Yatala Vehera
Yatala Vehera, a stupa located on the grounds where regional king Mahanaga's queen gave birth to a son, is believed to have been constructed by Mahanaga in the 3rd century BC. Historical documents have identified the stupa as Mani Chethiya and Yattalaya.
Mahanaga, brother of King Devanampiyathissa (250-210 BC), was inspecting the construction of Walas Reservoir when he received a poisoned mango from Devanampiyathissa's queen. The intention was to kill Mahanaga to ensure her son's ascension to the throne after Devanampiyathissa's reign. The son, who was with his uncle at the reservoir, ate the poisoned mango and died on the spot. Fearing reprisal, Mahanaga took his pregnant wife and escaped to Ruhuna where he built his own regional kingdom surrounding the Magama area.
Some believe that the stupa was much larger due to the size of the huge granite pinnacle found on the grounds. While it is not known what was enshrined in the stupa, a large number of relic caskets have been discover...
Mahanaga, brother of King Devanampiyathissa (250-210 BC), was inspecting the construction of Walas Reservoir when he received a poisoned mango from Devanampiyathissa's queen. The intention was to kill Mahanaga to ensure her son's ascension to the throne after Devanampiyathissa's reign. The son, who was with his uncle at the reservoir, ate the poisoned mango and died on the spot. Fearing reprisal, Mahanaga took his pregnant wife and escaped to Ruhuna where he built his own regional kingdom surrounding the Magama area.
Some believe that the stupa was much larger due to the size of the huge granite pinnacle found on the grounds. While it is not known what was enshrined in the stupa, a large number of relic caskets have been discover...
