Seruwawila Mangala Raja Maha Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple located in the Trincomalee District of the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. It is recognized as the ninth of the Sixteen Sacred Solosmasthana—the holiest Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the country—and is identified with the historic Thissamaha Viharaya.This sacred site was constructed by King Kavantissa in the 2nd century BCE, and it enshrines two revered relics of Gautama Buddha: the forehead relic/frontal bone relic (Lalata Dhatu) and the hair relics (Kesha Dhatu).
The temple can be accessed by both land and sea. The sea route begins with a boat journey from Trincomalee to Muttur, followed by an additional 16 kilometers through connecting roads. The land route leads through Kantale via the Allai road, covering approximately 45 kilometers through dense forest.
This is a sacred and sanctified land where Gautama Buddha, during His third visit to Sri Lanka, is believed to have stepped foot along with 500 Arahants, entering a brief period of meditative absorption (nirodha samapatti) on this very soil.
According to the Dhatuvamsa (Chronicle of the Sacred Relics), it is also recorded that Prince Sumana of the Sakya clan, known as Samiddhisumana Na Raja, who accompanied the Buddha on this visit to Seruwila, made a floral offering of “Sapumal” (fragrant flowers) to the Blessed One at this location. This is the only instance where such an event is recorded.
Seruwila is the only known site where the forehead relic (Lalata Dhatu)—the largest of the Buddha’s relics—is enshrined.
Furthermore, it is said that a portion of the Buddha’s hair relic (Kesha Dhatu)—gifted during His lifetime to the merchant brothers Tapassu and Bhalluka—is also enshrined within the Seruwila stupa.
Historical sources affirm that in ancient times, 500 Arahants resided at this sacred monastery. Some archaeologists even suggest that this is the very site referred to as Tissamaharama, where historical sources mention 12,000 Arahants once dwelled.
According to Dhatuvamsa(Chronical of the Sacred Relics),After the Parinibbāna (passing away) of the Buddha, the sacred relics of the Blessed One were divided by the Brahmin named Dona among eight kings who came from different regions. Among them, one portion was received by the Malla Kings of Kusinara. It is said that within this portion, the sacred forehead relic (Lalāta Dhātu) was enshrined. The Third Great Disciple of the Buddha, the [[Mahākāśyapa |Maha Arahant Mahākassapa Thera]], requested this sacred relic from the Malla Kings and received it. This was in accordance with a solemn prediction made by the Buddha regarding the forehead relic.
According to that prediction, it is stated in the sources that in the future, a king named Kavantissa would enshrine the sacred forehead relic on the southern bank of the great Mahāvāluka River in the island of Lanka, at the edge of a lake called Seru, near a rocky hill known as Varāhasoṇḍa.
Accordingly, the Maha Arahant Mahākassapa, after receiving the sacred forehead relic from the Mallas, foretold this prophecy and entrusted the relic to his disciple, the Venerable Nanda Thera. He enshrined the sacred relic in the Gandhakuti (fragrant chamber) where the Buddha had resided, inside the Kūṭāgāra Hall in the grand city of Viśālā, and continued to offer veneration there.
When time passed, and as Nanda Thera grew old and neared Parinibbāna after attaining Arahantship, he related the story to his disciple Chandragupta Thera and handed over the forehead relic to him. Chandragupta Thera too enshrined it in another Gandhakuti of the Buddha and continued the veneration. Later, through an unbroken lineage of disciples, the relic passed on to Bhaddasena, Jayasena, Saṅgharakkhita, Mahāsena, and Mahādeva Theras. They also enshrined and venerated the sacred forehead relic in various Gandhakutis in...
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