Danagirigala Rajamaha Viharaya

Danagiragala Rajamaha Viharaya can be identified as one of the oldest caves in the Kegalle district. In the past, it was known as the ‘Waddamana Pabbatha’.

According to legendary information about this place, it dates back to the life span of the Buddha. Buddha's second trip to Sri Lanka takes place in order to bring about a settlement to the Chulodara and Mahodara conflict. Here Chulodara's father has been the king of ‘Naga’ tribe whose abode is Wadgannagala (Waddamana Pabbatha). According to the folk tales it had been situated in the middle of the country.

The present Danagiragala is said to be this 'Wadugannagala'. The fact that comes to light from the above piece of information of Chulodara's father residing in the area mentioned above, is that this village or the area had been a tribal settlement of the Nagas. And it is clear, after the advent of Aryans the indigenous Nagas, intermingled with the Aryans and established settlements.

In addition there is pre-historic evidence to prove that there were indigenous people here, in Danagiragala. Accordingly, this place can be considered as evidence for the movement of the comfiest  Aryans towards the interior or the hilly areas of the country, Again, during Polonnaruwa period king Vijayabahu had had connections with Danagirigala which he was organizing war. He might have chosen this place too, as a one of his safe havens. Yet again, this place had received the patronage of Prince Vijayabahu, the son of Panditha Parakramabahu, a king who reigned during Kurunegala period.

There after it was ‘Levke Disawa’ who served as the governor of Sathara Korale who had taken the initiative to restore this place to its present state following a period of after alter of anarchy. Accordingly king Rajasinghe had best located his patronage to this place offered land for its existence and had given a Sannasa or a Leeds.

During Anuradhapura period Sathara Korale had been separated in to four divisions and in each of these had been four well organized educational institutions. They were ‘Rajashivamalpaya’, ‘Bragmawasthanaya’, ‘Malliyamahapaya’, and ‘Wadugannagalpaya’. Later it came aspired to be known that, the fourth one of those Wadugannagalpaya was the Danagirigala.  

The carvings, sculptures and paintings seen inside the temple at presently, represent the Kandyan period. Hence this is the best place to get an insight about the Kandyan period, such as about the economic, political, social and cultural aspects of the Kandyan kingdom.

Dhigaragala Temple which is very much akin to the art gallery of the Kandyan kingdom, is at present being restored through the invasion of the Archaeological Department.

Danagiragala Rajamaha Viharaya

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