Sri Parakramabahu Raja Maha Viharaya, also known as Kudumirissa Viharaya or Amunugoda Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: ශ්රී පරාක්රමබාහු රජමහා විහාරය, කුඩුමිරිස්ස විහාරය, අමුණුගොඩ රජ මහා විහාරය), is a Buddhist temple located in the village of Amunugoda in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka.
History
During the reign of King Parakramabahu VIII (1490-1509 A.D.), many Buddhist temples were built around the country. Jayapala Deva Pathiraja, one of the ministers of the king also engaged in establishing Buddhist temples in several places on the island. The Kossinna Raja Maha Viharaya in Gampaha District is believed to be one such temple established by Jayapala Deva Pathiraja (Chandananda Thera, 2009).
"Kossinna" is a nearby village of the present Kudumirissa temple. The name, Kossinna is thought to have evolved from "Koswinna" meaning a grove of Jack trees (Gunasekara, 1887). According to popular beliefs, Jayapala Deva Pathiraja had removed a Madel forest that existed in the present temple area and grew a grove of Jack trees there (Chandananda Thera, 2009). He constructed a complete Buddhist temple (present Kossinna Viharaya) at a high ground within this grove and invited King Parakramabahu VIII to bestow it to Buddhist monks. The king who came for the bestowal ceremony ("Vihara Puja") planted a Bodhi tree at the place where the present Kudumirissa Viharaya stands (Chandananda Thera, 2009) and established a rock inscription at the same site to declare a royal decree.
Kudumirissa Inscription of Vira Parakramabahu VIII
The inscription which contains 42 lines has been inscribed on a natural rock that lies near the temple image house. It records the confirmation by Siri Sangabo Sri Parakramabahu of Kotte of an endowment of certain lands granted by his royal father for the benefit of certain Brahmins (Gunasekara, 1887).
Reign: Parakramabahu VIII (1490–1509 A.D.)
Language: Modern Sinhala
Script: Modern Sinhala
Transcript: Sri Lankadhipath Parakrama-
-bhujassuryanvayalankratirya cheham
bhavato wachassrinuta mebhumiswara
bhavinah......>>
Translation: I, Parakrama Bahu, supreme
lord of the illustrious Lanka, the ornament
of the Solar race, make my request to you,
princes, who will......>>
Reference: Rohanadeera, 2007
Near this inscription is another epigraph written with modern Sinhala scripts. It records a grant made to the temple by a lady devotee named "Kapu Upasaka Amma".
Transcript: "Me Viharayata Kapu Upasaka Amma Ru. 40k Dunna"
Translation: Rs. 40 was given to this temple by Kapu Upaska Amma
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2) Gunasekara, M. B., 1887. Three Sinhalese Inscriptions: Text, transliteration, translation and notes#Inscription at Kudumirisa. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Vol. X. No. 34. pp. 95-102.
3) Rohanadeera, M., 2007. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon: Inscriptions of Ceylon. Vol. VIII. Department of Archaeology. ISBN: 978-955-91-59-64-3. pp.79-88.
References
1) Chandananda Thera, R., 2009. Siyanepuren Siyaratata Abhimanayak Vu Yatawathu Vehera Ha Kossini Sanga Parapura (In Sinhala). Abhisthava. pp.XLIII-LI.2) Gunasekara, M. B., 1887. Three Sinhalese Inscriptions: Text, transliteration, translation and notes#Inscription at Kudumirisa. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. Vol. X. No. 34. pp. 95-102.
3) Rohanadeera, M., 2007. Archaeological Survey of Ceylon: Inscriptions of Ceylon. Vol. VIII. Department of Archaeology. ISBN: 978-955-91-59-64-3. pp.79-88.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 7 September 2022
