Situlpauva Rajamaha Vihara

This ancient vihara complex is Situated 24 km away from Tissamaharama on the Tissamaharama-Situlpauva road.

This MOnastery was called 'Cittalapabbata' in the Sri Lankan chronicles and was Once an ancient Centre of Buddhism in Ruhuna. According to the Mahavamsa, it was King Kawantissa who established the Vihara during the 2nd century BC. Situated within the Yala Wild Life Sanctuary, this monastery is one of the most complex and most beautiful temples in Sri Lanka. In the Ist century, during the reign of King Walagamba (103 and 89-77 BC), there had been 12,000 monks living at Situlpauva. Many drip-ledge caves formed a part of the Situlpauva monastery, and many of them had donatory inscriptions inscribed on them. There are 19 inscriptions in the Situlpauva area, all of which recorded in early Brahmi script.

The Koravakgala area of Situlpauva has 26 caves with inscriptions, and the Dekundarawa reservoir area has 14 inscriptions of the early Brahmi script. Many kings and noblemen had donated numerous riches to Situlpauva. The Stupa at Maha Situlpauva rock is believed to have been constructed by King Kawantissa. The ten attendant stupas had been constructed by King Vasabha (67-111 AD). The Kuda Situlpauva or small Situlpauva had two stupas. The image house at Situlpauva contains a few paintings near the drip-ledges. There is a cluster of about 40 pillars about 10 feet in height located on the eastern precinct of Maha Situlpauva. These pillars were ruins of a preaching hall.

While Tissamaharama Vihara gained recognition as a centre of Buddhist learning from about the 3rd century to the 11th century, Situlpauva served as a centre of Buddhist meditation and had accommodated thousands of monks. Both these shrines were constructed by Kawantissa, according to Mahavamsa.

(Heritage of Ruhuna by Dr. H.A.P. Abeyawardana P129)

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Sithulpawwa Rajamaha Viharaya

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