Aththaragama Raja Maha Viharaya, also known as Aththaragama Pothgul Viharaya (Sinhala: අත්තරගම පොත්ගුල් රජ මහා විහාරය), is a Buddhist temple situated in Attaragama village in Kandy District, Sri Lanka.
History
This temple, developed under the patronage of the kings of the Kandyan Kingdom, is said to have been established during the reign of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha [(1747-1782 A.D.) Rajapakse, 2016]. However, the name of this temple is mentioned in the Nampotha, an ancient text written after the 14th century. Also, some antiquities such as the Siri Pathul Gal (Buddha's Footprints) found in the temple premises indicate that this temple has a history dating back to more than 1750 A.D. (Senanayaka, 2018).
The Pothgula (library)
The temple is popularly called "Pothgul Viharaya" because of its old "library building". According to available epigraphic evidence, this library has been established in the 18th century (De Silva & Chandrasekara, 2009). The building
The library building mainly has characteristic features of the Hindu and Dutch architectural traditions (De Silva & Chandrasekara, 2009). The facade of it is decorated with beautiful masonry mouldings such as human and animal figures, floral designs and other mythical symbols. A small Stupa has been built on the top of the building.
A protected site
The Stupa, Atu Vihara-geya, Potgul Viharaya and other monuments situated in Aththaragama Raja Maha Vihara
premises in No. 480, Aththaragama Grama Niladhari Division in Harispattuwa
Divisional Secretary’s Division are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government gazette notification published on 22 November 2002.
Attribution
1) LankaPradeepa.com would like to thank Vishwa Sri Jayasinghe for providing the necessary photographs required for this article. All the photos are published here with the permission of the author.
References
1) De Silva, N.; Chandrasekara, D.P., 2009. Heritage Buildings of Sri Lanka. Colombo: The National Trust Sri Lanka, ISBN: 978-955-0093-01-4. p.98.
2) Rajapakse, S., 2016. Pauranika Sthana Ha Smaraka: Mahanuwara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. ISBN:955-9159-34-8. p.97.
3) 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.
4) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1264. 22 November 2002.
Location Map
This page was last updated on 3 April 2023