one of 32 Buddhist religious sites wherein the saplings bred from Anuradhapura Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi have been planted.
Refurbishment
King Devanampiya Tissa (307 – 266 BC) further developed the original stupa and turned the site into a temple complex. Thereafter King Jetta Tissa I (266 – 276 AD), King Dhatusena (459-477 AD), King Vijayabahu I (1055–1110 AD), and King Parakramabahu I (1153–1186 AD) renovated the Stupa.
Attractions
The site consists of (a) Thorana (b) Makara Thorana (c) Main image house (d) Center image house (e) Sath sathi Viharaya (f) Statue of deity Indaka (g) Statue of Maithri Bodhisattva (h) Stupa and (i) Bo trees (Bodhi).
Thorana
This thorana (pandol) is at the entrance to the temple. It has six levels and Makara (dragon) is visible on the second level.
Makara thorana
This has been built at the entrance to the main image house.
Image houses
There are two image houses – main and center. The ancient appearance of these two buildings has vanished due to refurbishment in the 1960s and 1970s.
The stupa
The present stupa was constructed with a height of 65 feet (19.8 m) and a diameter of 270 feet (82.3 m) on the ruins of an ancient one in 1956.
Bo trees
There are four Bo trees (Bodhi) remaining in the temple. One is named after Maliyadeva Thera, a disciple believed to be the last one who had attained the state of Arhant in Sri Lanka. Another Bo tree is called Ananda bodiya as it had been brought from Jetavana monastery in Sravasti in India wherein a Bo tree with the same name still remains. Another Bo tree that remains in this site has been considered as it originated from Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi and was planted by King Devanampiya Tissa.
Procession
An attractive procession (Perahera) will be held at the site annually.
Map
