Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara (S)

At a Glance

This site marks the Buddha's third visit to Sri Lanka, where he paused along with 500 hundred arhats and abided in meditation. At the request of King Indaka, the Buddha gifted two relics that are still enshrined at this location.

The Story

In the center of Badulla city stands the Muthiyangana Raja Maha Vihara. The Samantapasadika (vinaya commentary) is the only surviving text that mentions this location. It relates that the Buddha and his 500 arhat companions entered into samadhi here during his third journey to Sri Lanka. King Indaka, an important local ruler invited the Buddha to remain and also requested a relic as a devotional support. The Buddha gave him a few of his hairs as well as a few drops of sweat that turned into pearls (mukthaka). King Indaka enshrined these sacred hairs and pearls in the stupa here. 

Moreover, according to the Samantapasadika and the Mahabodhivamsa one of the original 32 saplings from the Sri Mahabodhi tree was also planted here. There are currently four bodhi trees revered at this site. The first in importance is the original sapling from the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi which was said to have been planted personally by King Devanampiya Tissa. 

Another tree is called Ananda bodiya as it is a sapling brought from the Jetavana monestey in Sravasti in India . There, the bodhi tree relic established by the Buddha’s closest attendant still remains. And a third bodhi tree is named after Maliyadeva Thera (2nd century BCE ), believed to have achieved the state of an arhant and to be the last monk to have high psychic powers.

Location: Badulla, Uva Province

Coordinates 06°59'03.3"N 81°03'40.8"E