Lore of Girihanduseya in Thiriyaya-by M.A.R.Manukulasooriya

Girihanduseya is an ancient Buddhist temple in Thiriyaya, Trincomalee, supposed to have been constructed by two seafaring merchants Thapassu and Bhalluka. The names of the two merchants are recorded on a rock inscription in the temple premises.

The names of the two merchants Thapassu and Bhalluka have also been stated in later Sinhala chronicles giving credit to them for constructing Girihanduseya.

The stupa in the temple is especially venerated by people as it is believed that hair relics of the Buddha are enshrined in it. The temple is on a hillock near the sea coast, 47 kms to the North of Trincomalee. The summit is occupied by a Vatadage containing the stupa in the centre. The stupa which was originally small had been enlarged in the 8th century AD. The Vatadage covers the stupa with a concentric circles of stone pillars similar to Thuparama and Lankarama stupas in Anuradhapura.

The stone circular platform is open to the four directions and accessed by flight of steps with guardstones (Muragal) and balustrades (Korawakgal) showing the usual Sinhalese architecture.

On the terrace lower than the Vatadage are vestiges of monastic structures including ruined buildings, stone pillars, flights of steps, ponds and remains of a stone bridge. There are rock caves on the slope of the hill, two of which contain Brahmi inscriptions, one of the pre-Christian form of the script and the other dating from about the first century.

To the South of the Vatadage, there is another inscription engraved on the rock surface which contains eleven lines of writing revealing the names of two merchants as well as the temple.

The inscription written in Sanskrit states that it was constructed in the 23rd year of the reign of King Silamegha, the Lord of Simpala.

There is a tank called Nithupathpana near the temple, which is said to have been built by King Vasabha (67-111 A,D). The temple was renovated by King Vijayabahu (1055-1110 A.D.)

The Pujawaliya, a 13th Century Sinhalese religious work states that the two merchants Thapassu and Bhalluka built a stupa enshrining the hair relics of the Buddha when they came to Sri Lanka having been on a sea voyage. It also states that the two merchants came to the place called Girihandu and placed the casket of the relics on the summit of the rock and went out to have meals.

When they returned after having their meals, they could not move the relic casket from the place where it was.

Finally, giving honour to it, they covered the casket with a heap of stones and went on their way.

The sacred site which was covered with a jungle for centuries was rediscovered by Ven. Gandara Sri Ananda Thera. Ven. Devinuwara Chandima Thera serves as the Chief Incumbent of the temple at present.

Special poojas are conducted in the mornings and the evenings at the temple every day to pay respect to the Stupa.