Pulukunava Asanaghara and the Rajamaha Viharaya at Ampara

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Ampara Pulukunava Asanaghara, caves and ancient ruins lie at the boundary of the Galoya scheme, by the Ampara – Mahiyangana road on a large forested hill. On the southern scrap of the hill are a large number of drip-ledged caves. In many of these caves are pre-Christian inscriptions. At the foot of the hillock south of this hill are the remains of some structures. Among these are three dagabas vandalized by treasure hunters, some pillared structures and a pond. Buried under the earth is the torso of a Buddhist statue. The structures at the site are guarded by a prakara.

Pulukunava is made in the form of a pabbatha vihara architecture. Archaeologists believe that Pabbata Vihara were built by merging with a natural rock formation. These are built by arranging several rectangular building areas (courtyards) at different levels surrounded by water. In the upper courtyard itself are the four sacred buildings arranged in specific order. In the ancient architecture book ‘Manju Sri Bhashitha Vastuvidyawa” (මඤ්ජු ශ්‍රී භාෂිත වාස්තුවිද්‍යාව) written in Sanskrit, these buildings and standards are well explained. 

The basic feature of these monasteries is a large rectangular precinct or sacred quadrangle containing the four major shrines, a stupa, a bodhighara, a patimaghara and a prasada, identified as the uposathaghara. VijayaramayaPankuliya AsokaramayaPacina Tissa Pabbatha ViharayaPuliyankulama Pabbata Viharaya (Pubbaramaya)Toluvila and Vessagiriya are the temples of this tradition in Anuradhapura. Kaludiya Pokuna (Dhakkinagiri Viharaya) in DambullaLahugala Magul Maha Viharaya, Menikdena, Pulukunava in the Gal Oya valley, a group of shrines at the foot of the rock at Sigiriya and Moragoda in Padaviya are the other provincial sites where Pabbata Vihara have been identified. (Bandaranayake, 1974).

Climbing up the hill, you will come across another vandalized stupa which some believe was built enshrining the remains of Arhath Pussadeva Thero. Close to this stupa is a natural pond which supplied water to the temple complex below. Remains of numerous buildings can be seen scattered around at this level.

Climbing further six hundred steps you will come across a large number of drip ledge caves used by meditating bhikkhus scattered all over the hilltop. Pre-Christian era script on one of the caves speaks of the donation of the cave to Arhat Pussadeva.

The most important ruin of the Pulukunava Cave Temple is the massive Asanagaraya which is considered to be the largest in Sri Lanka. The oldest

The Bodhighara, Chethiyaghara and Asanaghara are considered by scholars to be the three oldest Buddhist architectural elements in Sri Lanka. Of these, the Chethyaighara also called Vatadage and the Bodhighara are mentioned in most ancient Buddhist literature but the sources do not mention the Asanagara in detail. But there are some references to this in the ancient Attakathas and in the ancient chronicles such as the Mahavamsa and the Deepavamsa.

Archaeologically, the Asana seems to have become popular at the same time the carvings of the sacred footprint (siripathulgala) became popular as a symbol of the Buddha or shortly after that. Mr. Gunapala Senadheera (Buddhist Symbolism and Wish Fulfillment) states that the use of seats dates back to the 3rd century BC to the 9th century. With the advent of the creation of Buddha statues in Sri Lanka, the use of symbols to represent the Buddha had declined.

The Pulukunawa monastery was recorded in 1961 by the then Superintendent of Archeology, Charles Godakumbure. The Asana slab of rock is 14 feet 5 inches long and 2 feet thick. It was set on stone pillars about 2 feet high. The four corners of the seat are decorated with a strip of carved beading.

There is a building around this Asana which is the Asanagharaya. It may have been made of wooden poles on a stone foundation. Excavations at this site have uncovered about 24 foundation base stones. Mr. Godakumbure notes that when the surrounding buildings were inspected, it was suspected that the entrance to the building was located on the eastern side.

In addition, a stone slab 10 feet 8 inches long and 10 feet 5 inches wide can be found at Colony No. 29 near Pulukunawa village. It is believed that there was another Asanaghara here too according to the foundation base stones made of stone. Mr Godakumbure states that a circular Asanaghara was enclosing the Asana found among the Rajagala ruins near Pulukunawa.

If you are travelling from Ampara, along the Maha Oya road and passing Piyangala Temple, you will come across a large freshly installed name broad of Pulukunava Raja Maha Viharaya. Travel about 2 km passing the board towards Maha Oya and you will come to a small road on the left which will lead to the temple. Although considered a Raja Maha Viharaya, currently this is only an adobe to one priest who is struggling to build a temple here.

Photos courtesy of : Dr Ashan Geeganage

References

  • ඇම්. ජී. රත්නපාල, 1997. වජ්‍රාසනය. සංකෘතික පුරාණය, 2(8), pp.31-38.
  • Bandaranayake, S., 1974. Sinhalese Monastic Architecture – The Viharas of Anuradhapura. Leiden: Brill.

Also See

Map of Ampara Pulukunava Caves and Ancient Ruins

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Travel Directions to Pulukunava Caves and Ancient Ruins

If you are travelling from Ampara, along the Maha Oya road and passing Piyangala Temple, you will come across a large freshly installed name broad of Pulukunava Raja Maha Viharaya. Travel about 2 km passing the board towards Maha Oya and you will come to a small road on the left which will lead to the temple.

Route from Ampara to Pulukunava Raja Maha Viharaya
Through : Ampara-Uhana-Maha Oya Highway and A27
Distance : 32 km
Travel time : 20 minutes
Driving directions : see on google map

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