Rajanganaya Kadigala Mahamangala Seya Ruins

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The ancient stupa atop Rajanganaya Kadigala Rock destroyed by treasure hunters.

Rajanganaya Wewa Reservoir

Rajanganaya Wewa is a modern irrigation reservoir created by damming the Kala Oya at Rajanganaya, on the border of Sri Lanka’s North Western and North Central provinces. Construction began on April 26, 1964, under the direction of the then Minister of Lands, Irrigation and Power, C. P. De Silva.

The project was completed entirely with Sri Lankan expertise and labour. The Ceylon Development Engineers Company (CDE), led by chief engineer Douglas Waidyaratne, oversaw its construction. The Rajanganaya Dam stretches 1.2 kilometers and holds approximately 100 million cubic meters (81,600 acre-feet) of water.

One side of the Rajanganaya Dam is butted in to a large rock. This rock is known as Kadigala.

Are the Ruins of Kadigala Rock of the Ancient Mahamangala Viharaya Mentioned in Mahavamsa?

From the base of the rock, roughly 400 stone-cut steps lead to the summit of Kadigala. At the top stands a sizeable ancient stupa, now half destroyed by treasure hunters. Traces of additional buildings and dagobas can be seen both at the base and along the ascent, although they are so badly damaged that their original forms cannot be identified.

The earliest reference to this site in the modern era appears in a note by H. C. P. Bell in the 1895 Administration Report of the Archaeological Department. He states

‘Kadigala- Explore Kadigala, a rock hill on the left bank of the Kala Oya near the Vilacci Korale boundary. A long flight of rock-cut steps leads to the summit. At one side of the staircase is an inscription of “Gamini Abaya” (Gaja Bahu I, 113-135 A.D.) cut lengthwise. There is a ruined dagoba, a cave (once the vihara) full of bricks and with stone images of Buddha and Vishnu. A second dagaba on the very top of the rock is apparently intact, with its stone kota (pinnacle) in position. A weird romantic spot is Kadigala in its isolation.’

This inscription was copied by Dr. Paranavithana in 1930 and was published in 1983. As per Dr Paranavithana, Bell’s identification of Gajabahu I is a mistake.

The inscription is composed of two lines and is significant for containing the earliest known example of the looped form of the letter ta. It also presents several noteworthy linguistic features. More importantly, this epigraph holds substantial historical value, as it is the only inscription so far identified that references King Tissa, known as Vankanasika Tissa (the King with the Aquiline Nose), son of King Vasabha, who ascended the throne around 109 CE. Its discovery corroborates the chronicles that record Vasabha’s son Tissa as his successor.

The inscription states ;

Success ! By King Tissa son of King Vasabha, a share (of the merit) hs been given for the benefit of (his) mother Jitadevi

The inscription does not identify the meritorious act that King Vankanasika Tissa (110-113 CE) carried out, but Mahavamsa, the great chronicle of Sri Lanka, records only one meritorious act. In chapter XXXV verses 112-114, states,

After Vasabha’s death, his son Vankanasikatissa reigned three years in Anuradhapura. On the bank of the Gona-Nadi the king Vankanasikatissa built the vihara called Mahamangala. …..

Gona-Nadi was the ancient name of Kala Oya and the site on the bank of that river, at which the only inscription of King Vankanasika Tissa has been found, may, with reason, be considered the Mahamangala Viharaya mentioned in the Mahavamsa.

Current Status of Kadigala Ruins

The cave at Kadigala is believed to be submerged beneath the waters of the Rajanganaya Wewa Reservoir today. The stupa on the summit has a circumference of 7.5 meters and a height of 2 meters. It was excavated by the Department of Archaeology in 2021 and has been tentatively dated to the mid-Anuradhapura period, approximately the 5th to 6th century. However, no evidence was uncovered to conclusively identify this site as the ancient Mahamangala Viharaya.

Top of Kadigala Rock at Rajanganaya Reservoir

Rock cut steps to to the top of Kadigala Rock

View of Rajanganaya Reservoir gates from Kadigala

View of Rajanganaya Reservoir from Kadigala

References

Paranavitana, S. (1983) Inscriptions of Ceylon Vol II, Part I. Late Brahmi Inscriptions, Containing rock and other inscriptions from the reign of Kutakanna Abhaya (41 B.C. – 19 B.C.) to Bhathiya II (140-164 A.D). Colombo, Sri Lanka: Department of Archaeology.
Mahanama , Geiger, W.H. and Bode, M. (1912) The Mahavamsa: Or The Great Chronicle of Ceylon. London: H. Frowde for the Pali Text Society.
Urugodawatte, B. (2021) ‘Excavation of Kadigala Stupa and Terrace ’, Archaeo Sri Lanka, 1(4), p. 12.

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