|
Sri Jinendrarama Tempita Viharaya |
Sri Jinendrarama Tempita Viharaya, also known as Sri Jinendraramaya (Sinhala: වරපලාන ශ්රී ජිනේන්ද්රාරාම ටැම්පිට විහාරය), is a Buddhist temple situated in the village of Warapalana in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. The site can be reached by travelling along the Yakkala - Radawana road (B479) about a 6.7 km distance from the Yakkala junction.
History
According to traditional beliefs, the history of the Jinendrarama temple goes back to the latter part of the 18th century (Chandrasoma, 2013; Wijayawardhana, 2010). At that time, there was no Buddhist temple in the Warapalana area and the nearby temples, such as Varana and Pilikuttuwa were also located some considerable distance from the village. Therefore, this temple was established during that period (Kandyan Period) as a religious place for the Buddhists who lived in the Warapalana village (Wijayawardhana, 2010). It is said that a Buddhist monk named Veuda Vipassi Thera who came from Anuradhapura pioneered this establishment (Chandrasoma, 2013; Wijayawardhana, 2010).
The new image house of the temple was constructed in 1922.
Tempita Viharaya
Tempita Viharas (the temples on pillars) were a popular aspect of many Buddhist temples during the Kandyan period. These structures were usually built on a wooden platform resting on bare stone pillars or stumps about 1-4 feet tall. The roof is generally made of timber and held by wooden stumps and wattle walls. The walls form the main enclosed shrine room containing Buddhist sculptures and murals belonging to the Kandyan style. Some Tempita Viharas have narrow verandas and ambulatories circulating the main enclosed space. The construction of these buildings started in the 17th century and lasted until the end of the 19th century (Wijayawardhana, 2010).
Jinendrarama Tempita Viharaya
The Tempita Viharaya is the main aspect of this temple with archaeological value. It has been built upon 25 granite pillars about 3 feet tall (Chandrasoma, 2013; Wijayawardhana, 2010). The pyramid hip roof is paved with semi-cylindrical clay tiles (Sinhala Ulu). A stone flight of steps provides visitors access to the ambulatory surrounding the inner chamber. The ambulatory is about 3 feet wide and a short wall of about 3 feet 10 in. tall runs along its outer boundary (Wijayawardhana, 2010). The whole Tempita structure is about 19 feet long and 15 feet and 3 inches wide (Chandrasoma, 2013; Wijayawardhana, 2010).
The inside walls of the inner chamber are adorned with paintings and sculptures belonging to the Kandyan style. The main sculpture is a seated Buddha statue accompanied by two standing Buddha statues facing each other at the left and right walls (Chandrasoma, 2013). All the Buddha figures have halos around their bodies. On the sides of the two standing Buddha images are two deities, Vishnu and Kataragama/or Saman (Chandrasoma, 2013; Wijayawardhana, 2010).
Presently, the Tempita Viharaya is maintained under the supervision of the Department of Archaeology.
A Protected Site
The Tempita Viharaya situated in Sri Jinendrarama Vihara premises in Udututtiripitiya Grama Niladhari Wasama of the Mahara Divisional Secretary’s Division is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government gazette notification published on 22 November 2002.
Related Posts
Read Also
References
Books, Government Gazette Notifications
1) Chandrasoma, S., 2013. Gampaha Distrikkaye Tempita Vihara (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). Colombo. ISBN: 978-955-9159-85-8. pp.13-17.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1264. 22 November 2002.
3) Wijayawardhana, K., 2010. Sri Lankawe Tampita Vihara (In Sinhala). Dayawansa Jayakody & Company. Colombo. ISBN: 978-955-551-752-2. pp. 12,264-269.