{"id":96925,"date":"2022-08-04T08:53:13","date_gmt":"2022-08-04T08:53:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=96925"},"modified":"2022-08-04T08:53:13","modified_gmt":"2022-08-04T08:53:13","slug":"kota-vehera-commemoration-of-a-royal-birth-by-arundathie-abeysinghe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/kota-vehera-commemoration-of-a-royal-birth-by-arundathie-abeysinghe\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cKota Vehera\u201d \u2013 commemoration of a royal birth – By Arundathie Abeysinghe"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u201cKota Vehera\u201d \u2013 commemoration of a royal birth – <\/strong>By Arundathie Abeysinghe<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h1>\n

\"\u201cKota<\/p>\n

\"\"Situated approximately 15 kilometers from *Kegalle, Dedigama \u201cKota Vehera\u201d also known as \u201cSuthigara Seya<\/em>\u201d or \u201cSuthigara Dagoba<\/em>\u201d (\u201csuthikagaraya\u201d meaning place of birth) is a dome-shaped shrine comprising relics of the Buddha or an *Arhat.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to *Mahawamsa, King Manabharana, a sub-king of *Ruhuna lived in exile in Dedigama. He has used \u201cPunkhagama\u201d (present Dedigama) as his capital city during his reign. The Suthigara dagoba<\/em> (or stupa <\/em>is a shrine that contains sacred relics) gets its name from the word \u201csuthikagaraya\u201d (meaning place of birth). Queen Rathnavali gave birth to a baby boy (who later reigned as King Parakramabahu I also known as King Parakramabahu the Great – 1153-1186) in the place where the stupa<\/em> is located. This stupa<\/em> has been constructed by King Parakramabahu as a memorial for the location, he was born.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to typical architectural style of King Parakramabahu I, the stupa<\/em> has its hemispherical form truncated on the top, without the usual upper portions of stupas<\/em>. Hence, it was named as \u201cKota Vehera\u201d (meaning short stupa<\/em> in Sinhala).<\/span><\/p>\n

There are three stupas <\/em>of \u201cKota Vehera\u201d type in Sri Lanka: Suthighara Chetiya<\/em> (Suthighara Stupa<\/em>) at Dedigama, stupa<\/em> at *Yudaganawa (largest stupa <\/em>in the south and east of Sri Lanka) and the Damila thupa<\/em> at Polonnaruwa (dating to the 12th century and attributed to King Parakramabahu I).<\/span><\/p>\n

According to folklore, the smaller stupa<\/em> has been constructed on the exact location of the royal birth (location of King Parakramabahu\u2019s birth) and the larger stupa<\/em> has been built around it. The larger stupa<\/em> is approximately 14 meters (47 feet) high and the diameter is approximately 78 meters (256 feet). The top portion of the stupa<\/em> is flat and covers approximately 2415 square meters (around 26,000 square feet).<\/span><\/p>\n

During archaeological excavations, it has been found that the Stupa<\/em> has been constructed on another smaller stupa<\/em> found closer to the pesa walalu<\/em> (concentric perimeter rings around a dagoba<\/em>) on the eastern side, approximately 10 meters (36 feet) in diameter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although, there are no records about the relics enshrined in this stupa<\/em>, a large quantity of relics has been discovered in its 10 relic chambers. Of these, the most significant is the *metal Elephant Lamp displayed at the Dedigama Museum.<\/span><\/p>\n

Major renovations have not been carried out on this stupa<\/em>. Yet, weeds and damaged bricks have been replaced over the past several years to maintain its ancient austere appearance.<\/span><\/p>\n

The stupa<\/em> was discovered during the British Colonial Era by Government Agent Kegalle, F.M. Price.<\/span><\/p>\n

Initial excavations have been carried out in 1950\u2019s by late Dr. Charles Godakumbura (Commissioner of Archaeology in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) from 1956 to 1967).<\/span><\/p>\n

Image courtesy – buddhistplacesinsrilanka.weebly.com & unknownsrilanka.wordpress.com<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Directions:\u00a0 <\/strong>Travel along Colombo-Kandy Road and thereafter proceed along Nelumdeniya – Galapitamada road up to Nelumdeniya junction. Turn right at Nelumdeniya junction and travel approximately three kilometers to reach the stupa<\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n