Somawathiya Chaitya

{{Short description|Buddhist stupa in Sri Lanka}}

{{Infobox religious building

| building_name = Somawathiya Chaitya

| native_name = {{plainlist |

• {{Native name|si|සෝමාවතිය චෛත්‍ය|parensize=90%}}
• {{Native name|ta|சோமாவதிய சைத்யா|parensize=90%}}

}}

| native_name_lang = si,ta

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| image = 20230115 Somawathiya Chaitya (6).jpg

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| map_type = Sri Lanka

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| location = Somawathiya National Park, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

| coordinates = {{coord|08|07|15.16|N|81|10|07.9|E|display=inline,title}}

| religious_affiliation = Buddhism

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| province =North Central Province

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| district =Polonnaruwa

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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}} (7 July 1967)

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| architecture_type = Buddhist Temple

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The Somawathiya Chaitya ({{langx|si|සෝමාවතිය චෛත්‍ය}}, {{langx|ta|சோமாவதிய சைத்யா}})[http://www.hirunews.lk/picture-story/34/hundreds-thousands-devotes-participate-in-hiru-shraddhabhi-vandana-at-somawathiya-sacred-premises Hundreds and thousands of devotees participate in Hiru Shraddhabhi Vandana at Somawathiya sacred premises] is a Buddhist Stupa situated in the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka. Chaitya premises is called the Somawathiya Rajamaha Viharaya.[http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features/miraculous-somawathi-chaitya Miraculous Somawathi Chaitya] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912093127/http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=features%2Fmiraculous-somawathi-chaitya |date=2014-09-12 }}[http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=local/president-opens-access-road-somawathiya President opens access road to Somawathiya] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912093812/http://www.dailynews.lk/?q=local%2Fpresident-opens-access-road-somawathiya |date=2014-09-12 }}

The Somawathiya Chaitya[http://archives.dailynews.lk/2013/02/20/news12.asp Access road to Somawathiya redone] is located within the Somawathiya National Park[http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=34687 Chandrasena passes the buck Clearing of forest for banana growing] on the left bank of the Mahaweli River,[http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20100531_03 President participates in religious functions at Somawathiya temple, Agbopura Rajamaha Viharaya] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912100243/http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20100531_03 |date=2014-09-12 }} and is believed to have been built long before the time of Dutugamunu enshrining the right canine Relic of the tooth of the Buddha. It is attributed to the reign of King Kavan Tissa - Dutugemunu's father - who ruled Magama. Somawathiya is therefore much older than Ruwanwelisaya, Mirisawetiya Vihara or Jetavanaramaya.

The stupa is named after Princess Somawathi, the sister of King Kavantissa, and the wife of regional ruler Prince Giri Abhaya. The prince built the stupa to enshrine the right tooth relic of the Buddha, obtained from Arahat Mahinda, and named the stupa after the princess. Upon completion of the stupa and other constructions, the prince and princess handed over the temple to Arahat Mahinda and other monks.