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Weli Maluwa (Andiyamala Thenna) on Sri Pada Mountain

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Weli Maluwa (Andiyamala Thenna) on Sri Pada Trail — Weli Maluwa (Andiyamala Thenna) Ambalama on Sri Pada Trail

Ambagamuwa Inscription was made in the 36th year of King Vijayabahu I (1070-1110). These are engraved on 2 rocks which are 12 feet 3 inches x 9 feet 3 inches and the other 9 feet 4 inches x 9 feet 7 inches in size.

These inscriptions describe the defeat of the Tamil invading forces by King Vijayabahu I and bringing the country under one rule, they also describe the work done by the king to the people and donations made to the Sri Pada pilgrims and the Sri Pada.

In this large inscription, a section states that the king had a terrace constructed below the terrace where the sacred footprint is, and [thus gave facility] for low caste people to worship the relic of the sage. According to this inscription, the lower caste people were not allowed to visit the top terrace of Sri Pada and had to worship from a lower terrace. Rev. Gnanawimala Thero states (in 1942) that even during his time, the people of the Sadol caste would only go up to Ehela Kanuwa and send their offerings to the upper terrace and worship the Sri Pada from the Ehela Kanuwa. If they go to the top, it’s only during a very specific period which is at the very beginning of the off-season. This may be a remnant of an ancient custom.

About 600 meters below the peak of Sri Pada, there is a place called Andiyamala Thenna where there is an Ambalama today. After killing his father, King Seethawaka Rajasinghe (1581-1591) became a Hindu and Sri Pada was handed over to Hindu priests called Andi (ආඬි) or Sannasi. They managed the site for approximately 155 years until Keerthi Sri Rajasinhe (1747 – 1781) took it back and handed it over to the Buddhist priests. It is said that where one of the chief Andi (ආඬි) of Sri Pada died became Andiyamala Thenna (Rathanapala, 2016).

Gnanawimala Thero notes that this is also called Weli Maluwa, the Sand Terrace. The peak of Sri Pada is visible from this site. Therefore it is believed that the terrace built by King Vijayabahu I (1070-1110) for the lower casts was this Andiyamala Thenna or Weli Maluwa.

References

Gnanawimala, K. (1942) සපරගමූවේ පැරණි ලියවිලි . Colombo, Sri Lanka: Kirielle J. M. Samarakoon Bandara.
Rathanapala, K. (2016) ශ්‍රී පාදස්ථානයේ වතගොත . Yakkala, Sri Lanka: Karametiye Rathanapala thero (self-publication).

Also See

Map of Weli Maluwa (Andiyamala Thenna) on Sri Pada Trail

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)

Show Location (ගූගල් සිතියම)

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

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Travel Directions to Weli Maluwa (Andiyamala Thenna) on Sri Pada Trail

Route from Colombo to Sri Pada (up to Erathna Foot Path)

Through : Kaduwela – Avissawella – Ginigathena – Nallathanniya
Distance : 140 km
Travel time : 4 hours.
Driving directions : see on google map

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References

Also See

Map of Weli Maluwa (Andiyamala Thenna) on Sri Pada Trail

Travel Directions to Weli Maluwa (Andiyamala Thenna) on Sri Pada Trail

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