Isurumuniya

The Isurumuniya Rock Temple known as the Meghagiri Vihara, Meygiri vihara or the Vihara of the Cloud Mountain was the first repository of the Tooth Relic. One couldn’t have thought of a more appropriate place or a lovelier site to have honored and be the first sanctuary of this great relic.

Isurumuniya is most famous for the stone carving of a couple located there. This carved stone was found in the royal pleasure garden and brought here. There are many interpretations for this carving. The most popular is that this carving shows the prince Saliya (the son of the great king Dutugamunu) and his mistress Asokamala.

The vihara also has another stone slab which depicts a court scene which is thought to be the court of king Dutugemunu. Both these stone slabs are thought to be originated in the 8th century.

At the entrance to the rock temple is a large pond. Above the pond there is a carving of bathing elephants and on the top-level of the stairs there is another carving of a man seated in a royal pose and a horse head. The top carving is thought to be carving of Agni and Parjanya. Parjanya is the god for rain. The elephants below represent the clouds. With this interpretation it is believed this place was also used by the king to perform ceremonies for rain God.