
The Sankapala Raja Maha Viharaya is located in the Ratnapura District of Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka. According to rock inscription found here, the history of this temple goes back to the reign of King Dutugemunu (161-137 BC).
As said by the legends, there had been Ten Giants in king Dutugemunu’s troops. The giant Pussadeva is one of them who had a special skill of blowing conch shells (“Sankha” in Sinhala) so loudly. The symbol of the giant was also the conch shell itself. After winning the Vijithapura war, the king Dutugemunu has offered this area to the Pussadeva giant. Later, he has built this Viharaya and become a Buddhist monk here. The name “Pussadeva” found engraved on inscriptions confirms this story. The conch shells (Sankha) used in the Vijithapura war said to be entombed in a rock called Hakgedi Gala (Conch shell rock) located on the top of the mountain.
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