Piyangala Aranya Senasanaya

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]

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
Architecture
TypeBuddhist Temple
StyleCave temple

History

It is believed that this temple was constructed first century BC by the queen Rajitha who was a wife of king Dutugamunu.[2] The temple consists of number of drip ledged caves with Brahmi inscriptions and ruins in its premises.[3] Two of the inscriptions detail the donation of caves by Rajithaa, and a daughter of King Dutugamunu who was married to Parumaka Duta. According to the former archaeological commissioner, professor Senarath Paranavithana, these two inscriptions possess great importance as they contain rare information about the queens and children of king Dutugamunu.[4]

References
  1. Gazette 1895 & 26 December 2014, p. 1150.
  2. "Piyangala Forest Hermitage, Ampara". easternsrilanka. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  3. "Piyangala Aranya Senasanaya". Lanka Pradeepa. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  4. "Piyangala Forest Hermitage at Ampara – අම්පාර පුරාණ පියන්ගල ආරන්‍ය සේනාසනය". amazinglanka. Retrieved 18 August 2016.

Notes
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