Buttala Katugahagalge Rajamaha Viharaya

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The 300 feet long main cave which contains the image house and the Sangawasa - Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya — The 300 feet long main cave which contains the image house and the Sangawasa – Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

Tucked away near Buttala, Katugahagalge Rajamaha Viharaya is a remarkable cave temple with roots stretching back to the pre-Christian era. From its massive 300-foot cave sheltering both an image house and monastic quarters, to ancient stupas, folklore tied to King Walagamba, and a rare complete inscription of King Nissanka Malla, this site is a treasure trove of history, legend, and devotion waiting to be explored.

Katugahagalge Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient cave temple with its origin going back to the pre-Christian era with some unique features. According to folklore, the temple is believed to have been built by King Walagamba during the period he was building up an army from the south to take back the throne, which was seized by Indian invaders from him in 104 BCE.

The main cave in the temple is 300 feet long and about 50 feet wide. Due to the size of this cave, both the image house and the bhikku residence (Sangawasa) have been built under this cave. This is a rare instance in which both these structures are found under a single cave.

There are 2 ancient stupas on a rocky outcrop at about 200 feet in height. Both have been in a highly dilapidated state resembling a mound of earth. Unfortunately, a new stupa has been built over one of these stupas. The other ancient stupa still survives in its original state.

One of the caves in the temple is said to have been used by Therapuththabhaya Thero, one of the 10 generals of King Dutugemunu’s army who became a Buddhist priest after the war with Elara. The cave lies about 30 feet above ground with only 3 tiny steps cut into the rock. Today a ladder made of bamboo trees is used to reach the cave.

In addition, the temple also carries a “Nissanka Gavu Lipiya,” a pillar inscription by the king Nissankamalla (1187-1196) of the Polonnaruwa kingdom. Nissankamalla’s origin was the Kalinga region in India. A great admirer of himself, he made sure his name is etched on every monument he built or repaired. Some examples where his name had been used to identify structures are Nissanka Latha Mandapaya and Nissanka Daladage. He also defined a measurement of distance called “Nissanka Gauwa” which is believed to be approximately 4 miles (6.5 kilometers).

Once becoming the king, Nissanka Malla feared an uprising from faraway regions like Rohana due to his Kalinga origins and he had installed pillar inscriptions at every Nissanka Gauwa up to Ruhuna (Ambalanthota) from Polonnaruwa instructing his countrymen from Rohana not to be too proud or greedy for power. The unique feature of these pillar inscriptions is that all these inscriptions end with the words “Nissanka Gauwai.”

The pillar inscription at the Katugahagalge Temple is said to have been brought to the temple in 1880 when it was discovered in a nearby chena cultivation. The king advises his subjects in Ruhuna to avoid being subject to humiliating remarks from Maya Rata, craving others’ possessions, and being haughty. Mention is being made of two missions to the Pandya country where Thulabara presentations (gifts presented to the weight of one’s weight) were made and returning back to Sri Lanka with concubines, elephants, horses and gifts from the Chola kingdom. The performance of a tour to three kingdoms (Ruhuna, Maya, and Pihiti) through rocky and torturous passages such as the Samanala mountain is also mentioned in the inscription. In the end, this pillar has been identified as a Gau Kanuwa of King Nissanka Malla.

Thus the exact original location where this pillar stood is now forgotten. But it reveals that the main road from Polonnaruwa to Ruhuna was through this area.

Katugahagalge Rajamaha Viharaya lies 7.5 km from Buttala. Take the Badalkumbura Road from Buttala for 6.5 km to reach the notice board indicating the turnoff to the Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya. Take the right turn from this notice board and travel 1 km along this road to reach the temple. The Koongaha Wewa (reservoir) lies just as you take the right turn from the Badalkumbura road.

Koongaha Reservoir near the Katugahagalge Rajamaha Viharaya

Koongaha Reservoir near the Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

The ancient Bodhiya - Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

Ruins at Buttala Katugahagalge Rajamaha Viharaya

The Nissanka Malla Gau Lipiya found in a Chena in the area has been moved to this temple in 1880 - Buttala Katugahagalge Rajamaha Viharaya

The Nissanka Malla Gau Lipiya found in a Chena in the area has been moved to this temple in 1880 - Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

A carving of a scorpion on a rock - Buttala Katugahagalge Rajamaha Viharaya

A stone flower alter at the Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

Ancient statue which has not been vandalized - Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

Roof paintings on the image house at the Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

Entrance to the main Image house in the cave - Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

A meditation cave with the drip ledge at the Buttala Katugahagalge Rajamaha Viharaya

A recent rock inscription - Buttala Katugahagalge Rajamaha Viharaya

Path towards the stupa - Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

This new stupa has been built over one of the two dilapidated stupas found at the site - Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

The remaining dilapidated stupa at the Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

Ancient layers of plaster on the caves still can be seen - Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

A meditation cave with the drip ledge at the Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

Tiny steps caved on rock towards the cave Theraputtabhaya Thero used at the Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

Modern day access to the cave of Therapuththabaya Thero - Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

The cave Theraputtabhaya Thero used at the Buttala Katugahagalge Rajmaha Viharaya

References

De Silva, R. H., & Karunaratne, W. S. (1979). Administration Report of the Commissioner of Archaeology for the year 1979. Department of Archaeology.
Muller, E. (1883). Ancient inscriptions in Ceylon (1st ed.). Trubner & Co, Ludgate Hill.
Paranavitana, S. (1933). Katugaha-Galge Pillar Inscription. In D. M. D. Z. Wickremasinghe & H. W. Codrington (Eds.), Epigraphia Zeylanica : Being Lithic and Other Inscriptions of Ceylon: Vol. III (pp. 325–331). Archaeological Department of Ceylon.
Ranawella, G. S. (2007). Inscriptions of Ceylon : Volume VI: Containing pillar inscriptions, slab inscriptions and rock inscriptions of the Polonnaruva period. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.

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