Gadaladeniya Temple

Gadaladeniya Temple

Built almost exclusively of stone in 1344 by the Gampola King Wickramabahu, situated on a hilltop, commanding views of the surrounding countryside.  

The architecture is Dravidian. The entrance porch features large stone pillars, which support a roof of huge stone slabs. Within the vihara, an ancient stone and plaster Buddha image looks down upon milk rice pots that have collected food offerings for centuries. The 638-year-Old jack wood doors still exhibit their original paintings.

  [ This site with an ancient monastery is found on the flat rock at Diggala in the district of Kandy. According to a inscription there this temple was built by King Buwanekabahu IV in the year 1344. The chief architect of this temple has been a south indian called Ganesvarachari. Therefore this temple is essentially a South Indian design.

The main shrine room has seated (in Vajrasana) Buddha Statue under a Makara Thorana and four standing Buddha images. The makara thorana is decorated on both faces with gods such as Brahma, Suyama, Santhusuta, Natha and Maithree, and two attendants.
The chamber within the Sikhara (dome) has had a Buddha Image but has been destroyed by the Portuguese. Next to the shrine room is a Devale (shrine) dedicated to God Visnu. According to Mahavansa, The great chronicle of Sri Lanka, It was "Upulvan Deiyo" thus Visnu that was selected as the guardian to protect the land of Sri Lanka and Buddhism within it at the time of Buddha's passing away. There for this deity has special place among the Sri Lankans.
By the side of the Visnu Devale is a Stupa made on a rock. This is believed to have been made by the King Parakramabahu V. This stupa has a roof built over it held on 4 pillars. 4 smaller satellite stupa's are built on small shrine rooms around the main stupa. This structure is called the Vijayothpaya or Vijayantha Prasada named after the mythical palace of god Indra.
This temple was neglected for some time and then it was handed over to the Velivita Saranankara Thero by the king Viraparakrama Narendrasinha (1707 - 1739) and this temple has been looked after ever since by his pupillary succession.
Though this temple is known as "Gadaladeniya" today, An inscription identifies this temple as "Dharma Kirthi Viharaya" which is the name of the founding monk. The work "Nikaya Sangrahaya" identifies this temple as "Saddharmathilake" and "Saddharmalankaraya" identifies this as "Gadaladeniya Viharaya" after the village which it is located. ]

Gadaladeniya  Temple is located at Pilimathalawa, Kandy. When you are driving from Colombo to Kandy, Gadaladeniaya temple road is at your right hand side. After taking that turn from Pilimathalawa, you have to travel another 2 km. The famous Embekke Devalaya and Lanka Thilaka Viharaya also located close by.

Gadaladeniya Temple Pagoda

The Gadaladeniya temple is located in a small hilltop, but can easily reach from the main road. If you are coming by a small vehicles like a car or a van, you can just drive up. Once you are in the summit, you can get a good view of the surrounding area from here.

Buddha statue in one of the shrine roon around the dageba

Gadaladeniaya Temple was build by king Wickramabahu in 1344 during the Gampola Kingdom time.

At the entrance you can see the Dageba ( pagoda) by your right hand side. Actually this consist of one main Dageba and four small ones. The main Dageba is covered with a roof. There are four small shrine rooms around it with small dageba located top of each.

The Boo tree is located in front of the dageba and there is a old inscription located by it. You can see that is covered with a fence to prevent from damaging.

Buddha statue in one of the shrine roon around the dageba

Buddha statue in one of the shrine roon around the dageba

In the main shrine room has a large Buddha statue. This temple has some features of the south Indian architecture. At the time of our visits, we saw this shrine room was covered with a temporary roof and the archaeological view of the place is greatly affected by that. Most of the painting in this temple also fading.

 

Embekka Devalaya (Embekka Temple) Sri Lanka

Embekka Devalaya

Embekka Devalaya (Embekka Temple) was built by the King Vikramabahu III ^[1] of Gampola Era (AD 1357 - 1374) in Sri Lanka.

The Devalaya in Embekka is dedicated to the worship of Mahasen, popularly known as Katharagama Deviyo. A local deity called Devatha Bandara is also worshiped at this site. The shrine consists of three sections, the "Sanctum of Garagha", the "Digge" or "Dancing Hall" and the "Hevisi Mandapaya" or the "Drummers' Hall". The Drummers' Hall that has drawn the attention of visitors to the site, due to the splendid wood carvings^[2] of its ornate pillars and its high pitched roof.

Carvings and Wood Work

It is said that some of the wood work utilized for the "Drummers' Hall" came from an abandoned "Royal Audience Hall" at Gampola. There is every possibility the hall has seen repairs during the reigns of the Sinhalese Kings of Kandy. The carvings, which adorn the wooden pillars of the drummers' hall, as well as the "Vahalkada" (the entrance porch of the devala, which is said to be older) are some of the best examples of Sinhalese art.

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  Drummers' Hall
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  Bull & Elephant

The roof itself has significant features. The rafters all slant from above towards the incoming visitor are fixed together and kept in position by a "Madol Kurupawa", a kind of a giant catch pin the like of which we do not find elsewhere.

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  "Madol Kurupawa", pins 26 beams together.
  
  

  Location

  Embekka Devalaya is situated in Medapalata Korale of Udunuwara in Kandy district. The easiest way to get to Embekka is coming from Colombo - Kandy main road at Pilimathalawa. There is a clear sign post hosted by the Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka at the start of the road to Embekka. It is about 7 – 8 km (5.0 mi) from Pilimathalawa to Embekka from the Colombo - Kandy main road. On the Daulagala road proceed about a mile and you will come to the Gadaladeniya junction, which you can see the famous Gadaladeniya Viharaya right at the junction. Both roads from the junction would take you to Embekka. The shortest would be the one to the right, but if you wish to see the Lankathilaka Viharaya you should take the road to the left. If you take the road to the left you can see the Embekka Ambalama ^[3] just before you arrive at the Embekka Devalaya.
  

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    Ruins of Embekka Ambalama can be seen near the Devalaya.
    
    

     they are all copyrighted.

    Saturday, March 20, 2010

    
    

    Embekke Devalaya - Kandy

    

    
    

    Embekke Devalaya (temple), which is famous for its elaborate wood carvings, was built in the 14th century during the reign King Wickremebahu III who ruled in Gampola from 1357 to 1374. UNESCO has identified these carvings as "the finest products of woodcarvings to be found in any part of the world". Many of the carvings depict legends which describe the origin of the devalaya. More images and info after the jump.

    
    

    

    
    

    The temple was supposed to have been built by queen Henakanda Bisobandara in association with a drummer named Rangama. This temple, dedicated to Kataragama deviyo (god), is supposed to have been housed in a three story building which no longer exists. Currently, only the drummer's hall and the dancing hall remain besides the temple itself. Each of the 32 columns in the drummers' hall, shown in the first image, have square carvings on all four sides. The columns end in a carving designed on a leaf (second image above). Every carving on the columns is different and it is believed that they were created by an artisan named Devendra Mulachari. Some of the square shaped carvings found on the columns can be seen below. Click images for larger versions.

     

    

    External links

    • Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka
    • Lanka Library Forum
    • Ambekke Devalaya Wooden Temp

    
    

  
  

 

 

 

Temple of the Tooth(Sri Dalada Maligawa) Kandy

  Temple of the Tooth

Sri Dalada Maligawa   -  (Sinhala: ශ්‍රී දළදා මාළිගාව Tamil: ஸ்ரீ தலதா மாளிகை) or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha. Since ancient times, the relic has played an important role in local politics because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a UNESCO world heritage site partly due to the temple.

Monks of the two chapters of Malwatte and Asgiriya conduct daily worship in the inner chamber of the temple. Rituals are performed three times daily: at dawn, at noon and in the evenings. On Wednesdays there is a symbolic bathing of the Sacred Relic with an herbal preparation made from scented water and fragrant flowers, called Nanumura Mangallaya. This holy water is believed to contain healing powers and is distributed among those present.
The temple sustained damage from bombings at various times but was fully restored each time.

History

Main article: Relic of the tooth of the Buddha

After the parinirvana of Gautama Buddha, the tooth relic was preserved in Kalinga and smuggled to the island by Princess Hemamali and her husband, Prince Dantha on the instructions of her father King Guhasiva. They landed in the island in Lankapattana during the reign of King Kirthi Sri Meghavarna (301-328) and handed over the tooth relic. The king enshrined it Meghagiri Vihara (present day Isurumuniya) in Anuradhapura. Safeguard of the relic was a responsibility of the monarch, therefore over the years the custodianship of relic became to symbolize the right to rule. Therefore reigning monarchs built the tooth relic temples quite close to their royal residences, as was the case during the times of Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Dambadeniya, Yapahuwa and Kurunegala kingdoms. During the era of Kingdom of Gampola the relic was housed in Niyamgampaya Vihara. It is reported in the messenger poems such as Hamsa, Gira, and Selalihini that the temple of tooth relic was situated within the city of Kotte when the kingdom was established there.
During the reign of King Dharmapala, the relic was kept hidden in Delgamuwa Vihara, Ratnapura in a grinding stone. It was brought to Kandy by Hiripitiye Diyawadana Rala and Devanagala Rathnalankara Thera. King Vimaladharmasuriya I built a two storey building to deposit the tooth relic and the building is now gone.In 1603 when the Portuguese invaded Kandy, it was carried to Meda Mahanuwara in Dumbara. It was recovered in the time of Râjasimha II and it has been reported that he reinstate the original building or has built a new temple.The present day temple of the tooth was built by Vira Narendra Sinha. The octagonal Patthirippuwa and moat was added during the reign of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha. Famous Kandyan architect Devandra Mulacharin is credited with building the Patthirippuwa. Originally it was used by the kings for recreational activities and later it was offered to the tooth relic. Now it is an oriental library. It was attacked on two occasion, first in 1989 by the JVP and in 1998 by the LTTE

Front view of The Temple of the Tooth, Kandy, Sri Lanka

Patthirippua At Sri Dalada Maligawa Kandy Sri Lanka

Architecture

Inside the Temple of the Tooth

The golden canopy over main shrine

The brick wall which runs along the moat and Bogambara lake is known as water waves wall. Holes in this wall are build to light coconut oil lamps. The main entrance gates which lies over the moat is called Mahawahalkada. At the foot of Mahawahalkada steps there is a Sandakada pahana (moonstone) which is carved in Kandyan architectural style. Mahawahalkada was totally destroyed in a 1998 bomb blast and rebuilt afterwards along with sandakada pahana other stone carvings.Elephants are depicted in stone on the either sides of the entrance. A Makara Torana and two guardian stones are placed on top of the staircase. Hewisi drummers' chamber is situated in front of the main shrine. The two storeys of main shrine are known as "Palle malaya" (lower floor) and "Udu malaya" (upper floor) or "Weda hitina maligawa".The doors of the Weda Hitana Maligawa are carved in ivory. The actual chamber which the tooth relic is kept is known as the "Handun kunama".

The golden canopy built in 1987 over the main shrine and the golden fence which encircles the main shrine are other notable features.The tooth relic is encased in seven golden caskets which engraved with precious gemstones. The caskets have a shape of a stupa. The Procession casket which is used during the Esala Perahera is also displayed in the same chamber.

Wall painting at Kelaniya
Temple of Princess Hemamali and her husband, Prince Dantha which she carried Gautama Buddha's tooth relic hidden in her hair to Sri Lanka. - Painting by Solias Mendis

Associate buildings and structures

Royal Palace

Vimaladharmasuriya I built the royal palace of Kandy

The royal palace is situated to the north of the temple. John Pybus, who was on an embassy in 1762, gives a detailed description on the royal palace. Vikramabâhu III (r. 1356-1374) and Senasammatha Vikramabâhu (r. 1469-1511) built royal palaces on this site. Vimaladharmasuriya I undertook various decorations to the palace. The Dutch orientalist Philippus Baldaeus visited the palace with General Gerard Pietersz. Hulft in 1656. The royal residence is known as "Maha Wasala" in Sinhala from the Polonnaruwa period. The royal palace is also known as "Maligawa." There were three Wahalkadas and a 8 feet (2.4 m) high wall used as main entrances. The section of the palace facing the Natha Devale is said to be the oldest. During the beginning of the British period, it was used by Government Agent Sir John D'Oyly. Successors of D'Oyly have continued to use it as their official residence. Today it is preserved as an archeological museum. Ulpen Ge and Queens Palace are the associated buildings of the palace.

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Audience hall

Audience hall seen partially here from northern facade of the temple

the Audience hall or the Magul maduwa is where the Kandyan kings held their royal court. It was completed during the reign of Sri Vikrama Rajasinha.The carvings of the wooden pillars which support the wooden roof are an example of wood carving of the Kandyan period. Sri Rajadhi Rajasinha built this in the year of 1783. The hall was renovated for the reception of arrival in Kandy of Prince Albert Edward, Prince of Wales in 1872. Originally the hall of the size of 58*35.6 feet and after the renovation length was extended by additional 31.6 feet.Other nearby building to the halls believed to be demolished during the British rule. The audience hall was the venue where the Kandyan Convention was drawn up, it was where the convention was read out to the people and where the conference, about the convention was held on 2 March 1815.That space later used to erect the Kandy Kachcheri and Kandy supreme court after that. Today it is used for state ceremonies and conserved under department of archaeology.

Mahamaluwa

Mahamaluwa is public who came to see the annual Esala perahera. Today it contains a statue of Madduma Bandara. The memorial of which contains the skull of Keppetipola Disawe is another attraction. The statue of Princess Hemamali and Prince Dantha are also located here.

Temple of the Tooth building complex Mahawahalkada (The main entrance) Moat Pattirippuwa (Octagon) Handun kunama Golden canopy New Palace

Royal Palace of Kandy National Museum of Kandy Old courts building Kandy Lake Biso ulpen ge (Queens bath) Diyathilaka mandapaya

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External links

Sri Dalada Maligawa Official website 

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Tentative dates of the
Kandy Esala Perahera 2014:
1st - 11th August 2014
(Subject to change)

Date	Event
2014-07-27	Kapsituvima (Planting of the 'Kapa')
2014-07-27 to 2014-07-30	Internal Perahera of Four Devales
2014-08-01	1st Kumbal Perahera
2014-08-02	2nd Kumbal Perahera
2014-08-03	3rd Kumbal Perahera
2014-08-04	4th Kumbal Perahera
2014-08-05	5th Kumbal Perahera
2014-08-06	1st Randoli Perahera
2014-08-07	2nd Randoli Perahera
2014-08-08	3rd Randoli Perahera
2014-08-09	4th Randoli Perahera
2014-08-10	5th Randoli Perahera
2014-08-11	Day Perahera (Water Cutting Ceremony "Diya Kepeema")

 

 

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Temple of the Tooth

Sri Dalada Maligawa or the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy, which houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha. 

Address: Sri Dalada Veediya,Kandy 20000

Opened: 1595

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Phone: 081 2 234226