This Sri Lanka's oldest monastery (Buddangala) is situated in a
mountain over 500 feet high. The Dagoba has been enshrined with the
relics of Buddha and his two leading monks Seriyuth and Mugalan's
remains. King Saddatissa (brother of Great king Dutugemunu) expanded
this monastery.
In 1964, a lone Buddhist monk named
Dhammananda from Kalutara arrived in this ruined monastery. He cleared
the jungle around Dagoba, and the image house. He cleaned the caves
where the Arahant monks were meditating before so that new monks can
live in them.
From the meditating caves one can see the
paddy fields of Akkaraipattu, which the Sinhalese farmers no longer
have the access or the security to work in. Also in the breath taking
view is the Rassagala Mountain. Despite all the difficulties, 12
Buddhist monks continue to live and meditate in the caves.
