Mahiyangana Raja Maha Vihara

{{Infobox religious building

| building_name = Mahiyangana Raja Maha Vihara

| native_name = මහියංගනය රජ මහා විහාරය

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| image = Mahiyangana Dagoba.jpg

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| caption = Mahiyangana Stupa is the first stupa of ancient Sri Lanka{{cite web | url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/080629/Plus/timesplus0011.html | title=Tales from the hills of Uva | publisher=The Sunday Times | date=29 June 2008 | accessdate=30 September 2014 | author=Upali Salgado}}

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| location = Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka

| coordinates = {{coord|07|19|19.4|N|80|59|26.9|E|display=inline,title}}

| religious_affiliation = Buddhism

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| province =Uva Province

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| district =Badulla

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| heritage_designation = Archaeological protected monument{{cite web|url=http://www.archaeology.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/protected%20monument%20list%202012-12-12.pdf|date=12 December 2012|title=Protercted Monument List 2012-12-12|publisher=Department of Archaeology|accessdate=27 March 2016}} (22 November 2002)

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| architecture_type = Buddhist Temple

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Mahiyangana Raja Maha Vihara is an ancient Buddhist temple in Mahiyangana, Sri Lanka. It is believed to be the site of Gautama Buddha's first visit to the country, and is one of the Solosmasthana, the 16 sacred religious locations in Sri Lanka.{{cite news|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/05/13/fea20.asp|title=Ruwanweliseya: Architectural wonder of rich cultural heritage|last=Garnier|first=Anjalie|date=2009-05-13|work=Daily News|accessdate=2009-09-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091003121613/http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/05/13/fea20.asp|archive-date=2009-10-03|url-status=dead}} Currently this temple has been declared as one of archaeological site in Sri Lanka. You can find more information on the official website. [https://mahiyanganarajamahaviharaya.com/ https://mahiyanganarajamahaviharaya.com]

Buddha's visit

Historical sources, including the ancient chronicle Mahavamsa, a record that the Buddha visited the Mahiyangana area in the ninth month after he attained enlightenment, which was his first visit to the country.{{cite book|last=Wijesooriya|first=S.|title=A Concise Sinhala Mahavamsa|publisher=Participatory Development Forum|year=2006|pages=5–6|isbn=955-9140-31-0}} According to the Mahavamsa, Sri Lanka was inhabited by yakshas at the time. It says that the Buddha subdued the yakshas there and held a discourse on Dhamma with them. They were then sent to an island named Giri so that the country would be "purified" and Buddhism could be established there later on, where it would prevail "in all its glory".

History

A Yakka chieftain named Saman (who is now regarded as a deity) attained Sotāpanna (Sovan) after listening to the Buddha's discourse, and asked for a token from the Buddha that they could worship in his absence. The Buddha had given him a handful of hair from his head, which Saman later enshrined in a small stupa, {{convert|10|ft|m}} in height. This was the first stupa to be built in Sri Lanka.{{cite news|url=http://www.lakehouse.lk/budusarana/2002/01/28/Budu01.pdf|title=Mahiyangana Cetiya - The first of its kind in Sri Lanka|last=Ratnasinghe|first=Aryadasa|date=2002-01-28|work=Budusarana|accessdate=2009-09-28|format=.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727070610/http://www.lakehouse.lk/budusarana/2002/01/28/Budu01.pdf|archive-date=2011-07-27|url-status=dead}}

According to the Mahawansa, King Devanampiyatissa caused his brother Moolabhaya to deposit the relic of Griwah-Dawtoe (a neck bone) and enlarge it to a height of 30 Cubits.

Several kings have since renovated and enlarged this stupa, including Dutthagamani{{cite book|last=Aves|first=Edward |title=Sri Lanka|publisher=Footprint Travel Guides|year=2003|pages=292|isbn=978-1-903471-78-4|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s1eObyRxgc8C&pg=PA292}} who raised it to a height of {{convert|120|ft|m}}. Other rulers such as Voharika Tissa, Sena II, Vijayabahu I and Kirti Sri Rajasinha have carried out repairs and maintenance work at the temple. In 1942, a society was formed for the renovation of the temple under D. S. Senanayake. Reconstruction work began in 1953 and ended in 1980 with the completion of a new pinnacle for the stupa.{{cite news|url=http://archives.dailynews.lk/2002/03/30/fea03.html|title=113th Birth Anniversary : Sir Bennet Soysa - the philanthropist of the hills|last=Dassanayake|first=M. B.|date=2002-03-30|work=Daily News|accessdate=2015-01-11}}

Images

File:Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya - 1.jpg|Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya sub gate

File:Mahiyangana Pagoda.jpg|Mahiyangana Pagoda closer look

File:Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya Bodhi Tree.jpg|Mahiyangana Viharaya Bodhi Tree

File:Mahiyangana Raja Maha Viharaya Museum.jpg|Mahiyangana Museum

References

External links

[https://www.facebook.com/mahiyanganaya.rajamaha.viharaya/ Official Facebook Page - Mahiyanganaya Rajamaha Viharaya]
[https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYv2HdHeBpHcLHXkRLlaimg Official YouTube Channel - Mahiyanganaya Rajamaha Viharaya]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HLrpY22lKFg&t=1874s Mahiyanganaya Esala Perahara]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20101017084546/http://mahiyanganayarajamahaviharaya.com/ Mahiyangana Rajamaha Viharaya - Official Website]
[http://www.lankalibrary.com/heritage/temples/mahiyangana.htm Mahiyangana Cetiya - the first of its kind in Sri Lanka]
[http://sundaytimes.lk/080907/FunDay/fundaytimes_2.html Restoration of Mahiyangana stupa begins]
[http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=72164 Miyuguna Seya the first Dagaba in Sri Lanka]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110727070610/http://www.lakehouse.lk/budusarana/2002/01/28/Budu01.pdf Mahiyangana Cetiya - the first of its kind in Sri Lanka]
[http://www.phy-astr.gsu.edu/perera/buddapicture.pdf The first place visited by Buddha]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080217000739/http://www.americanbuddhist.net/first-ever-stupa-built-arhant First ever stupa built by an Arhant]
[http://www.artsrilanka.org/history/250BC.html EARLY & MIDDLE HISTORICAL PERIODS: 250BC - 1250AD]

Category:Buddhist temples in Badulla District

Category:Stupas in Sri Lanka

Category:Archaeological protected monuments in Badulla District