Piyangala Aranya Senasanaya

Piyangala Forest Hermitage
පියංගල ආරණ්‍ය සේනාසනය
A drip ledged cave with Brahmi inscription
Religion
AffiliationBuddhism
DistrictAmpara
ProvinceEastern Province, Sri Lanka
Location
LocationPiyangala, Ampara, Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates07°29′46.0″N 81°37′53.6″E / 7.496111°N 81.631556°E / 7.496111; 81.631556
Architecture
TypeBuddhist Temple
StyleCave temple

Piyangala Aranya Senasanaya or Piyangala Forest Hermitage (Sinhalaː පියංගල ආරණ්‍ය සේනාසනය) is an ancient Buddhist temple in Ampara, Sri Lanka. The temple lies on the Ampara – Mahaoya main road, approximately 27 km (17 mi) away from the town of Ampara. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka.[1]

History

It is believed that this temple was constructed during the pre-Christian era. The site consists of a number of drip ledged caves with Brahmi inscriptions and ruins.[2] A few inscriptions detail the donation of caves by Rajithaa, and a daughter of King Dutugamunu. According to the view of Ellawala Medhananda Thera, these inscriptions are important as they reveal the names of Dutugemunu's queens and children.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Gazette 1895 & 26 December 2014, p. 1150.
  2. ^ "Piyangala Aranya Senasanaya". Lanka Pradeepa. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  3. ^ Medhananda, E. (1984). Aprakata Brahmi Sellipi Ha Puravastu (In Sinhala). Sri Lanka Society of Archaeology. p. 4-5.

Notes