Kiri Vehera [monastery?], (in) Kataragama, Uva Province, SL

Raw data

“Kiri Vehera is an ancient stupa built by King Mahasena[1] and situated in Kataragama, Sri Lanka. It is 95 ft. in height with a circumference of 280 ft. This structure probably dates back to the 3rd century BC.[2]" - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiri_Vehera

"Kataragama is also one of the 16 principal places of Buddhist pilgrimage to be visited in Sri Lanka. According to the chronicle of Sri Lankan history the Mahawamsa, when the Bo sapling of Bodhi Tree, under which Gotama Buddha attained enlightenment in North India was brought to the city of Anuradhapura 2,300 years ago, the warriors or Kshatriyas from Kataragama were present on the occasion to pay homage and respect. […] The Bo tree situated behind the Kataragama temple is one of the eight saplings (Ashta Phala Ruhu Bodhi) of Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradapura, Sri Lanka. This tree has been planted in the 3rd century BC.[4] The Buddhist Kiri Vehera Dagoba which stands in close proximity to the Kataragama devalaya was built by the King Mahasena. According to the legend, Lord Buddha, on his third and the last visit to Sri Lanka, was believed to have met King Mahasena, who ruled over the Kataragama area in 580 BC. It is said that King Mahasena met Lord Buddha and listened to the Buddha's discourse and as a token of gratitude, the Dagoba was built on that exact spot where it now stands. Thus the local Sinhalese Buddhists believe that Kataragama was sanctified by Lord Buddha." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kataragama#Buddhist_Kataragama

"Buddhist stupa in Kataragama monastery, Kirinda, Sri Lanka" - http://www.123rf.com/photo_1834641_buddhist-stupa-in-kataragama-monastery-kirinda-sri-lanka.html
Input by: tmciolek, Feb 08, 2013

"Legend says that the sword that prince Siddhattha cut his hair off at the time of his renunciation is deposited in this stupa. According to the Dhatuvamsa the Buddha stopped here briefly during his third visit to Sri Lanka before going to Tissamaharama. Already a sapling from the Bodhi Tree at Anuradhapura had been planted at Kataragama. In all the ancient sources Kirivehera is called Magulmahasaya and it is not sure how when or why the name, which means ‘the milk stupa’ came into use. The stupa was renovated in 1912 and sits on a platform 130 feet square and 10 feet high."
http://www.buddhanet.net/sacred-island/kirivehera.html
Input by: GitaG, Feb 12, 2013

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 12 Feb 2013

Lat/Long coordinates' accuracy:
The monastery in question is assumed to be situated actually no farther than 200 m from the point defined by the coordinates below.

Location of Kiri Vehera monastery(?), SL.

General location of the Kiri Vehera monastery(?) monastery, SL.
Lat 6.42403 Long 81.33236
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2013.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=6.42403+81.33236+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Kiri%20Vehera%monastery(?)%20monastery,%20SL)&ll=6.42403,81.33236&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name


2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • Sri Lanka:Province of Uva

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names


4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx. Lat 6.42403 Long 81.33236 - based on visual identification of the site in maps/satellite imagery, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 08 Feb 2013.

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries


6. Modern name of the known nearest city, town, or village


7. The settlement's alternative/historical names

  • [missing data]

8. The settlement's coordinates


9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

  • Theravada

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

  • MBM chrono-tag: <=0200 - tmciolek 08 Feb 2013
  • <=0200 0200-32c 0233-66c 0267-99c 0300-32c 0333-66c 0367-99c 0400-32c 0433-66c 0467-99c 0500-32c 0533-66c 0567-99c 0600-32c 0633-66c 0667-99c 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c 0900-32c 0933-66c 0967-99c 1000-32c 1033-66c 1067-99c 1100-32c 1133-66c 1167-99c 1200=> dated-el

12. Date-intermediate

  • [missing data]

13. Date-late

  • MBM chrono-tag: 1200=> - tmciolek 08 Feb 2013

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • Archaeological, architectural, references in ancient literature

16. Additional notes

  • [missing data] (incl. details of the size of the monastic population)

17. Corrections & addenda to this page were kindly provided by

  • [missing data]

18. Available Printed Literature

  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 1]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 2]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 3]

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