• Kācaragāma, Kājaragāma, Kātaragāma

A village in South Ceylon, on the Manigangā (Mānik-ganga), 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 Sanghamittā (Mhv.Xix.54). In the village was planted one of the eight saplings produced from the Bodhi-Tree (Mhv.Xix.62; Mbv.161f; Sp.i.100). A vihāra was erected in Kācaragāma by Aggabodhi, ruler of Rohana (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 Rohana. E.g., by Loka (Cv.lvii.2), by Kassapa, the Kesadhātu (Cv.lvii.66ff); see also Cv.lviii.6.

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