Anuragoda Sri Sumangalarama Tempita Viharayais a Buddhist temple situated in Anuragoda village in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka.
History
The Tempita Viharaya of Anuragoda temple, according to tradition, has been done in 1775 by a residence monk named Pugoda Sumangala Thera (Chandrasoma, 2013; Wijayawardhana, 2010). The Sanghawasa (the monks' dwelling) building is said to have been constructed during the British Period [(British Ceylon: 1815-1948 A.D.) Wijayawardhana, 2010].
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 which are about 1-4 feet tall. The roof is generally made of timber and held by wooden stumps. The walls are usually made of wattle and daub and they form the main enclosed shrine room containing the Buddhist sculptures and murals belonging to the Kandyan style. Some Tempita Viharas have narrow verandas and ambulatories circulating the main enclosed space.
Construction of these buildings was started in the 17th century and
lasted until the end of the 19th century (Wijayawardhana, 2010).
Anuragoda Tempita Viharaya
The Tempita Viharaya is the main monument of this temple with archaeological value. However, it was renovated after the flood that occurred in 1986 (Chandrasoma, 2013). As a result of that, some features of the original building have been altered (Wijayawardhana, 2010).
The Tempita Viharaya has been built upon 9 stone pillars about 2 feet 3 inches tall (Chandrasoma, 2013; Wijayawardhana, 2010). It is 20 feet in length and 18 feet in width and an ambulatory of about 4 feet 2 inches wide runs around it (Chandrasoma, 2013). A full-height wall with some windows for ventilation has been built along the outer edge of the ambulatory. A flight of steps made out of cement provide access to the Tempita shrine. Inside of it is a seated Buddha statue which is said to be an artefact of the original shrine (Wijayawardhana, 2010).
This Tempita Viharaya has a small second floor but there is no access was to reach it (Wijayawardhana, 2010).
A protected site
The Tempita Vihara and Buddhist Bhikkus disciplinary hall belonging to the Delgawatte Sri Sumangalarama ancient Vihare premises in the Grama Niladhari Division No. 292 - C Anuragoda, in the Divisional Secretary’s Division of Dompe are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government gazette notification published on 23 January 2009.
References
1) Chandrasoma, S., 2013. Gampaha Distrikkaye Tempita Vihara (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). Colombo. ISBN: 978-955-9159-85-8. pp.69-74.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, no: 1586. 23 January 2009. p.108.
3) Wijayawardhana, K., 2010. Sri Lankawe Tampita Vihara (In Sinhala). Dayawansa Jayakody & Company. Colombo. ISBN: 978-955-551-752-2. pp.12,59-60.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 13 March 2021
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map
For a complete tourist map follow this link: Lankapradeepa Tourist Map
