Yatala Vehera - Debarawewa | AmazingLanka.com

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According to the ancient chronicle Dhatuwansa (ධාතුවංශය), Yatala Vehera was constructed in the 3rd century BCE by regional King Mahanaga on the grounds his queen gave birth to his son. It was possibly completed by his son Yatala Tissa, as the name of the stupa implies. (Parker, 1909, p. 327). This stupa has been identified as Mani Chethiya and Yattalaya in various historical documents, and some inscriptions found at the site refer to it as Dalada Dagoba.

Arrival of Mahanaga to Ruhuna

Mahanaga is a brother of King Devanampiyathissa (250-210 BC). When Mahanaga was inspecting the construction of Walas Wewa Reservoir (වලස් වැව), the queen of Devanampiyathissa sent him a bowl of Mangos with the topmost one poisoned. Her intention was to kill Mahanaga to ensure the throne for her son after Devanampiyathissa. At that time the son was with his uncle at the reservoir, and the child ate the poisoned mango and died on the spot. Fearing reprisal, he took his pregnant wife and escaped to Ruhuna, where he built up his own regional kingdom surrounding the Magama area. (Mahanama et al., 1912, p. 146)

The Stupa

Some believe that this was a much larger stupa due to the size of the huge granite pinnacle (ගල් ඡත්‍රය) found on the grounds. It is not known what was enshrined, but a large number of relic caskets have been discovered in the stupa.

This stupa was completely restored, and a small opening has been left to observe the different phases of construction. The restoration work of the Yatala Stupa commenced in 1883. It took over a century to complete the restoration. This stupa is surrounded by probably the oldest Elephant Wall in the country.

Rediscovery of the Site

When the stupa was rediscovered, it bore a deep vertical cut through the upper part of the dome, caused by treasure hunters. During restoration, as the debris around the stupa was cleared, valuable relics discarded by the treasure hunters as valueless were found. Among these were Indian coins from pre-Christian times and an engraved cornelian gem, likely part of a signet ring. The gem, later taken to the British Museum, was dated to possibly the 3rd century BCE. These items are believed to have been part of the original contents of the relic chamber. (Parker, 1909, p. 328)

Other items discovered at the dagaba included four small relic caskets, each crafted from different types of gems. One was made of chrysoberyl, another of amethyst or purple crystal, while the remaining two were of rock crystal—one brownish in color and the other completely clear. These relic caskets have since been replaced in the newly restored relic chamber during the restoration of the dagaba. (Parker, 1909, p. 328)

Ruins of a large number of various image houses have been conserved. One image shows a house containing 2 larger-than-life-size Buddha statues carved from rock. The head of one statue has been broken and can be seen at the feet. Another image house has been reserved for a large Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva image carved from stone. Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is a concept from Mahayana Buddhism that became Natha Deviyo in Sri Lanka.

Asanaghara of Yatala Vehera

Near the new Sanghawasa of the Yatala Vehera lies one of the largest stone-carved Asana with indications of an Asanaghara over it. The archaeology department carried out some excavations in 1961 and found the Asanaghara building was 66×68 feet (20.1×20.7 m) in size.

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 thereafter. 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 commemorate the Buddha had declined.

One of the largest Asana with ruins of a Asanaghara is found at Yatala Vehera — One of the largest Asana with ruins of an Asanaghara is found at Yatala Vehera

Yatala Vehera is located between Debaraweva and Akurugoda on the Hambanthota – Kataragama Road and about a 1 1/2 km away from Tissamaharama Stupa.

There are a number of ruins of Asanaghara have been found in various parts of Sri Lanka. Some of the more popular Asanaghara are located in Pulukunawa, Katuwannawa, Halmillawetiya, Uttimaduwa, Ganewewa and Debarawewa Yatala Vehera sites.

In addition, Asana and Asanaghara’s have been discovered at Weeraketiya Naigala Rajamaha Viharaya (9 feet 8 inches long and 4 feet 4 inches wide) in Hambantota district, Sigiriya Mahanaga Pabbatharamaya, at Pihimbiyagollewa (8 feet long and 3 feet 10 inches wide) and Veheragala (11 feet 8 inches long and 4 feet 4 inches wide) in the Eastern province, Kokebe (11 feet 5 inches long and 5 feet wide) in Anuradhapura district, Periyankulama Elupothana in Vavuniya District, Thantirimale (9 feet 9 inches long and 4 feet wide), Seruvila, Manik Vatadage, and Rajanganaya Hatthikuchchi Aramic Complex.

This dolomite marble statue was found during the excavations of the Image-house of the Yatala Dagaba in 1987. This is one of the earliest Buddha images sculpted on the island closest to the Andhra tradition.

Ruins of ancient buildings around the Yatala Stupa in Debarawewa

Displaying the original brick layer before restoration of Yatala Stupa in Debarawewa

Remains of an ancient image house at Yatala Stupa in Debarawewa

A Buddha image carved in granite at the ancient image house at Yatala Stupa in Debarawewa

A headless Buddha image carved in granite at the ancient image house at Yatala Stupa in Debarawewa

The head of the headless Buddha image at the ancient image house at Yatala Stupa in Debarawewa

An ancient Sripathul Gala - A representation of Buddha's feet. a symbol of veneration before the time of Stupas

Riuins of a image house with a statue of Avalokiteshvara at the Yatala Stupa in Debarawewa

A statue of Avalokiteshvara at the Yatala Stupa in Debarawewa

Fine carvings of the dress of Avalokiteshvara statue at the Yatala Stupa in Debarawewa

A Gal Chatra - A stone pinnacle of the ancient Yatala Stupa at Debarawewa

References

Godakumbura, C. E. (1967). Administration Report of the Archaeological Commissioner for the financial year 1964-65: Part IV – Education, Science and Art (G). Government of Ceylon.
Mahanama, Geiger, W., & Bode, M. H. (1912). The Mahavamsa or the Great Chronicle of Ceylon. Translated into English by Wilhelm Geiger. For the Pali Text Society by Henry Frowde.
Parker, H. (1909). Ancient Ceylon: An Account of the Aborigines and of Part of the Early Civilisation (1st ed.). Luzac & Co.
Ratnapala M.G. (1997). වජ්‍රාසනය. සංකෘතික පුරාණය, 2(8), pp.31-38.

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Route 01 from Colombo to Yatala Stupa	Route 02 from Colombo to Yatala Stupa
Through: Southern Expressway – Galle – Matara distance from Colombo : 250 km Travel time : 3.30 hours Driving directions : see on google map	Through : Ratnapura – Palmadulla – Udawalawe – Thanamalwila distance from Colombo : 225 km Travel time : 4.30 hours Driving Directions : see on google maps