Diyakelinawala Kithsirimewan Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: දියකෙළිනාවල කිත්සිරිමෙවන් රජමහා විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Imbulmalgama village in Kandy District, Sri Lanka.
History
According to local tradition, this temple was built during the days of King Valagamba (103, 89-77 B.C.) and restored during the reign of King Kithsirimewan [(c.304-332 A.D.) Rajapakse, 2016; Senanayaka, 2018]. The name of this temple is mentioned in the Nampotha, an ancient text written after the 14th century.
The sculptures and paintings in the cave temple indicate the artistic features of the Kandyan Period (Rajapakse, 2016).
A protected site
The ancient Buddhist shrine situated in Muruthalawa Diyakelinawa Raja Maha Vihara premises in Lower Dodamwela Grama Niladhari Division in Yatinuwara Divisional Secretary’s Division is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government gazette notification published on 6 June 2008.
References
1) Rajapakse, S., 2016. Pauranika Sthana Ha Smaraka: Mahanuwara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. ISBN:955-9159-34-8. pp.86-87.
2) Senanayaka, P., 2018. Senkadagala Mahanuwara pradeshaye peranima Bauddha Vihara Arama (In Sinhala). Samodhana, The Journal of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. Vol.7 (1). pp.55-83.
3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1553. 6 June 2008. p.524.
2) Senanayaka, P., 2018. Senkadagala Mahanuwara pradeshaye peranima Bauddha Vihara Arama (In Sinhala). Samodhana, The Journal of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities. Vol.7 (1). pp.55-83.
3) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1553. 6 June 2008. p.524.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 25 September 2023