Buduruvagala, Buddhist rock relief in Monaragala District, Sri Lanka
Buduruwagala is a rock shrine with seven carved figures displayed on a vertical stone wall in the countryside. The centerpiece is a colossal Buddha statue flanked by other deity figures representing different religious traditions.
The shrine dates to the 10th century and blends elements of Mahayana Buddhism with local spiritual beliefs of the region. This fusion shows how different religious ideas came together during that period.
The name Buduruwagala comes from three Sinhalese words meaning Buddha, images, and stone, reflecting how local people understood and named this sacred place. You can see these carvings displayed plainly on the rock face, speaking to the site's religious importance in the community.
The site sits away from main roads in a rural area and requires travel on unpaved paths. Bring plenty of water and wear protective clothing against sun and insects.
A carved flame shape on the rock continuously seeps with an oily liquid resembling mustard oil. This natural seepage has intrigued visitors for generations and remains unexplained by science.
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