Debarawewa Yatala Vehera- Sri Lanka

Address

Debarawewa Yatala Vehera- Sandungama Rd, Tissamaharama, Sri Lanka

Diety

Buddha

Introduction

Yatala Vehera (Yatala Wehera) is an ancient Buddhist stupa dating back to the 3rd Century B.C, located in Deberawewa – Thissamaharama in Hambantota District of Sri Lanka. The stupa is built on a stage made of large flat granite stones and has a surrounding wall of sculpted elephant heads, a moat and a large moonstone. It is believed that the stupa was built 2300 years ago by regional king Yatala Thissa of Ruhuna to commemorate the place where he was born. However some believe that the stupa was built by regional king Mahanaga, father of Yatala Thissa to mark the birth of his son

Puranic Significance

Mahanaga is a brother of King Devanampiyathissa (250-210 BC). History states that when Mahanaga was inspecting the construction of Walas Reservoir the queen of Devanampiyathissa sends him a bowl of Mangos with the topmost one poisoned. Her intention was to kill Mahanaga to ensure the throne to her son after Devanampiyathissa. At that time the son was with his uncle at the tank and the child ate the poisoned mango and died on the spot. Fearing reprisal he took his pregnant wife and escaped to Ruhuna where he built up his own regional kingdom surrounding the Magama area. Some believe that this was much larger stupa due to the size of the huge granite pinnacle found on the grounds. It is not known what was enshrined in this stupa but a large number of relic caskets have been discovered in the stupa. The restoration work of the Yatala Stupa commenced in 1883 AD. It took over a century to complete the restoration. This stupa is surrounded by probably the oldest Elephant Wall in the country. Ruins of a large number of various image houses have been conserved. One image house contains 2 larger than life-size Buddha statues carved from Rock. The head of one statue has been broken and can be seen at the feet. Another image house has been reserved for a large Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva image carved from stone. Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva is a concept from Mahayana Buddhism which had become Natha Deviyo in Sri Lanka. On the ground of the stupa a statue of Avalokeshwara Bodhisattva, a concept originated in Mahayana Buddhism blended with the Sri Lankan culture and Theravada doctrine.