Korasagalla Koranaka Sandagala Viharaya

Koranaka Sandagala Viharaya (Photo credit: Google Street View)

Koranaka Sandagala Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: කොරසගල්ල කොරණක සඳගල රජමහා විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Korasagalla village in Kekirawa in Anuradhapura District, Sri Lanka.

History

Locals link the history of this temple to the reign of King Devanampiyatissa (247-207 A.D.) and Kavantissa (205-161 B.C.), the Prince of Rohana. It is also said that when King Dutugemunu (161-131 B.C.) was bitten by a cobra, he was treated by a venom specialist from the village where the present temple is located. The name of the temple, according to locals, has come into parlance after an Arhat named Korana resided in this temple.

As the presence of a Tempita Vihara building (the temples on pillars), the history of this temple can be certainly traced back to the Kandyan Period.

Tempita Viharaya 

Tempita Viharas 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. The construction of these buildings was started in the 17th century and lasted until the end of the 19th century (Wijayawardhana, 2010).

A protected site

The Tempita Viharaya in the Koranaka Sandagala Vihara premises situated in the Grama Niladhari Division Korassagalle, in Kekirawa Divisional Secretary’s Division is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government gazette notification published on 6 June 2008.

References

1)  The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1553. 6 June 2008. p.534.
2) Wijayawardhana, K., 2010. Sri Lankawe Tampita Vihara (In Sinhala). Dayawansa Jayakody & Company. Colombo. ISBN: 978-955-551-752-2. p.12.

Location Map

This page was last updated on 5 July 2022