A Personal Search for Truth
When I first stood before the rocky slopes of Isinbassagala, I wasn’t just seeing a temple ruin — I felt like I was standing where something truly began. If Bambaragala marks the Buddha’s birth, and Hiriwadunna his Enlightenment, then this site… this could be where he first spoke the Dhamma to the world. Not in far-off India, but here, in Sri Lanka — under our sky, on our soil.
But is this just wishful thinking? Or is there real reason to believe that Isinbassagala could be the true Migadāya — the “Deer Park” where the Buddha delivered his First Sermon?
Let’s explore.
Where is Isinbassagala?
Isinbassagala Raja Maha Viharaya is located in Medawachchiya, Anuradhapura District. It sits atop a striking rock outcrop rising above the plains — a place of wide views, seclusion, and sacred silence. Perfect for teaching. Perfect for listening.
- 🗺️ Coordinates: 8.6338° N, 80.4589° E
- 🛕 Site Type: Ancient rock monastery
- 🧘♂️ Present Use: Active temple and meditation retreat
The Real Deer Park?
Sammuka Cetiya at the base of the mountain.
Tradition places the Buddha’s First Sermon — the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta — in Sarnath, India, at a place called Migadāya (Deer Park). But what if:
- “Migadāya” simply meant a place where deer roam freely
- Isinbassagala is still home to wild deer today
- The name means “rock where sages gathered”
- The site includes a cave called Arahath Guhāva, where faint paintings of five monks listening to the Buddha still remain
- A Sri Pathul Gala (Buddha’s footprint) is carved into the rock
- At the mountain’s base lies the Sammuka Cetiya — meaning “meeting point”, possibly commemorating the event of the sermon
These aren’t tourist reconstructions — they are living traces of memory.
Echoes from Ancient Texts
While the Mahavamsa emphasizes events after the Parinirvana, other Sri Lankan sources suggest earlier ties:
- The Rajavaliya tells of sage-kings gathering in Lanka’s highlands
- The Saddharmaratnavaliya refers to sermons delivered after Enlightenment
- Local traditions remember Isinbassagala as the site where five monks met the Awakened One
- The Sammuka Cetiya, meaning “meeting point,” may mark this historical moment
No ancient Indian source identifies Sarnath with certainty — but here in Lanka, the details are carved into rock and memory.
From Awakening to Teaching — A Realistic Journey?
In Sri Lankan tradition, the Buddha’s journey from Hiriwadunna (Enlightenment) to Isinbassagala (First Sermon) is believed to have taken only two days.
- He is said to have rested one night in a highland cave still known as Budun Unne Gama — “the village where the Buddha stayed”
- The next morning, he reached Isinbassagala, where the five monks were waiting
This short, sacred route is preserved in geography and local place names.
Geography That Speaks
| Place Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hiriwadunna | Himi weda una – “where the monk stayed” |
| Budun Unne Gama | “The place where the Buddha stayed” |
| Maminiya Korale | “Village where the Great Being came” |
| Isinbassagala | “Rock where sages descended” |
| Sammuka Cetiya | “Meeting point stupa” |
These are not poetic coincidences. They are living oral records, passed down for centuries.
Distance Comparison: India vs Lanka
| Tradition | Enlightenment Site | First Sermon Site | Distance (by land) | Travel Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India (mainstream) | Bodh Gaya (Bihar) | Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh) | ~260 km | 8–10 days minimum on foot |
| Lanka-based theory | Hiriwadunna (Matale District) | Isinbassagala (Medawachchiya, Anuradhapura) | ~80 km | 2–3 days on foot, with 1-night stop in between |
Is the One-Night Rest Mentioned in the Scriptures?
While the Tripitaka describes the Enlightenment and First Sermon, it does not specify how many nights the Buddha rested in between. No suttas or vinaya texts describe the travel in detail.
This silence allows oral tradition to fill the gaps. And in Sri Lanka, it tells of:
- A single-night stop
- A mountain cave
- A next-day meeting with five ascetics (Paswagamahanun) who received the Buddha’s first teaching
Everything matches — not in India, but here in Lanka.
What You’ll Find at Isinbassagala
- 🦌 Wild deer grazing along the path
- 🎨 Ancient wall paintings of five monks in Arahath Guhāva
- 👣 Sri Pathul Gala — Buddha’s footprint carved in stone
- 🏯 Ruins of the Sammuka Cetiya
- 🌄 A panoramic teaching ground still echoing with silence
Pilgrimage Tip
- 🔗 Open Isinbassagala in Google Maps
- 🧭 Suggested trail: Hiriwadunna → Budun Unne Gama → Isinbassagala
- 📓 Reflection prompt: “What was my first teaching to the world?”
Conclusion: The Voice Begins Here?
If Bambaragala was the start of the Buddha’s life, and Hiriwadunna the moment of awakening, then Isinbassagala might just be where wisdom first became words.
This is where the voice began. And perhaps, where we can hear it again.
