Deeghawapi Raja Maha Viharaya

  

Ancient Deegawapi

Deeghawapi (Pali: "long reservoir") is a Buddhist sacred shrine and archaeological site in Sri Lanka's Ampara District, with records reaching back to the third century BCE. Water reservoirs, known as "tanks," were an important component of ancient Sri Lanka's hydraulic culture, and temples and cities were erected around them. Legends regarding the Buddha visiting this site, as well as countless allusions to Deeghawapi in ancient chronicles and Pali literature, contribute to Dighavapi's significance. It has also had a part in the region's political history. The Sinhalese kings have settled Moor and Dutch people in the surrounding districts in more recent (medieval) times. The project is planned to be completed by the end of 2023.

The Mahavamsa, a 5th-century chronicle, and the Dipavamsa, an earlier chronicle, both contain a blend of legend and historical truths. According to these records, the Buddha personally visited the village, and a cetiya was afterwards built on the spot where he sat in meditation. Dighavapi is also mentioned in the Dipavamsa and the significant Pali text, the Samantha Pasaadika. The chronicles also claim that some of the region's early residents were Yakkas, a people mentioned in the Ramayana and who have ancestors among the pre-Aryan 'Kirat' people of Northern India. While it is unlikely that the Buddha visited Dighavapi, the existence of such a narrative suggests that it was held in high regard even in ancient times. According to a pious tradition associated with the Dighavapi cetiya (Dhajagga Paritta), a samanera (a novice monk) once fell from the top while helping to plaster the Dighavapi cetiya (Dhajagga Paritta). His coworkers yelled at him to remember the Dhajagga Pirita. He did, and he was miraculously spared as a result.Many old inscriptions may be found in the vicinity.

A gold leaf inscription measuring 14 cm by 1.5 cm was discovered in 1986. The inscription was kept in a reliquary constructed out of thick gold sheets. The inscription's text was as follows: "Greetings. King Mahitisa's (Kannittha Tissa's) stupa (reliquary), son of King Naka... and so on ".. From 164 to 192 CE, King Kannittha Tissa ruled. Other sites in the vicinity have lately been discussed as a result of archeological studies conducted by a number of people, including E. Medhananda. For the history of this territory as a component of the Ruhuna kingdom during the period of King Kavan-Tissa, the father of Dutugemunu, more thorough historical and lithographic records are accessible. In actuality, the district of "Dighamandala," or Digaamadulla in Sinhala, was established in the 3rd century BCE. Tissa, Dutugamunu's brother, ruled it on his father's orders. Following his father's death, he moved to Dighavapi with his mother and elephant Kandula. He was sent back to watch after the district and the Dighavapi region after he made peace with his brother. Tissa was in control of Dighavapi after the re-conquest of the Pihiti rata (roughly equivalent to today's Northern region), as we see him being summoned from there at the time of Dutugamunu's death. Tissa (after known as Saddhatissa) established the main Dighavapi-vihara, for which he constructed a cetiya and offered costly donations. There is also a historical reference to Dighavapi in relation to King Parakramabahu I's expeditions in the 12th century.

This project is planned to be completed by the end of 2023.

K.M.S.Dilshani Jayasundara
S92062523
#2021😊