SANKHAPALA RAJAMAHA VIHARA & PHUSSADEWA TOMB

This historical cave-temple is located in a close distant from RatnapuraAmbilipitiya main road. The chronicle of this sanctuary which is situated in Pallebedda village in Thambagamupaththuwa belonging to Atakalan Korale traces back to Anuradhapura reign.

As the chunk of victory locally referred as “Jayasankhaya” of the giant, great Phussadeva has been treasured on top of a colossal rock in here, this temple has been popularized as “Sankhapala”. Phussadeva giant has an inimitable place among ten great giants of unconquered King Dutugamunu who fought self-sacrificingly to rescue Sri Lanka from South Indian antagonistic calamity.

Sankhapala is a nom de plume which has a historical weight originated in the period before Christ. King Dutugamunu who cherished motherland and Buddhist  dispensation from inimical incursions has bestowed presents and village-grants to ten giants who have bolstered in uniting the country.

Phussadeva has received Pallebedda village grant which spans roughly 12000 acres. Number of caverns discovered from Sankhapala mount by now is 14. Three stone inscriptions lithographed in Brahmi letters can be sighted in three caverns amended cutting drip-ledges.

Historical information on giant Phussadeva who lived in 2nd century B.C., is well matched with folklores. Conch vestige of giant Phussadeva has been inscribed in the left side of the inscription mentioned above. It is cited that this sanctuary which is invaded by the wild after Anuradhapura reign has been granted to Ven. Dharmarama thero by the King Rajadhi Rajasinha in Mahanuwara epoch.

Ven. Karathota Dharmarama thero has composed the difficult epic called by the name “Baarasa Kavya” and has offered it to King Rajadhi Rajasinha. It is mentioned that Ven. Bambarande Sri Siddhartha thero has done reconstructions in here in regal year 1860. In present this vihara is referred as “Maha vihara”. It is not sure that by whom and when the image-house in the center of Sankhapala vihara has been erected.However Buddha images and epigraphs in the sanctuary are rather parallel with Kandian arts in Mahanuwara ear. These murals have been lithographed in bested rock.

Number of remains of a lost history is still reserved in the mountain above the caverns of Sankhapala vihara. Among them, ancient inscriptions and dripledged caves are significantly large in number. Sankhapala sanctuary and its vicinity would be a precious knowledge hub for academicians in thirst of exploring the blurred history with limits of time. Sankhapala has become a touristic sanctuary of both local and foreign travellers.