03/02/2021
Haththikuchchi Viharaya.
Haththikuchchi Viharaya or the Ethkus Vehera has got its name because of the way that there is an enormous stone taking after a bowing Elephant which gave the name Haththikuchchi. The significance of the word Haththikuchchi in english is the 'elephant's midsection'. This old sanctuary premises which is more than 100 sections of land starting today has a set of experiences approaching the first Century BC.
One can arrive at Haththikuchchi from Anuradhapura through Anuradhapura - Kurunegala street or from Putlam passing Anamaduwa and tagging along Anuradhapura - Kurunegala street passing Galgamuwa town. On the 43rd Mile Post at Mahagalkadawala, turn off and continue around 3 miles where you discover the Haththikuchchi Temple.
Visiting this phenomenal eco rich site is a piece tedious as the way to deal with the site is away from the much wandered primary streets however the exertion is remunerating to the guest as the cavern complex in the midst of lakes and trees just as hypnotizing scene encompassing the site, is unique.
It is accepted that King Sirsangabo who was living in this woods in the wake of repudiating the Crown, in around 244 AD, cut his own head and offered it to a resident, to be given over to the decision King Gotabaya around then as the King had requested to carry the head of Sirisangabo to him dreading Sirisangabo would topple him become King again..There are landmarks to address his burial place at this sanctuary zone.
Situated close to Galgamuwa in the Kurunegala locale, about 3.5 km away from the Mahagalkadawala intersection on the Padeniya–Anuradhapura Street, Haththikuchchi is a broad territory of around 300 sections of land of remains of an enormous antiquated vihara complex. These remnants exist in profoundly pleasant environmental factors that comprise of contrastingly formed stone rocks and forcing woods trees. The perspective on this generally forested territory from the highest point of the most elevated stone mass is stupendous. It is an intriguing site with a collection of assorted archeological remaining parts of different sorts of landmarks and constructions that have a place with various noteworthy periods, yet overwhelmingly the early Anuradhapura time. It is quite possibly the most old and significant Buddhist archeological destinations of Sri Lanka.
Situated at closeness to the old street that existed during old occasions, which stretched out from Isurumuniya in Anuradhapura to the Maya-rata in the south, Hachchikuchchi was arranged in an exceptionally essential area in old occasions. Initially, Haththikuchchi had been a commonplace Buddhist Forest Hermitage, set up in the second century BCE by lord Devanampiyatissa (307-267 BCE), the principal Buddhist ruler of the island. Therefore, it was created by ruler Saddatissa (137-119 BCE), additionally as a woodland withdrawal. In later years, particularly from second century CE to tenth century CE, with the support of a few lords of the Anuradhapura period, Haththikuchchi created and extended as a profoundly significant Monastery-Shrine complex. In the thirteenth century, Haththikuchchi was demolished by Kalinga Maaga the Dravidian Tamil psychological oppressor trespasser from Southern India yet was before long reestablished with the support of later Sinhala rulers.
The areas of this colossal cloister altar complex comprises of many stone caverns utilized as abodes of priests, incorporating 38 caverns with dribble edges and many stone engravings, 16 lakes remembering a perpetual lake for top of the huge rock where the contemplation cavern of ruler Sirisangabo is found, a Chapter House or Pohoya Geya, stays of eight Stupas, a Vatadage, an Image House, a Bodhighara, an Uposathaghara, a Pasmahal Prasadaya, a three-storeyed Dhathu mandeeraya, a dhana salawa or eating Hall, and a lot more unidentified designs, structural landmarks and adornments cut out of stones. There is a cavern sanctum, with a huge leaning back Buddha sculpture that has a place with the Mahanuwara time frame – eighteenth century. The substance of the Buddha in this sculpture is extraordinarily quiet.
As per records of Venerable Buddhagosha of the fifth century CE, during the early Anuradhapura time, there were four exceptionally created Buddhist altars in the nation, to be specific, Dakshinagiriya, Mihintalaya, Sithulpahuwa and Haththikuchchi. Haththikuchchi timberland isolation was a huge and exceptionally significant Buddhist community, particularly a rumored reflection focus.
The chronicled meaning of Haththikuchchi is to a great extent inferable from its relationship with ruler Sirisangabo of the mid third century CE (252 - 254 CE). This was the site where this devout lord was reflecting and where he offered his own head to a worker. As indicated by Venerable Buddhagosha, King Sirisangabo was pondering in the cavern among the overhanging rock, and it was among the best contemplation collapses the island.
An old burial chamber has been found among the archeological remaining parts in this site, which is considered to have the cinders of the lord Sirisangabo. Here, the gravestone was worked from blocks and takes after a human body however with a rock circle put as the head piece, inferring the missing head in the dead body. His body was found at the foot of the cavern where the ruler was ruminating and was subsequently incinerated and the cinders were revered in a stupa, the vestiges of which is obvious today.
There are various clarifications about the relationship of lord Sirisangabo with Haththikuchchi and with Attanagalla. This has prompted discussions with respect to this site. Yet, as indicated by rumored research researchers, for example, Venerable Nochchiye Somananda Mahathera, there is no uncertainty that Haththikuchchi had been the spot related with the ruler Sirisangabo story. He alludes to and deciphers the records of this ruler refered to in antiquated annals, for example, Deepavamsa, Mahavamsa, Mahavamsa Tikaava, Rajavaliya, Rajarathnakaraya and Pujavaliya. In his book named Hachchikuchchi Vihara Vansaya, Venerable Somananda refers to confirm from an old annal named Sahassavaththuppakarana", written in the first century CE, which contains an away from of the lord Sirisangabo story. Furthermore, he refers to archeological proof, rock inscriptional data, and fables, to set up that the lord Sirisangabo story is straightforwardly connected with Haththikuchchi.
Location -: https://goo.gl/maps/w3AcGG1PJ9AJFV6y5
