Aggrabodhi Rajamaha Vihara

This ancient temple is situated within the Weligama town. According to ‘Bodhiwamsa’, one of the first 32 saplings of the Sri Maha Bodhiya at Anuradhapura was planted at this site. It is also speculated that this temple was called Aggrabodhi since it was constructed under the patronage of King Aggrabodhi IV (667-683 AD), who lived in Ruhuna.

Aggrabodhi Vihara had since been completely modernized, and little remains to prove its antiquity. The diary of E.R. Ayrton, Archaeological Commissioner of Sri Lanka, records that the image house of the Aggrabodhi Vihare had been completely renovated in 1914. He further records that there had been two fragments of inscribed stone at the vihara, which cannot be found now. The image house still contains the original Buddha statue of the Kandy period. The Bodhiya and stupa have lost all signs of antiquity. The inscription of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe and the pillars found near the image house are remains of the past. Although the Rajakulawadana Pirivena is now functioning as a separate vihara, it was a part of the Aggrabodhi temple in the past. The vihara also retains many ola leaf manuscripts. One of the most important relics found at this vihara is the ‘Ashta Mangala.’

(Heritage of Ruhuna by Dr. H.A.P. Abeyawardana P54)

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Weligama Agrabodhi Rajamaha Viharaya

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