Muhudu Maha Vihara

Muhudu Maha Vihara (Sinhalaː මුහුදු මහා විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated at Pottuvil in Ampara District, Eastern province of Sri Lanka.[1] This temple which is situated near a wide beach, has been built over 2000 years ago by King Kavan Tissa of Ruhuna. Currently the ruins and remains of ancient stupas, Seema Malaka, Avasa Geya and statues can be seen at the site. Important ruins at the temple premises include stone statues of Buddha and two statues of old kings or gods.

Muhudu maha vihara
මුහුදු මහා විහාරය
The Stupa at Vihara
Religion
AffiliationBuddhism
DistrictAmpara
ProvinceEastern province
Location
LocationPottuvil, Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates06°52′39″N 81°50′20″E
Architecture
TypeBuddhist Temple
FounderKing Kavan Tissa

History

This viharaya marks the landing place of Viharamahadevi, daughter of Kelani Tissa, who was destined to become the queen of King Kavan Tissa of the Rohana kingdom.[2] According to the ancient chronicle Rajavaliya, it is stated that in the second century BC after Kelaniya was submerged by the sea due to a natural disaster, Devi the daughter of King of Kelaniya was cast to sea in a Golden Vessel to appease the gods, and washed ashore near the Muhudu Maha Vihara in Pottuwil. Later she became the main consort of king Kavan Tissa of Ruhuna Kingdom, under the name Viharamahadevi.[3]

Take Over by Muslims and Vandalism
Ruins at Muhudu Maha Vihara

In recent times the lands reserved for the temple have been forcibly taken over by Muslims with the alleged support of Muslim politicians such as M. L. A. M Hizbullah. According to the Monks of temple as of 2019 out of the 72 acres of the temple 55 acres have been forcibly taken over by Islamic extremists including those that are affiliated with the National Thowheeth Jama'ath. The road leading to the temple was renamed with the Arabic name "Masjithul  Palah Road" while Monks living in the temple had been harmed and devotees harassed. Further several ruins including moonstones had been vandalised by Muslims.[4][5]

In August 2019 the National Movement of Sinhale staged a protest outside the ministry of Buddhasasana against the attack on a Buddhist monk of the Muhudu Maha Viharaya. [6]

In May 2020 Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa directed defence officials to investigate the situation which resulted in Defence Secretary Kamal Gunaratna, Army Commander Shavendra Silva, Navy Commander Piyal De Silva, acting IGP C. D Wickremeratne touring the temple premises. A Sri Lankan Navy force was promised to be stationed in the Temple to protect the site. [7] However government workers surveying the archeological sites were threatened by Muslim mobs led by politicians of the All Ceylon Makkal Congress. [8]

See also

Notes and references
  1. "Muhudu Maha Viharaya at Pottuvil". Amazing Lanka Website. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  2. "A dwindling archaeological reserve". Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  3. "Moodu Maha Viharaya and its lonely chief incumbent". Travelblog.org. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  4. "Extremists replacing Sinhala signboards with those in Arabic: Prelate". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2019-08-28.
  5. "The fire at 'Muhudu Maha' Viharaya in Pothuvil: JHU blames muslims | Sri Lanka Brief". Retrieved 2019-08-28.
  6. "Sinhale protest..." www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 2019-08-30.
  7. "මුහුදු මහා විහාරයේ ආරක්ෂාව නාවික හමුදාවට බාර වෙයි". Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  8. "මුහුදු මහා විහාරයේ පුරා විද්‍යා ඉඩම් මැනීම වැළැක්වීමේ දේශපාලන ව්‍යාපාරයක නිරුවත හෙළිවෙයි (වීඩියෝ)". Retrieved 21 June 2020.


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