Medirigiriya

Medirigiriya has located to the northeast, about 24 km on the Polonnaruva-Habarana road from Minneriya. This region is referred to as Rantisa in an inscription of Kassapa V. Parakramabahu the Great built the Rantisa tank (Tissavaddhamanaka Tank) there Nissankamalla proclaimed this tank as a Sanctuary for animals. The Rantisa tank has now been identified as the Kawdulla tank, which is about six miles from Minneriya. As found in the Sigiri Graffiti, it falls within the larger region of Vijervatukuli. This covers about half of the northern region of Sinhala Pattuva.

What is now known as the Medirigri-vihara is the ancient Man dalagiraka-vihara of the Tissa Vaddhama Naka district. Kanitthatissa built a Chapter House (uposathaghara) there. The son of Aggabodhi IV built a round relic house for the stupa at a great cost. Sena II granted maintenance villages to the temple. Vijayabahu I renovated the monastery. Mahavamsa says that on a boulder at the Medirigiri temple site is an inscription which is an agreement between Gajabahu II and Parakramabahu the Great. This has not been discovered, but a copy of it was found at the Sangamu vihara in the Kurunegala District.

This can be regarded as a peace treaty coming down from medieval times. Nissankamalla is said to have visited Medirigiriya. In the beginning, there was a stupa at Medirigiriya. The Round Relic House (vatadage’) was built in the seventh century. The original small stupas were transformed into round relic houses by Sinhalese kings guided by Abhayagiri monks who were inspired by the Mahayana tradition.Ma dirigirivatada ge is aclear example. The Round Relic House at Medirigiriya is a magnificent work of art. It is a design that amalgamates the beauty of the existing landscape and the architectural beauty of the relic house-all of which enhances its overall splendour.

This can be viewed as a unique creation of Sri Lankan Buddhist architecture.

(Heritage of Rajarata by Chandra Wikramagamage P:247)

Unique Sri Lanka

Medirigiriya Vatadage

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