Kiri Vehera

Kiri Vehera
කතරගම කිරි වෙහෙර
Kiri Vehera stupa at night
Religion
Affiliation	Buddhism
District	Moneragala
Province	Uva Province
Region	Southern (Ruhuna)
Location
Location	Kataragama, Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates	06°42′N 81°33′E
Architecture
Type	Stupa
Founder	King Mahanaga (3rd century BC)

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.[1][2] 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.[3]

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.[4] The Kiri Vehera Stupa is mentioned in this inscription by the name Mangalamahaseya of the Kajaragama raji maha vehera.[4]

See also

• Kataragama deviyo
• Kataragama Bodhiya

References and Notes

1. "How God Skanda Helps the Faithful". Retrieved 2007-03-05.
2. Amarasekara, Janani (13 January 2008). "Blessed Kataragama". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
3. Ven. Kobawaka Dhamminda Thera, Chief incumbent of Kirivehera, Daily Mirror
4. Manjula, HAKL (14 April 2020). "Kiri Vehera (Kataragama)". Lanka Pradeepa. Retrieved 8 July 2023.

External links

• Kataragama Travel Guide
• Kataragama Kiri Vehera website^[permanent dead link‍]