Somawathiya stupa
Somawathiya (Somawathi Chethiya) was built in the 2nd century BCE and is said to house the relic of the true tooth of the Buddha.
According to the Dhatuvamsa chronicle, Prince Giriaba and Princess Somawathi lived in a small community called "Somapura" on the banks of the Mahaweli River. Prince Giriaba built Somawathi Chethiya at the request of his wife, who wanted to engage in religious activities. After the stupa was completed, the prince asked a monk named Mahinda for a "dath" to be enshrined in the stupa's reliquary. Maha Thera Mahinda gave him the relic of the true tooth of the Buddha.
According to history, the "Naga" (serpent) king Jayasena received this tooth relic when the remaining relics from the Buddha's cremation ground were being distributed. He took it to the "Naga Lokaya" (Naga Kingdom) and placed it in a stupa made of gold for worship. At the request of Prince Giriaba, Maha Thero Mahinda visited the "Naga" kingdom and brought this tooth relic to be enshrined in a stupa built by the prince.
After the completion of the stupa and five viharas, the prince and princess handed over the temple to Mahinda Maha Thero and sixty other monks. After that, many kings contributed to this center in many ways.
According to historical documents, Somawathiya was built on the east bank of the Mahaveli River. However, today it is about ½ km from the west bank of the river. Although this cast doubt on whether this is the actual Somawathi Stupa described in the chronicles, it was later revealed that the river had changed course over the past 800 years and in fact the current sandy path leading to Somawathi was the path of the river about 800 years ago.
The site was rediscovered in the 1940s and a group of enthusiasts began renovations in 1948. In 1964, archaeologists began excavations. During the excavation of the main stupa, a smaller stupa was found 1.75 meters deep in the main stupa. This smaller stupa is believed to be the original Somawathi Chethiya, built by Prince Giriaba in the 2nd century BCE, and a second stupa built around the original was the work of King Kanittha Tissa in 164 CE.
Archaeologists also found four moonstones and flower stands after digging 1.5 meters of earth around the stupa. They also excavated six 1.2-meter-long "siripa gal" (stones carved into the lower part of the Buddha's feet). In addition, many buildings were excavated, including the wall surrounding the stupa.
Nine stone inscriptions have been found around the site, and the most famous are the four inscriptions found on the Eric Swan Rock. This rock can be seen just a few meters from the gravel path, about 100 meters before the main entrance to the temple. The rock was named after photographer Eric Swan, who was killed by a wild elephant near the rock.
Today, Somawathi is popular for three main reasons.
- Somawathi houses one of only two tooth relics of the Buddha in the world. The other tooth relic is kept in the "Dalada Maligawa" in Kandy.
- Incredible paranormal phenomena occur around the stupa. Thousands of pilgrims have witnessed them.
- Remoteness of the location. This place is located deep in a jungle infested with elephants and other wild animals.
In 1987, a group of LTTE terrorists attacked this sacred site and hacked to death a Buddhist monk and seven civilians who were residing in a nearby temple. When the pilgrims and monks of Somawathi heard this news from a Muslim civilian, they hid in the jungle and after a few days on November 13, 1987, they reached the temple. The terrorists reached Somawathi and found it deserted. They stole the "Chuda Manikya" (a large jewel placed on top of the stupa) and dug a hole about 1.5 meters deep in the stupa to search for the valuable relics. They then marched into a nearby Sinhalese village where a man named S. Dissanayake lived. He had been the custodian of the holy site since 1966. The terrorists (LTTE) had hacked to death 10 civilians in that village, including S. Dissanayake and his four children. On the same day, the leader of this barbaric terrorist group died in the stupa by accident from his own gun. For some mysterious reason, they could not even take the "Chuda Manikya" which they had stolen and which was later found by the archaeological department.
After these brutal killings, the site was left unattended for another 15 years due to fears of further terrorist attacks. Following a ceasefire agreement between the LTTE and the government, the gravel roads were reconstructed and opened to pilgrims in 2002.
