Within the rampart are two chaitya (or stupas) of similar size. The chaitya on the rock is believed to have been built by King Dutugemunu, while the other on lower ground during the reign of his brother King Saddha Tissa.
Sacred bodhi tree, a dhethispala ruha bodhi that was planted at this site
In fact, this rock, with a pond upon it, has contributed to naming the temple. According to folklore, when the vedda (indigenous community) went on a hunt, they saw a yellow rock. This was because the arahants who lived there would wash their saffron-coloured sivuru (robes) in the water source and dry them on the surface of the rock. The vedda called it kaacha galla and, over time, it changed to kaasa pabbatha or parvatha and kasaa-watha before ending with the current name of Kasagala. Another narration about the origin of the name is that the area dazzled with the golden rays emitted by the arahants who resided there.
Architecture influenced by the Kandyan era
The ancient stone pillars scattered on the grounds are said to be the remnants of the arahants’ meditation kuti (huts). One stone pillar, however, is where King Dutugemunu’s famous royal tusker the Kadol Atha (Kadol Elephant) had been tethered after it was brought from the jungle, having been cornered in a kadolana (mangrove) in the Rekawa-Marakolliya area, not far from Udayala.
Palanquin said to have carried Gajaman Nona
Recognised as an archaeological site by the Government of Sri Lanka, the Kasagala Raja Maha Viharaya hosts an office and museum of the Department of Archaeology. In addition to the panels that provide insight into the temple’s history, a dholawa (palanquin) that had reportedly transported Gajaman Nona is housed in the museum.
While this region of Sri Lanka has a huge array of culturally rich edifices making it challenging to select a few to explore, it is well worth making a stop at Kasagala Raja Maha Viharaya.
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