An ancient Buddhist temple 4 km east of Vavuniya, revered as an early resting place of the Sacred Tooth Relic on its journey to Anuradhapura.

Overview

Madukanda Vihara sits among quiet fields at Madukanda village, off the Horowpothana road east of Vavuniya town. It is best known as one of the resting places of the Sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha as it was carried inland from the northern coast, and is regarded by tradition as the site of the first shrine built to house the relic in Sri Lanka. Beside the modern temple lie the preserved ruins of an ancient relic house, with a semicircular moonstone, carved guardstones, weathered stone pillars and old bathing ponds tended by the Department of Archaeology.

History

The site's history reaches back at least to the 4th century CE. Tradition holds that when Prince Danta and Princess Hemamala brought the Tooth Relic to the island during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna, it rested at Madukanda on its way from the northern coast to the capital at Anuradhapura, and that the first Dalada shrine on the island was raised here. The ancient relic house, moonstone, guardstones and stone pillars that survive have been preserved and partly restored by the Department of Archaeology.