| Girihandu Seya | |
|---|---|
ගිරිහඬු සෑය கிரிஹன்டு சாய | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Buddhism |
| District | Trincomalee |
| Province | Eastern Province |
| Location | |
| Location | Thiriyai, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka |
| Geographic coordinates | 08°52′13.4″N 81°00′26.2″E / 8.870389°N 81.007278°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Buddhist Temple |
| Founder | Believed to be built by Trapusa and Bahalika |
Girihandu Seya (also known as Nithupathpana Vihara[note 1])is an ancient Buddhist temple situated in Thiriyai, Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. The temple is supposed to be the first Buddhist Stupa in Sri Lanka,[2][3] believed to be constructed by two seafaring merchants Trapusa and Bahalika.[4] The names of the two merchants are recorded in a rock inscription found in the Vihara premises. According to the inscription, Girihandu Seya was built by the guilds of merchants named Trapassuka and Vallika where the names are written as Tapassu and Bhalluka in later Sinhala chronicles.[5] Some scholars also hold the view that Mahayana influenced seafaring merchants from the Pallava Kingdom were responsible for the construction of this temple.[6]
The Stupa in the Vihara is highly venerated by the people, as it is believed to contain the hair relics of Buddha.[7] The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka.[1]
- ^ a b "Thiriyaya". Department of Archaeology. Archived from the original on 15 September 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Girihandu Seya lit up after 27 years". The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka). Wijeya Newspapers. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Girihadu Seya to be renovated". Independent Television Network. ITN news. 25 November 2017. Archived from the original on 16 January 2018. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ "Uniqueness of Girihanduseya Temple". Daily News (Sri Lanka). Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited. 27 June 2002. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
- ^ Wijesekera 1990, p. 127.
- ^ Indrapala, Karthigesu (2005). The evolution of an ethnic identity: the Tamils in Sri Lanka c. 300 BCE to c. 1200 CE. M.V. Publications for the South Asian Studies Centre, Sydney. p. 218. ISBN 9780646425467.
- ^ "Thiriyaya back to its glory". Sunday Observer. Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited. 7 June 2009. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
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