Buttala Rahathankanda Aranya Senasanaya

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බුත්තල රහතන්කන්ද ආරණ්‍ය සේනාසණය පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන් - Buttala Rahathankanda Aranya Senasanaya Archaeological Ruins — බුත්තල රහතන්කන්ද ආරණ්‍ය සේනාසණය පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන් – Buttala Rahathankanda Aranya Senasanaya Archaeological Ruins

It may lack the creature comforts that define a classic tourist destination, but Buttala, the rural region along the A4 highway, is a treasure trove for history buffs and the atypical traveler. From Yudaganawa to Rahathangala , the region is littered with precious Dutugemunu stories that are enshrined in the Great Chronicle and lesser-known legends associated with this emerald isle….

Rahthankanda, situated near Buttala town in the Monaragala District, is a mountain rising to a height of approximately 450 meters, with a length extending over 2.5 kilometers. The Rahathankanda Aranya Senasanaya Monastery, located on this hill, spans an area of about seventy acres. The entire mountain range is enveloped in dense forest, consisting of trees that are believed to be thousands of years old.

Historical Background from the Mahavamsa

According to the Mahavamsa, following the death of King Kavantissa, his son Prince Saddhatissa performed the last rites at Tissamaharama and returned to Dighavapiya accompanied by his mother Vihara Mahadevi and the royal elephant. Meanwhile, Prince Dutugemunu, having arrived in Rohana from Malaya Rata and assumed the crown, sent a message to his brother Prince Saddhatissa, requesting the return of their mother and the royal elephant.

When three such messages went unanswered, Prince Dutugemunu mobilized his army and engaged in battle with Prince Tissa. This conflict took place in the area known as Chulangani, which is today called Yudaganawa.

During this battle, Prince Dutugemunu’s forces suffered heavy losses and were ultimately defeated by the army of Prince Saddhatissa. As Prince Dutugemunu, along with his minister Tissa and a mare named Dighathunika, retreated from the battlefield, Prince Tissa pursued them. The Mahavamsa records that the conflict was brought to an end through the intervention of the Arahats residing in the region.

Alternative Tradition from the Saddharmalankara

According to the Saddharmalankara, the battle ceased when a large mountain suddenly emerged between the two opposing forces. Recognizing this as a manifestation of the power of the Arahats, Saddhatissa abandoned his pursuit of Prince Gamunu.

Tradition holds that this very mountain, believed to have been created by the Arahats, is what is now known as Rahathankanda.

Monastic Significance

The caves and natural environment of this mountain have long provided an ideal setting for forest-dwelling monks. It is likely that the name Rahathankanda, meaning the mountain of the Rahats (Arahats), originated from the presence of enlightened monks who resided here in ancient times.

Evidence of early habitation is found in cave inscriptions written in ancient Brahmi script. One cave bears the inscriptions Gamini and Lena, while another contains the name Tissa. Additionally, one cave refers to Senpati Pusadeva, linking it to Pussadeva, one of the ten great warriors of King Dutugemunu. These inscriptions suggest that the forest hermitage may have been jointly offered to the Sangha by Prince Gamini and Prince Tissa following their first battle.

Later Additions and Access

At the entrance to the forest, visitors encounter a stupa modeled after the Thuparamaya of the Anuradhapura Kingdom, along with Vatadage pillars. This structure was constructed in 1992 under the patronage of President R. Premadasa, in connection with the establishment of Buttala Gam Udawa.

A flight of steps ascending from the base of the mountain leads through the forest, guiding visitors into a landscape that reflects a heritage dating back to the 2nd century BCE.

Archaeological Remains

It is believed that around 500 Arahats resided on Rahathankanda in ancient times. Archaeological investigations have identified approximately 70 caves within the area, while many others remain concealed beneath dense jungle vegetation.

The site also features around 15 ponds, two stupas located on the mountain peaks, promenades, ancient stairways, and an old Bodhi tree established on a raised platform. Together, these remains testify to the former prominence of a sacred monastic complex that flourished during the glorious era of the Ruhunu Kingdom.

References

n.d. මහාවංසය සිංහල සංස්කරණය. 1st ed. දෙහිවල: බෞද්ධ සංස්කෘතික මධ්‍යස්ථානය.
Weththasinghe, J., 2018. වන අසිරිය මැද සිසිලස රහතන් කන්ද වන සෙනසුන. [online] silumina.lk. Available at: <http://www.silumina.lk/2018/06/30/සිත්මල්-යාය/වන-අසිරිය-මැද-සිසිලස-රහතන්-කන්ද-වන-සෙනසුන> [Accessed 22 November 2020].

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