Lahugala Magul Maha monastery, (near) Pottuvil, North Eastern Province, SL

Raw data

“Lahugala is one of the un-spoilt national parks in Sri Lanka on the south-eastern sector of the park. The magul maha viharaya lies about 22 km off from Siyambaladuwa town and about 11km off Pottuvil.” - http://v3.itnnews.lk/?p=4762

“This temple is said to be built by King Kavanthissa in the 2nd Century BC on the location where the King married the pricecess Vihara Maha Devi. The foundations of the “Magul maduwa” where the wedding ceremony took place can still be seen in the vihara premises. The entire Vihara complex had covered an extent of around 10,000 acres where ruins of a palace, moonstone , monastery, bo-maluwa, stupas, ponds etc. are found scattered all over. The moonstone here is said to be unique in the country as this is the the only location where elephants are carved with their mahouts in the moonstone.
Directions To Magul Maha Viharaya
Lahugala Magul Maha Viharaya lies 1.5 km off the main Monoragala – Pottuvil road 20 km off Siyambalanduwa town.”
http://amazinglanka.com/heritage/lahugala/lahugala.php

“Magul Maha Viharaya is said to be the place where Princess Vihara Maha Devi got married to King Kawantissa. Although the legend has it all explained, the story is yet to be backed by archaeological evidence. But veteran archaeologist, Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera, the only archaeologist to conduct research at the site, is convinced about its authenticity.
According to Ven. Medhananda Thera, the temple is one of the oldest temples in the country with its history dating back to the early Anuradhapura period.
He believes the temple to have been constructed by an early line of kings.
"The temple could be almost 2000 years old," he pointed out, while adding that the majority of the artifacts still lie under the sand. During the initial excavations nearly 100 stone pillars were discovered buried under the sand suggesting a large Buddhist monastery and a temple complex buried uner the sands of time. “
http://mahavansa.blogspot.com.au/2004/10/sacrilege-at-sacred-site-by-damitha.html

Input by: tmciolek, Jan 24, 2013

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 24 Jan 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 Lahugala Magul Maha monastery, SL.

General location of the Lahugala Magul Maha monastery, SL.
Lat 6.86788 81.73634
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2013.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=6.86788+81.73634+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Lahugala%20Magul%20Maha%20monastery,%20SL)&ll=6.86788,0.0&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en


Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • [missing data]

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • Sri Lanka:North Eastern Province

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

  • [missing data]

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx. Lat 6.86788 81.73634 - based on visual identification of the site in maps/satellite imagery, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 24 Jan 2013.

5. Other known nearby Buddhist monasteries

  • [missing data]

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 24 Jan 2013
  • <=0200 dated-e

12. Date-intermediate

  • [missing data]

13. Date-late

  • [missing data]

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • [missing data]

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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