Magul Maha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple situated at Lahugala in the Ampara district of Sri Lanka. The temple is located between Siyambalanduwa and Pothuwil surrounded by the Lahugala National Park. Lahugala was a part of the kingdom of Ruhuna.
King Kavantissa
The temple is a tourist attraction well preserved by the department of archaeology. The ruins of Magul Maha Vihara unfold the visitor a lengthy history which runs as far as 205-161 BC or according to some historians it dates as far back as to the 14th century. However, the common belief is that the temple has been built by King Kavantissa who was none other than the father of the warrior king Dutugemunu. King Kavantissa ruled the Kingdom of Ruhuna in ancient Sri Lanka.
The marriage of King Kavantissa
According to most historians the temple premises is the exact location where King Kavantissa tied the nuptial knot with Viharamaha Devi, the beautiful young daughter of King Kelanitissa.
Viharamaha Devi
According to legends Viharamaha Devi was a courageous young princess who volunteered to sacrifice herself to the sea to protect her father's kingdom from an attack of devastating tidal waves which had occurred as a result of her father king Kavatissa punishing an innocent pious monk.
The sea god being moved by the king's punishment to the innocent Buddhist monk unleashed his fury in the form of a string of massive tidal waves. When the king consulted his wise-men to know what he could do to save the kingdom they instructed him that it could be done only by appeasing the sea god by sacrificing his own daughter to the sea.
When the king informed this news to his loving daughter she consented to sacrifice her life to the sea. So the king immediately made all the arrangements and got a boat prepared for the princess. Honouring the father king's request, the princess got on board the boat and the boat was carried away by the waves. Thus the king could save his kingdom but lost his beautiful young daughter.
The marriage of Viharamaha Devi
The boat was spotted by some fishermen from Ruhuna. They having seen the beautifully dressed young lady lying exhausted in the boat suspected her to be of some royal decent and was quickly brought ashore at a place called Muhudu Maha Vihara. Then they duly informed this to the king of Ruhuna: King Kavantissa. The king having established her identity and being proud over her great sacrifice ๐ proposed himself to the princess.
Legends tell that their marriage ceremony was conducted in the temple premises of Magul Maha Vihara at Lahugala. The king had later built and developed the temple to celebrate the auspicious event. The remains of the historic Magul Maduwa (the platform on which the wedding had been performed) can still be seen at the temple premises.
There are signs that the temple had been protected with a high wall. The remains of the wall could be seen today with entrances on each direction. The ruins are not scattered in a large area. The South Indian invasions have largely to be blamed for the destruction of this holy place. ๐ฑThe Dravidian vandals have destroyed the statues and the image houses.
There are signs that the temple had been protected with a high wall. The remains of the wall could be seen today with entrances on each direction. The ruins are not scattered in a large area. The South Indian invasions have largely to be blamed for the destruction of this holy place. ๐ฑThe Dravidian vandals have destroyed the statues and the image houses.
The place has also become a prey for treasure hunters from time to time due to its vulnerability in the past.๐ Some valuable artifacts have been destroyed by treasure hunters. However what remains in the holy precincts is well protected today. With the dawn of peace to the country more visitors could be seen daily.
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Pic 01: Lahuagala Sanctuary
Pic 02: The ccarpetd road to Pottuvil from Siyambaladuwa. Don't rush, stop by and enjoy the beautiful environment.
Pic 4: These ruins tell the visitor the ancient grandure of Sri Lanka.
Pic: 5 A ruined Buddha image.
Pic 6: At the entrance to the ruined wata da ge.
A blessing in disguise
The marriage between King Kavantissa and Viharamaha Devi gifted Sri Lanka a true son of the soil: prince Dutugemunu who saved the island from the clutches of the warrior Tamil conqueror Elara.
The marriage between King Kavantissa and Viharamaha Devi gifted Sri Lanka a true son of the soil: prince Dutugemunu who saved the island from the clutches of the warrior Tamil conqueror Elara.
This marriage could be described as an important turning point in the annals of Sri Lanka. It was a time when Sri Lanka was gripped with the South Indian invasions. Buddhist monasteries, villages and other economically important constructions were being destroyed by the invaders. In such a background ,the tidal waves that caused havoc in the kingdom of Kelanitissa due to a misunderstanding was a blessing in disguise. If that incident had not occurred the country would never have seen the birth of a great son: Dutugemunu.
Hence Magul Maha Vihara as its name suggests; magul means 'auspicious' , was really the place that paved the way for historians to write one of the longest chapters of Sri Lanka in gold.
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Pic: 9 The tranquil environment in the temple premises.
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Pic: 11The stupa in the temple premises.
Pic 12: A granite wall decorared with carvings.
Pic 13: A guard stone
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