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Deegavapi (Digavapi)

Deegavapi is one of the 16 places which has been blessed by the Buddha's presence. Buddha was invited to Kelaniya by Mani Akkika of Naga Tribe, ruler of the Kelaniya region on his second visit to Nagadeepa. On the 8th year of attaining nirvana Buddha decided to visit Sri Lanka for the third time specially to Kelaniya. During this visit he came to Deegavapi with 500 arhaths and spend time meditating.

Entrance to the Deegavapi

According to the the Mahavansa, great chronicle of Sri Lanka, this stupa was built by king Saddhatissa (137-119 BC). According to the same the king has also donated a jacket decorated with gold lotus flowers and various gems to cover the stupa.

...... "Moreover, he founded the Dighavapi-vihara together with the cetiya; for this cetiya he had a covering of network made set with gems, and in every mesh thereof was hung a splendid flower of gold, large as a wagon-wheel, that he had commanded them to fashion. (In honour) of the eighty-four thousand sections of the dhamma the ruler commanded also eighty-four thousand offerings. When the king had thus accomplished many works of merit he was reborn, after his death, among the Tusita gods." ...........

large number of stone flower pedestals of different sizes indicating the flourishing state of this complex in the ancient history

Since this location has been blessed by Buddha's presence, it is generally believed that this stupa is a "paribogika" stupa and no special relics has been enshrined. But historian venerable Ellawela Medananda thero believes that this stupa enshrines a nail relic of Buddha. An inscription on a gold foil unearthed during excavations discloses that King Kawanthissa (164-192) has done renovations to the stupa.

With passage of time, this temple was neglected with the internal conflicts of the country. King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe ( 1747 - 1781) seeing the status of the temple carried out major renovations and handed it over to Rev. Bandigide Negrodha thero along with 1000 'amunu' (2000-2500 acres) of land in 1756. Two stone inscriptions by King Saddhasissa and King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe has been in existence at the Deegavapi until last centaury but both of these have mysteriously disappeared now. But a copy of the Rajasinghe inscription which was made in 1845 exists today.

Stone carvings which decorated the Wahalkada during ancient times

During British occupation of the country, the british took over all the land belonging to the temple and the in 1886 the British government agent in Batticaloa instructed to dig this 2000 year old stupa and carried the bricks and ancient granite slabs to be used in irrigation projects in the area. The british used the Muslims in the area to do his work as no Buddhist would take part in this destruction of this revered site. In the end only a mound was left over of this great stupa and was left to the jungle.

In 1916 a priest called Kohukumbure Revatha thero started searching for this stupa and he found some muslims carrying bricks in carts. When inquired, he was told that they were from a great brick mound deep in the jungle. He followed these cartsmen and found the Dageba in absolute ruins. He came back with few buddhists from colombo and started redeveloping this temple area and also managed to reclaim 250 acres of land back to the temple. By this time, Deegavapi area were dominated by Muslims who were given refuge in this area by King Senerath (1604 - 1635) when they were harassed in the coastal areas by the Portuguese. The king not only gave them refuge, but destroyed a portuguese fort at the port called "Deegavapi Thitha" for them to carry out their business activities freely. But in 1950 Kohukumbure Revatha thero was brutally murdered by a Muslim in the area.

A lone carved stone pillar on the premises. Some believe that this place marks a buried treasure according to the priests in the temple

The stupa has been 110 feet height when the archeological department started its renovation work in 1964, but a document by Badigode Buddharakitha thero has put the height to 185 feet in 1845. The circumference of the stupa is about 1000 feet. Currently a height of 30 feet has been restored.

The Deegavapi Stupa lies about 18 kilometres east from Ampara town in an area dominated by Muslims. Today the land belonging to the temple premises including historical artifacts are under threat from Muslims and Muslim politicians who attempt to wipe out any signs Buddhists heritage in these area. In the recent past many conflicts has risen with the muslim politicians trying to destroy the temple artifacts which are spread over thousands of acres. While instances they have been saved most of the time they have been successful with the government turning a blind eye. Recently a parivara chethiya was bulldozed in constructing a road within the Deegavapi land. The LTTE terrorist activities since 1980 also helped this cause since access to this site by the general public was restricted. In the 80's the LTTE attacked a Singhalese village murdering 13 and injuring over 40. Until the LTTE was destroyed in 2008, Deegavapi was again left to few brave priests who risked their lives to maintain a Buddhist presence.

How To Get There

Ampara is the nearest main town to Dighavapi. Take the Akkaraipatthu road from Ampara. It is about 18 km off Ampara town.

More Information

• Dighavapi: Digging deeper - By Walter Rupesinghe - The Sunday Times - 10th October 1999
• Deegavapi : The bulldozed heritage of the Buddhists: Ancient Buddhist heritage site Deegavapi is under threat. Already some areas had been bulldozed. Whenever the patriots bring this issue to the attention of the authorities the sinister activities stop. When the attention is no more, they continue again. In the decades to come, these pictures could be the only reminder that once there was a Buddhist heritage site in Deegavapi.
• History & Archeology of Deegavapi Sacred City : Patriotism is not confined only to the Sinhalese or Sinhala Buddhists- every son and daughter who has been born and bred in this country whether they be Tamils, Muslims, Burghers, Sinhalese, Sinhala Buddhists, Sinhala, Tamil & Burgher Christians, Tamil Hindus must all have even an aorta of national pride about what the history & heritage of this country called “Ceylon” or “Sri Lanka” holds for them and their families.
• Deegavapi: the stronghold of Ruhunu kings : Deegavapi Mandala or Digamadulla is supposed to be the settlement named after Prince Dighayu, one of six brothers of Baddha Katyana, the queen of King Panduwas Deva. It is said that the Indo-Aryan ancestors of the Sinhalese who came from North India and colonized the Island, named those settlements after them. Thompson A.Van de Bona/ Sunday Times
• The pristine glory of Dighavapi : The current status of Dighavapi is a great tragedy not only for the Buddhists but for all Sri Lankans. It is sincerely hoped that at least this Government will take positive and meaningful steps to restore Dighavapi to its pristine glory. If this is not done, I dread to think of what might happen when the proposed Interim Council takes charge of the administration of the northern and eastern provinces. The Island - September 14, 2002

Map

Image Gallery

Recovered stone pillars with 'Pun Kalasa' and other designs	large number of stone flower pedestals of different sizes indicating the flourishing state of this complex in the ancient history
Partially restored Wahalkada	Stone carvings which decorated the Wahalkada during ancient times
large number of stone flower pedestals of different sizes indicating the flourishing state of this complex in the ancient history	Sri Pathul Gal ( foot imprint of Buddha) is the earliest form of representing Buddha. The Buddha images replaced the foot imprint later
Partially restored Wahalkada
Sri Pathul Gal ( foot imprint of Buddha) is the earliest form of representing Buddha. The Buddha images replaced the foot imprint later	large number of stone flower pedestals of different sizes indicating the flourishing state of this complex in the ancient history
Sri Pathul Gal ( foot imprint of Buddha) is the earliest form of representing Buddha. The Buddha images replaced the foot imprint later
Partially restored Wahalkada	A lone carved stone pillar on the premises. Some believe that this place marks a buried treasure according to the priests in the temple
Sri Pathul Gal ( foot imprint of Buddha) is the earliest form of representing Buddha. The Buddha images replaced the foot imprint later
large number of stone flower pedestals of different sizes indicating the flourishing state of this complex in the ancient history

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