Kiri Vehera
{{Infobox religious building
| building_name = Kiri Vehera
| native_name = කතරගම කිරි වෙහෙර
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| image = Kiri Vehera at night.jpg
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| caption = Kiri Vehera stupa at night
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| location = Kataragama, Sri Lanka
| coordinates = {{coord|06|42||N|81|33||E|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = Buddhism
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| region = Southern (Ruhuna)
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| province =Uva Province
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| district =Moneragala
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| architecture_type = Stupa
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| founded_by = King Mahanaga
(3rd century BC)
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Kiri Vehera is an ancient stupa situated in Kataragama, Sri Lanka. This stupa probably dates back to the 3rd century BC and is believed to have been built by King Mahanaga brother of king Devanampiyatissa; a regional ruler of Kataragama area.{{cite web | url = http://kataragama.org/warrior.htm | title = How God Skanda Helps the Faithful | accessdate = 2007-03-05}}{{cite web |url=http://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2008/01/13/jun03.asp | title=Blessed Kataragama | publisher=Sunday Observer | date=13 January 2008 | accessdate=29 December 2014 | author=Amarasekara, Janani}} One of the most popular Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the country, Kiri Vehera is among the Solosmasthana, the 16 most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites of ancient Sri Lanka. This stupa which is 95 ft. in height with a circumference of 280 ft. is located 800 m North to the famous Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya. Venerable Kobawaka Dhamminda Thera is the present Chief Prelate of Kirivehera Rajamaha Viharaya.[http://www.dailymirror.lk/40492/ven-kobawaka-dhamminda-thera-chief-incumbent-of-kirivehera#sthash.ZpU0Yvaq.dpuf Ven. Kobawaka Dhamminda Thera, Chief incumbent of Kirivehera], Daily Mirror
Inscriptions
Two inscriptions belonging to the 2nd century C.E. have been unearthed at the Kiri Vehera Stupa site. Of them, one inscription records a donor named Mahadali Mahana raja who is a local ruler of the Principality of Ruhuna.{{cite web |url=https://www.lankapradeepa.com/2020/04/kataragama-kiri-vehera.html | title=Kiri Vehera (Kataragama) | publisher=Lanka Pradeepa | date=14 April 2020 | accessdate=8 July 2023 | author=Manjula, HAKL}} The Kiri Vehera Stupa is mentioned in this inscription by the name Mangalamahaseya of the Kajaragama raji maha vehera.
See also
References and Notes
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://hambantotazone.com Kataragama Travel Guide]
- [http://kataragama.net/kiri-vehera.html/ Kataragama Kiri Vehera website]{{Dead link|date=February 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
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Category:Archaeological sites in Sri Lanka
Category:Buddhist temples in Monaragala District
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