Somawathiya is a Buddhist shrine in the Polonnaruwa district. Located around 40 kilometres away from Polonnaruwa, the Somawathiya Dagaba is a popular pilgrimage site among Buddhists and non-Buddhists.
The history of Somawathiya predates the Dutugemunu era. Therefore, it is older than the Ruwanweliseya, Mirisawetiya or Jethawanaramaya. According to legend Kawantissa’s sister, Somawathie Devi had built this dagaba enshrining the right tooth relic of the Buddha during the 2nd century B.C. It is said that Somawathie Devi had a yearning to build a stupa in honour of the Buddha. The king had agreed to the idea with much enthusiasm.
Giri Abhaya, the husband of Somawathie had explored a possible site for the construction.
According to chronicles, Prince Giri Abhaya and Princess Somawathie had lived in a small community called Somapura on the beds of the Mahaveli river. Prince Giri Abhaya had requested a bhikkhu named Mahinda for some relics to be enshrined in the relic chamber of the stupa. Arahant Mahinda had given him the right tooth relic of the Buddha.
According to history, this tooth relic was received a Naga king, Jayasena when the remaining relics from the Buddha’s cremation site were distributed.
According to Chief Incumbent of the temple, the Ven. Pahamune Sri Sumangala Thera the sacred site bears a history of 2,300 years by guarding the right tooth relic of the Buddha and frequently surprising devotees with unexpected emission of bright radiant light from the Dagaba.
