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THE TWO GREAT MONASTERIES Asgiriya Monastery The Asgiriya monastery lay on the hill crop to the west of the Sri Dalada Maligawa and to the north of the historic hill known as the Bahiravakanda. The monastery is said to have been founded during the period of king Parakramabahu IV (1305- 1335) of Kurunegala. The original monastery extended to the high plains where at present the Trinity College is located. As the monks from Walasgala in Yapahuva had taken residence here, this location too came to be known as Asgiri (Accagiri) which is synonymous with Walasgala.     The monastery consists of several temples, eg. Parana Pansala (Old Temple), Alutt Pansala (New Temple), Meda Pansala (Middle Temple) and the Adahana Maluva Gedige Viharaya. In the old temple, now called Wijayasundararamaya, contains the image house and an abandoned Chapter house, while the Meda Pansala contains the Chapter House corresponding to the one at Malwatta Viharaya, where all religious functions, including the Higher Ordinatons are held.     The Adhana Maluwa Gedige Viharaya is a significant site in that the Polonnaruwa Alahana Parivena tradition of cremating royalty has been practised here too. It is said that queen Chandravati, mother of king Vikramabahu was cremated at the site. That this practice had been continued is, indicated by an old picture showing several funerary stupas at this site. The Gedige shrine too is significant architecturally, for it simulates the 14th century Gedige at the Natha Devale.   The Mahanyaka theros of the Asgiri Vihara monastery are as follows   Name   Period 01 Most Venerable Urulawatte Siri Dhammasiddhi Maha Thero   1753 - 1778 02 Most Venerable Idawalugoda Dharamapala Maha Thero   1778 - 1807 03 Most Venerable Potuhara Siri Ratnapala Maha Thero   1807 - 1815 04 Most Venerable Mavatagama Siri Vipassi Sobhita Maha Thero   1815 - 1822 05 Most Venerable Yatawatte Siri Chandajoti Maha Thero   1822 - 1827 06 Most Venerable Yatanwela Siri Sunanda Maha Thero   1827 - 1834 07 Most Venerable Kotagama Sri Gunaratana Maha Thero   1834 - 1849 08 Most Venerable Udumulle Siri Ratnajoti Maha Thero   1849 - 1853 09 Most Venerable Yatawatte Siri Svarnajoti Maha Thero   1853 - 1868 10 Most Venerable Wattegama Dharmakirti Siri Sumangala Maha Thero   1869 - 1885 11 Most Venerable Yatawatte Siri Chandajoti Maha Thero   1885 - 1892 12 Most Venerable Kapuliyadde Sri Piyadassi Maha Thero   1892 - 1914 13 Most Venerable Ambagaswave Sri Dhammapala Ratnajoti   1914 - 1921   Maha Thero     14 Most Venerable Gunnapane Sri Dhammasiddhi Saranankara   1921 - 1929   Maha Thero     15 Most Venerable Mullegama Dharmakirti Sri Chandrajoti Gunaratana   1929 - 1947   Maha Thero     16 Most Venerable Yatavatte Dharmakirti Sri Sumangala Dhammaratana   1947 - 1966   Maha Thero     17 Most Venerable Udugama Sri Buddharakkhita Ratnapala Maha Thero   1966 - 1970 18 Most Venerable Godamunne Sri Nagasena Dhammananda Maha   1970 - 1975   Maha Thero     19 Most Venerable Palipane Sri Gunaratana Chandananda Maha Thero   1975 - 1999 20 Most Venerable Udugama Sri Dhammadassi   1999 to date   Ratnapala Buddharakkhita Maha Thero

Two Great Monasteries   The Two Great Monasteries   Malwatta Monastery   Asgiriya Monastery

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