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Pahiyangala Cave, known locally by the same name, is a significant landmark in Sri Lanka due to its prehistoric archaeological value. According to archaeologists, prehistoric humans inhabited this cave 37,000 years ago, making it the oldest prehistoric settlement in Asia.
The cave’s significance extends beyond its archaeological heritage. It is believed to have provided shelter for ancient Chinese Buddhist monks. Legend has it that the cave was home to the monk Fa-Hien (Faxian) in 411 A.D. and to Thaishu Sangaraju Thero during the 1940s. It is an iconic site in the history of Han Buddhism.
Ven. Poranagama Thero cleared the entrance of the cave and leveled the grounds, converting the base of the cave into a temple. Today, visitors can see a 40-foot-long reclining Buddha statue at the site.
The Pahiyangala Cave is situated 400 feet above sea level. Its entrance is 175 feet high and over 200 feet long, and it is believed to be able to accommodate 3,000 people. While natural tunnels within the cave are now blocked and inaccessible, the cave itself is divided into four sections. The largest section is on the left side and serves as the central area of the cave.
A notable archaeological excavation conducted by the Archaeological Department revealed a deep pit where five human skulls, estimated to be 37,000 years old through carbon dating in the USA, were discovered. Additionally, stone weapons and animal bones, used to hunt monkeys, deer, porcupines, and other animals, were unearthed. Evidence was also found of the consumption of cavus, an edible snail species, and wild breadfruit.
Biological studies of the ancient inhabitants, known as Pahiyangala Manawakaya (Pahiyangala Man), indicate they had a short vertebral structure, wide jawbones, a large palate, and big grinding teeth.
The cave is named after the Chinese Mahayana Buddhist priest Fa-Hsien, who visited the cave in the 5th century. Fa-Hsien was a dedicated wanderer who, along with his companions Bhadantachariya and Buddhaghosa, followed the path of Gautama Buddha. They sailed from the Hooghly River in Calcutta to Sri Lanka in 411 A.D. Buddhaghosa was a Pali scholar, commentator, and author of the “Visuddhimagga,” a classic manual on Buddhist doctrine and meditation.
During his visit to Anuradhapura, Fa-Hsien obtained a copy of the Disciplines and Long Agamas. Determined to climb the Sacred Mountain “Sri Pada” to pay homage to the Buddha’s footprint, he embarked on a pilgrimage that took several months. The route to the peak passed through Bulathsinhala, Kalawana, Nivitigala, Ratnapura, and Gileemale.
It is believed that Fa-Hsien spent several months living in the Pahiyangala Cave during his journey. Excavations in the cave uncovered a vessel thought to have been used by him.
According to some accounts, in the 1940s, a Chinese monk named Thiashu Sangaraju visited Sri Lanka and stayed in the Pahiyangala Cave.
Later, the cave was converted into a Buddhist temple by Ven. Poranagama Thera. He used a 6-foot Yakula, similar to an iron crowbar, to clear the debris and soil obstructing the cave’s entrance. This crowbar was so heavy that even six people struggled to carry it. Ven. Poranagama Thera also leveled the ground inside the cave. The Yakula is now tied to the feet of the 40-foot-long reclining Buddha statue inside the cave. Additionally, Ven. Poranagama Thera crafted two colossal door frames for the Vihara, which can still be seen at the entrance.
Sources :
https://amazinglanka.com/wp/pahiyangala/
https://www.thingstodosrilanka.com/listing/pahiyangala-cave-fa-hien-cave/
Pahiyangala Cave, known locally by the same name, is a significant landmark in Sri Lanka due to its prehistoric archaeological value. According to archaeologists, prehistoric humans inhabited this cave 37,000 years ago, making it the oldest prehistoric settlement in Asia.
The cave’s significance extends beyond its archaeological heritage. It is believed to have provided shelter for ancient Chinese Buddhist monks. Legend has it that the cave was home to the monk Fa-Hien (Faxian) in 411 A.D. and to Thaishu Sangaraju Thero during the 1940s. It is an iconic site in the history of Han Buddhism.
Ven. Poranagama Thero cleared the entrance of the cave and leveled the grounds, converting the base of the cave into a temple. Today, visitors can see a 40-foot-long reclining Buddha statue at the site.
The Pahiyangala Cave is situated 400 feet above sea level. Its entrance is 175 feet high and over 200 feet long, and it is believed to be able to accommodate 3,000 people. While natural tunnels within the cave are now blocked and inaccessible, the cave itself is divided into four sections. The largest section is on the left side and serves as the central area of the cave.
A notable archaeological excavation conducted by the Archaeological Department revealed a deep pit where five human skulls, estimated to be 37,000 years old through carbon dating in the USA, were discovered. Additionally, stone weapons and animal bones, used to hunt monkeys, deer, porcupines, and other animals, were unearthed. Evidence was also found of the consumption of cavus, an edible snail species, and wild breadfruit.
Biological studies of the ancient inhabitants, known as Pahiyangala Manawakaya (Pahiyangala Man), indicate they had a short vertebral structure, wide jawbones, a large palate, and big grinding teeth.
The cave is named after the Chinese Mahayana Buddhist priest Fa-Hsien, who visited the cave in the 5th century. Fa-Hsien was a dedicated wanderer who, along with his companions Bhadantachariya and Buddhaghosa, followed the path of Gautama Buddha. They sailed from the Hooghly River in Calcutta to Sri Lanka in 411 A.D. Buddhaghosa was a Pali scholar, commentator, and author of the “Visuddhimagga,” a classic manual on Buddhist doctrine and meditation.
During his visit to Anuradhapura, Fa-Hsien obtained a copy of the Disciplines and Long Agamas. Determined to climb the Sacred Mountain “Sri Pada” to pay homage to the Buddha’s footprint, he embarked on a pilgrimage that took several months. The route to the peak passed through Bulathsinhala, Kalawana, Nivitigala, Ratnapura, and Gileemale.
It is believed that Fa-Hsien spent several months living in the Pahiyangala Cave during his journey. Excavations in the cave uncovered a vessel thought to have been used by him.
According to some accounts, in the 1940s, a Chinese monk named Thiashu Sangaraju visited Sri Lanka and stayed in the Pahiyangala Cave.
Later, the cave was converted into a Buddhist temple by Ven. Poranagama Thera. He used a 6-foot Yakula, similar to an iron crowbar, to clear the debris and soil obstructing the cave’s entrance. This crowbar was so heavy that even six people struggled to carry it. Ven. Poranagama Thera also leveled the ground inside the cave. The Yakula is now tied to the feet of the 40-foot-long reclining Buddha statue inside the cave. Additionally, Ven. Poranagama Thera crafted two colossal door frames for the Vihara, which can still be seen at the entrance.
Sources :
https://amazinglanka.com/wp/pahiyangala/
https://www.thingstodosrilanka.com/listing/pahiyangala-cave-fa-hien-cave/
“Please note: Distance calculations may slightly differ from the actual distance. Kindly confirm the route before you begin your journey.”
“Please note: Distance calculations may slightly differ from the actual distance. Kindly confirm the route before you begin your journey.”
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