Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

3031 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
High medieval · Buddhist · Sri Lanka

Asgiri Maha Viharaya

Kandy, Central Province · 7.2989°, 80.6329°

Gautama Buddha (custodianship of the Sacred Tooth Relic)Kurunegala
Sacred since
1302 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
1302; founded under Parakramabahu IV
Kurunegala

History & significance

The Kandy monastery that heads the Asgiriya chapter of the Siyam Nikaya, one of the two chapters holding custody of the Buddha's Tooth Relic enshrined in the Sri Dalada Maligawa. Commander Siriwardhana founded it on the instructions of Parakramabahu IV of Kurunegala, and it was completed in 1302.

Sthala katha — the traditional account

What follows is the temple’s own traditional account, transmitted through liturgy and local memory. It is recorded here as tradition, not as attested history.

By another account the name Asgiri recalls Queen Chandrawathie, mother of King Vikramabahu, who was cremated in the burning ground of Adahana Maluva.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-28 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Kurunegala