Haththikuchchi

Haththikuchchi

   Haththikuchchi is neither a kingdom nor a sub-kingdom,but closely associated with the early period of the history of SriLanka,based upon a very popular legend,of and untimely death of another charming king called Sirisangabo alias Sirisangabodhi,who has donated his head to a traveler came from Anuradhapura.

Sirisangabo made his seat of administration for a period of two years,in Anuradhapura,but relinquished the kingship and became an hermit, allowing his brother Gotabhaya to elevate to the throne.Unfortunately Gotabhaya declared that,a massive wealth will be donated to the person,who could forward the head of Sirisangabo.It was strongly believed that the hermitage of Sirisangabo was situated at Attanagalla,almost clost to Colombo,but relatively very far from Anuradhapura.

The legend speaks that a citizen of Anuradhaura, who traveled towards the southern part of the country carrying with a parcel of rice and a small quantity of water had accidentally met a hermit at attanagalla and inquired about the aituation of Anuradhapura.The traveller explained the political situation,along with the Gotabhaya's pronunciation.After having lunch with the traveler, hermit disclosed that he is the ex-king Sirisasngabo and voluntarily decapitated his head asking the traveller to collect the reward, presenting the head to gotabhaya.

A new concept had been developed to the above legend after the excavation of Haththikuchchi archaeological site in 1948.It was disclosed by professor Senarath paranawithana,
originally known as 'Rajanganaya Viharaya'.A Buddhist scholar Nochchiye Somananda is said to be the father of the modern concept,who had pointed out that the probability and and the possibility of meeting of the two men, would have taken place was rather logical at Haththikuchchi, almost close to Anuradhapura located only 25 km.

Above all, Haththikuchchi is a massive archaeological site only second to Anuradhapura or Polonnaruwa scattered around 148 acres in extent consisting 8 dagabas, 16 ponds and 38 caves.All the major constructions have been done by King Devanampiyathissa and are believed to have sheltered 500 enlightened Buddhist monks, until it became vulnerable to Chola invasion.