Purana Thotagamuwa Rathpath Rajamaha Viharaya

Photo credit: Chatura Handunge (Google Street View)

Purana Thotagamuwa Rathpath Rajamaha Viharaya (also known as Thotagamuwa Raja Maha Viharaya) is a Buddhist temple situated in Telwatta in Galle District, Sri Lanka. It is famous as the place where the scholarly Buddhist monk Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thera (1408-1491 A.D.) lived (Abeyawardana, 2004).

History

Known as Titthagama Viharaya in ancient times, this temple is believed to have been inhabited by five hundred Arhats and therefore presently called as "Rathpath Vehera" (Nicholas, 1963; Ranchagoda, 2015). According to the available archaeological and epigraphic evidence, the history of this temple can be dated back to the reign of King Devanampiyatissa (247-207 B.C.). It is said that Devanampiyatissa's brother Prince Mahanaga established this temple (Ranchagoda, 2015). The 15th-century Sinhalese text Gira Sandeshaya mentions that a Disha Statue was built at this temple after the sea flooding that occurred during the reign of ruler Kelanitissa (2nd century B.C.).

 

It is mentioned in the Mahavamsa that an educational centre called Vijayaba Pirivena was built at this temple by King Vijayabahu I (1055-1110 A.D.) of Polonnaruwa Kingdom and King Vijayabahu IV (1270-1272 A.D.) is said to have built a Pasada at this temple (Abeyawardana, 2004; Nicholas, 1963). As recorded in Saddamma Sangraha, a work named "Jina Charithaya" had been compiled by a Buddhist monk named Medhankara Maha Thera of this temple during the Dambadeniya Period. King Parakramabahu IV (1302-1326 A.D.) is said to have restored the Vijayaba Pirivena, cultivated a Neralu (coconut) garden and bestowed the temple a village named Salaggama (Ranchagoda, 2015). At the time the incumbent of this Pirivena was a monk named Kayasththi Thera.

Kotte Period is considered the golden era of this temple. During this period, the Pirivena at Thotagamuwa Viharaya emerged as an academy of international level under the guidance of Thotagamuwa Sri Rahula Thera (1408-1491 A.D.), a great poet of Sinhala and an eminent scholar who was given the title "Shad Bhasha Parameshwara" due to his mastery in six oriental languages which prevailed in the Indian subcontinent. Several great works such as Parevi Sandeshaya, Selalihini Sandeshaya, Kavyashekaraya, Panchikapradeepaya and Buddhi Prasadaniya were written by him during this period (Abeyawardana, 2004). Scholars such as Weththewe Thera and Ramachandra Bharathi were among those who were privileged to be disciples of this Pirivena. King Parakramabahu VI (1411-1466 A.D.) gave his patronage to this temple (Abeyawardana, 2004).

The golden age of this temple came to the end after the death of Sri Rahula Thera. It then entered into a dark age because of the Portuguese who invaded coastal areas of Sri Lanka in 1588. As recorded in their own documents, the Portuguese had burned down a number of Buddhist temples along the southern coastline of the country including the Thotagamuwa Viharaya (Ranchagoda, 2015; Sarma, 2007). 

The renaissance of the present temple began with the arrival of Pallaththara Punnasara Thera in 1765. Since then it remained as a temple belonging to the Malwatta Chapter. Most of the present monuments at this temple have been built during the reign of Kirti Sri Rajasinghe (1747-1782 A.D.) on the ruins of the old temple destroyed by the Portuguese (Abeyawardana, 2004).

 

Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera (1827-1911) who is considered a highly venerable scholarly monk entered the order of Buddhist monks at this premises. 

 

Two Devalaya shrines dedicated to God Visnu and God Kataragama are found in the Thotagamuwa Vihara premises. Of them, the Visnu Devalaya has a sculpture of God Visnu in the seated position and it is considered a rare piece of artwork. The feet of this sculpture is in Veerasana position as seen in common Buddha statues. He holds a conch on his upper right hand while keeping a discus weapon on his left hand.

The Kataragama Devalaya is thought to be a work belonging to the post-Kandyan Period as evidenced by the paintings and sculptures in the building following the "low country Dakshina art tradition". 

This building shows the features of local Dutch architecture. It was built in 1780 after the old dwelling was destroyed by the Portuguese. The front porch of the building has been built with a row of wooden pillars and the doors and windows have been made in larger sizes.