Malwathu Maha Viharaya (Kandy) | Headquarters of Malwatta Chapter

Malwathu Maha Viharaya (Kandy) | Headquarters of Malwatta Chapter
Malwathu Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: මල්වතු මහා විහාරය) Malvathu Viharaya is a complex of Buddhist temples situated within Kandy city limits in Kandy District, Sri Lanka.  It is the headquarters of the Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya, one of the two Buddhist monasteries that hold the custodianship of the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha housed in the Temple of the Tooth . The Mahanayake Thera (the chief monk) of this temple, together with the Mahanayaka Thera of Asgiri Maha Viharaya and Diyawadana Nilame, play the role of the three custodians of the sacred Tooth Relic. The Malwatta Vihara complex consists of a collection of Buddhist temples and monk residences located in close proximity to each other. They include Pohoya Malu Viharaya, Sangharaja Pirivena, Malwathu Maha Viharaya and several other temples (Abeyawardana, 2004). History Establishment The land where this temple has been established today was originally the pleasure gardens of the Kandyan Kings (Abeyawardana, 2004). In 1753, th…