eLanka

Thursday, 2 Oct 2025
  • Home
  • Read History
  • Articles
    • eLanka Journalists
  • Events
  • Useful links
    • Obituaries
    • Seeking to Contact
    • eLanka Newsletters
    • eLanka Testimonials
    • Sri Lanka Newspapers
    • Sri Lanka TV LIVE
    • Sri Lanka Radio
    • eLanka Recepies
  • Gallery
  • Contact
Newsletter
  • eLanka Weddings
  • Property
  • eLanka Shop
  • Business Directory
eLankaeLanka
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • Home
  • Read History
  • Articles
    • eLanka Journalists
  • Events
  • Useful links
    • Obituaries
    • Seeking to Contact
    • eLanka Newsletters
    • eLanka Testimonials
    • Sri Lanka Newspapers
    • Sri Lanka TV LIVE
    • Sri Lanka Radio
    • eLanka Recepies
  • Gallery
  • Contact
Follow US
© 2005 – 2025 eLanka Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Home » Blog » Articles » Sasseruwa : Tracing back to the original Avukana statue – TEXT & PIX BY MAHIL WIJESINGHE
Articles

Sasseruwa : Tracing back to the original Avukana statue – TEXT & PIX BY MAHIL WIJESINGHE

eLanka admin
Last updated: March 24, 2021 4:39 pm
By
eLanka admin
ByeLanka admin
Follow:
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

Sasseruwa : Tracing back to the original Avukana statue – TEXT & PIX BY MAHIL WIJESINGHE

Source:Sundayobserver

I first came to know Sasseruwa in the early 1980s through the now defunct Isura- a monthly Sinhala magazine, published by the then Land, Land Development and Mahaweli Development Ministry, to educate the people on Mahaweli development projects.

More Read

LCC MEDIA RELEASE – Liverpool’s Starry Sari Night – where cultures shine together
LCC MEDIA RELEASE: Dear Belly: you need an appetite for the arts at Liverpool
Potential Reactions of Benjamin Netanyahu to the Establishment of a Palestinian State – Dr Harold Gunatillake

Thecolourful magazine was much sought after by me as a student. In one issue, it featured the restoration of a tank of the Sasseruwa temple with a photograph of the Buddha statue in the Mahaweli ‘H’ System in Meegalewa. Now, visiting this place after four decades, I recalled the memories of my student days.

Colossus

The most awe-inspiring is the Buddha statue at Sasseruwa or Resvehera where the first colossus stands majestically amid the dense jungle in a corner of Kurunegala bordering the Anuradhapura district. Travelling from Kalawewa and turning in at the Avukana road, we reached the Sasseruwa temple after about an hour’s drive. We proceeded along the tarred road to the temple which was lined either side by jungle, shrub and lush green paddy fields or dotted here and there with small houses. Passing a shady tree-lined pathway and a tank full of red lotus blooms, where village children pick flowers to sell to pilgrims, we stepped on to the temple premises.

The temple is in an elephant infested area called Meegalewa, on the boundary of the Mahaweli system-H, overlooking the mighty tank,Kalawewa.

Gaining importance after the Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Yapahuwa periods, the Sasseruwa rock temple has a history dating back to the period of King Walagambahu. It is famous for the DethispalaRuha Bodhi planted here.

Legend has it that Budu Res (Rays of light) emanated from the Buddha statue when the Bo-tree was planted. The centuries old huge Bo-tree at the site shades the front of the shrine cave. A 10-feet tall stone wall with four platforms is around the Bo-tree. This is rare feature in Sri Lanka’s temples.

Sasseruwa is significant in many ways. One is the main shrine cave containing an image of the reclining Buddha statue where the original robe, which covered it, is still visible at certain places. This is the only Buddha statue of a rock temple where a pilgrim could walk right around it in veneration.

Avukana

The other unique feature is the 42’ 4’’ tall colossus which stands majestically on the top of the rock boulder amid a forest canopy. It was carved out of a rock outcrop, resembling the famous statue at Avukana.

History reveals that the benevolent tank builder King Dhatusena, who built the mighty reservoir called Kalawewa, wanted the Supreme Being to overlook his mundane efforts. He wanted to build the image of the Buddha as big as his work on the bank of Kalawewa. Then, the Avukana Buddha statue was commissioned to be built. As legend goes Sasseruwa was the first place chosen to build the colossus Avukana Buddha.

As the work progressed, the monarch had a suspicion about the strength of the rock. He, therefore, abandoned the site and chose another at Avukana, close to Kalawewa. However, the sculptor continued his work and created a masterpiece of the Buddha image at Sasseruwa. He sculpted the most beautiful image out of the rock. He sent his pupil to do the monarch’s bidding. The Avukana Buddha statue at Kalawewa is slightly taller than the original at Sasseruwa.

There are over 80 rock caves scattered around the rocky mountain of Sasseruwa, which had provided shelter to monastic bhikkhus in the past, according to chronicles. Today, most of these caves are home to wild animals.

Antique value

More Read

Kaleidoscope 282 , Child Protection, Maja’s Story, Record Tea, Market Update, High Bridge & more Shorter
Kaleidoscope 282 on Child Protection, Maja’s Story, Record Tea, Market Update, High Bridge & more
Sri Lankan Association NSW Launches Strategic Renewal to Empower Community – By Don Ravi Iddamalgoda
Don Ravi Iddamalgoda: A Journey from Victoria to NSW and Building Community Connections – From Red Lentil Exports to Community Leadership

The wall paintings in the cave shrine of the Sasseruwa temple seem to belong to the Kandyan period. A flight of steps lead to the Poya Geya where a Makara Thorana (Dragon arch) decorates its entrance.

The furniture in the temple has immense antique value. A bed, ancient and still intact, made of Ma Vevel (Cane) which is said to have been donated to the temple by a carpenter, was placed in a corner of the shrine room in the cave.

On one side of the temple is a small rock enclose said to be the Pattini Devala where lie a replica of the Goddess’ symbol and an anklet. There is a belief among the villagers that a cobra had guarded the temple. The villagers say that a 14-foot and seven-inch discarded snake outer skin had been found in the rock cave shrine in 1980.

The Archaeological Department had undertaken construction work on the roof of the shrine rooms and also renovated some faded wall paintings in the caves. The ancient preaching hall in the temple hasbeen damaged by rain water dripping from the roof.

The development work on the temple was initiated with the accelerated Mahaweli development program, which commenced in the early 80s, resulting in the Sasseruwa temple premises belonging to Mahaweli system-H, becaming a religious site for pilgrims who visit theAvukana statue, just 12 kilometres away from Sasseruwa.

TAGGED:Makara ThoranaThe Avukana Buddha
Share This Article
Email Copy Link Print
Previous Article Dr Harold Gunatillake (2) Health & Views March 3rd issue 2021 – By Dr Harold Gunatillake
Next Article THE PILOT – by Capt Elmo Jayawardena
FacebookLike
YoutubeSubscribe
LinkedInFollow
Most Read
10 Pictures With Fascinating Stories Behind Them!

“A PICTURE SPEAKS A 1000 WORDS” – By Des Kelly

Look past your thoughts so you may drink the pure nectar of this moment

A Life Hack for when we’re Burnt Out & Broken Down – By Uma Panch

Narration of the History of our Proud Ancestral (Orang Jawa) Heritage. by Noor R. Rahim

eLanka Weddings

eLanka Marriage Proposals

Noel News

Noel News

Noel News

Noel News- By Noel Whittaker

EILEEN MARY SIBELLE DE SILVA (nee DISSANAYAKE) – 29 September 1922 – 6 April 2018 – A Woman of Value an Appreciation written by Mohini Gunasekera

K.K.S. Cement Factory

Dr.Harold Gunatillake’s 90th Birthday party

Sri Lanka's women's cricket squad in Melbourne

Cricket: Sri Lanka’s women’s squad in Melbourne

- Advertisement -
Ad image
Related News
For more photos, please visit eLanka Facebook page – click here
Articles Photo Gallery

Holy Family Convent PPA Sydney hosts an incredible Gala Dinner Dance – ILLUSION 2025

Alston Koch Appointed as Commonwealth Union Envoy to Australia and the Pacific Region
Articles

Alston Koch Appointed as Commonwealth Union Envoy to Australia and the Pacific Region

Articles

Gayani de Alwis at the helm of Women’s Chamber of Industry & Commerce (WCIC) for the 2nd year

Sri Lanka Library
Articles Victor Melder

LIBRARY ACQUISITONS – SEPTEMBER 2025

Sri Lanka flag waving on the flagpole on a sky background
Articles

SRI LANKA NEWS – SEPTEMBER 2025

  • Quick Links:
  • Articles
  • DESMOND KELLY
  • Dr Harold Gunatillake
  • English Videos
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sinhala Videos
  • eLanka Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Tamil Videos
  • Dr. Harold Gunatillake
  • Sunil Thenabadu
  • Sinhala Movies
  • Trevine Rodrigo
  • Michael Roberts
  • Photos

eLanka

Your Trusted Source for News & Community Stories: Stay connected with reliable updates, inspiring features, and breaking news. From politics and technology to culture, lifestyle, and events, eLanka brings you stories that matter — keeping you informed, engaged, and connected 24/7.
Kerrie road, Oatlands , NSW 2117 , Australia.
Email : info@eLanka.com.au / rasangivjes@gmail.com.
WhatsApp : +61402905275 / +94775882546

(c) 2005 – 2025 eLanka Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.