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Kācaragāma, Kājara°, Kātara°

A village in South Sri Lanka, on the Maṇigaṅgā (Māṇik-gaṅga), about ten miles to the north of Tissamahārāma, on the old road from Mahāgāma to Guttasāla. It was evidently an important centre even in the time of Devānampiya-tissa, because we find that the nobles of Kājaragāma are mentioned among those taking part in the festival of the Bodhi-Tree when it was brought over by Saṅghamittā (Mhv.xix.54). In the village was planted one of the eight saplings produced from the Bodhi-Tree (Mhv.xix.62; Mbv.161 f; Sp.i.100). A vihāra was erected in Kācaragāma by Aggabodhi, ruler of Rohaṇa (Cv.xlv.45), among the occupants of which is mentioned Milakkha-Tissa Thera (AA.i.22). The place was of strategic importance, and was sometimes used as the seat of the government in Rohaṇa. e.g., by Loka (Cv.lvii.2), by Kassapa, the Kesadhātu (Cv.lvii.66 ff); see also Cv.lviii.6.

The village is now chiefly famous for the celebrated shrine of Skanda.