Devanagala Viharaya is a Buddhist temple located in the Mawanella area in the Kegalle District of Sri Lanka. The history of Devanagala stretches from the prehistoric period to the Kandy period. Archaeological evidence of prehistoric times has been found at this site. There is Batalegala mountain around here. Legend has it that this stone was popularly known as Devanagala because of this stone which was second to Batalegala and the second stone which Dedimunda Deviyan arrived.
The temple on the Devanagala rock is believed to be a Dasen Vehera built during the reign of Dhatusena during the Anuradhapura period (460-479 AD). However, according to the Devanagala Inscription of King Wimaladharmasuriya I (1592-1604 AD), this Buddhist monastery was built on a rock by a monk named Ratanalankara in the year 1566 AD. It is said that the Tampita temple in the Devanagala temple was built by King Wimaladharmasuriya I during the Kandy period. It is also believed that the Tooth Relic was secretly kept in this temple for a period of three months.
A number of Buddhist monuments including the old stone temple, Tampita temple, stupa, Dharma hall, Sri Patula, pond, and Bo tree can be seen in the present Devanagala temple premises. Two main inscriptions belonging to the Polonnaruwa and Kandy eras are identified here. The Polonnaruwa inscription is considered to be one of the two most important inscriptions found in Devanagala. King Parakramabahu the Great (1153-1186 AD) granted possession of the territory of Malabatuwa and Kithsen to a general named Kith-Nuwaragal (Kitti Nagaragiri) who had invaded the city of Pathan in Myanmar at the behest of the king. A description is given in this inscription. This is a special place for those who like to visit heritage sites.
