Maligawila monastery, (near) Buttala, Uva Province, SL

Raw data

"“Maligawila is in the Buttala Divisional Secretariat Division of the Moneragala District. It could be reached by trversing 8 miles along the right turnoff from the Kumbukkana Junction at the 154 mile post on the Colombo-Moneragala road. Maligawila comprises the ruins of an Image House and a Monastic Complex in an area of 400 acres. Archeologists believe that Maligawila is the Ariyakara Vihara mentioned in the chronicles. According to the chronicle Culavamsa King Aggabodhi who reigned from 667-683 A.D. had constructed a hospital for the blind and the sick at this place.

The ruined Image House could have been constructed with a vaulted stone roof, which may have had a perambulatory passage as evidenced from the findings. the 7th -8th c A.D. is in the Samabhanga posture and displays the Abhaya Mudra. The moonstone at the entrance to the Image House is a unique."
http://www.archaeology.gov.lk/web/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=73&Itemid=99&lang=en

"About 500 metres away from this is another image carved from rock. This is thought to be the image of the Maithree Natha Bodhisattva also some times identified as Avalokithswara Bodhisattva. This image also called Dambegoda Bodhisattva statue. Just left to the stair way to the Bodhisattva statue you will find a pillar inscription protected by a newly built structure. This stone pillar has been placed by the king Mahinda IV (956-972 AD) on his 10th year of reign. This inscription records the work done by the king for the upliftment of the Buddhism and has some rules laid down by him in Administration of Buddhist sites".
http://www.angelfire.com/in4/visitsl/cities/maligawila/maligawila.htm

Input by: GitaG, May 24, 2013

“Maligawila, or Maligavila is a village in Sri Lanka, approximately 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) south from Moneragala […] in the Moneragala District. It is the site of several important archaeological pieces, including a free-standing 11 meters (36 ft 1.1 in) or 12 meters (39 ft 4.4 in) tall limestone statue of Buddha, […]” - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maligawila

Input by: tmciolek, Jun 01, 2013

Final data (and their sources)

Last updated: 01 Jun 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 Maligawila monastery, SL.

General location of the Maligawila monastery, SL.
Lat 6.72845 Long 81.35243
Mapping & images: Falling Rain Genomics (http://www.fallingrain.com), 2013.


Google Map link:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=6.72845+81.35243+(Approx.%20loc.%20of%20the%20Maligawila%20monastery,%20SL)&ll=6.72845,81.35243&spn=05.0,05.0&t=k&hl=en

Final data - explanatory notes

1. Monastery's name

  • Maligawila monastery

2. Monastery's modern country & province

  • Sri Lanka: Uva Province

3. Monastery's alternative/historical names

4. Monastery's lat/long coordinates

  • Approx. Lat 6.72845 Long 81.35243 - based on visual identification of the site of the Maliwagila Statue in maps/satellite imagery and Panoramio photographs, maps.google.com - tmciolek, 01 Jun 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

8. The settlement's coordinates

9. Monastery's major Buddhist tradition

10. Monastery's Buddhist sub-tradition

  • [missing data]

11. Date-early

  • According to the chronicle Culavamsa King Aggabodhi who reigned from 667-683 A.D. had constructed a hospital for the blind and the sick at this place. The ruined Image House could have been constructed with a vaulted stone roof, which may have had a perambulatory passage as evidenced from the findings. the 7th -8th c A.D. is in the Samabhanga posture and displays the Abhaya Mudra.
  • MBM Chrono tag: 0600-32p 0633-66c 0667-99c - GitaG 24 May 2013
  • 0600-32p 0633-66c 0667-99c 0700-32c 0733-66c 0767-99c 0800-32c 0833-66c 0867-99c 0900-32c 0933-66c 0967-99c 1000-32p dated-ex

12. Date-intermediate

  • Just left to the stair way to the Bodhisattva statue you will find a pillar inscription protected by a newly built structure. This stone pillar has been placed by the king Mahinda IV (956-972 AD) on his 10th year of reign. This inscription records the work done by the king for the upliftment of the Buddhism and has some rules laid down by him in Administration of Buddhist sites.
  • MBM chrono tag: 0967-99c 1000-32p - GitaG 24 May 2013

13. Date-late

  • [missing data]

14. Details of contacts with other monasteries

  • [missing data]

15. Type of evidence regarding the monastery

  • Architectural, inscriptions

16. Additional notes

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

  • [missing data]

18. Known monks and nuns associated with this monastery

19. Available Printed Literature

  • Dhammika, Ven S. 2008a. Sacred Island: A Buddhist pilgrim's guide to Sri Lanka. Kandy: Buddhist Publications Society.
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 2]
  • [bibliographical details of the Book/Article 3]

end of page

0600-32p0633-66c0667-99c0700-32c0733-66c0767-99c0800-32c0833-66c0867-99c0900-32c0933-66c0967-99c1000-32p200mdated-exhospitalmsouth-asiasri-lankastupatrad.mahayana
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