Tirtha Atlas

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

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Ancient · Buddhist · Sri Lanka

Muhudu Maha Vihara

Pottuvil, Ampara District, Eastern Province · 6.8775°, 81.8389°

Gautama BuddhaRuhuna
Sacred since
200 BCE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
2nd c. BCE (King Kavan Tissa)
Ruhuna

History & significance

A ruined seaside monastery among the dunes at Pottuvil, held to have been founded more than two thousand years ago by King Kavan Tissa of Ruhuna. Remains of stupas, a seema malaka, an avasa geya and stone images of the Buddha and of kings or gods still stand on the site.

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.

The Rajavaliya tells that Devi, daughter of the king of Kelaniya, was set adrift in a golden vessel to appease the sea gods and came ashore here, later marrying Kavan Tissa as Queen Viharamahadevi.

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Sources

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