Walala Tempita Viharaya

Walala Tempita Viharaya (Sinhala: වළල ටැම්පිට විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Walala village in Kandy District, Sri Lanka.

History
The Tempita Viharaya of this temple is believed to have been erected in the mid-18th century under the patronage of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha [(1747-1782 A.D.) Rajapakse, 2016]. The folklore reveals that the Pahala-Baladora villagers constructed the temple as they did not want to depend on the temple of nearby Ihala-Baladora village (Silva & Chandrasekara, 2021). Some details about this temple are found recorded in Walala Vihara Thudapatha (Rajapakse, 2016).

Tempita Viharaya
Tempita Viharas were popular in 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 form the main enclosed shrine room containing Buddhist sculptures and murals in the Kandyan style. Some Tempita Viharas have narrow verandas and ambulatories circulating the main enclosed space. The construction of these buildings started in the 17th century and lasted until the end of the 19th century (Wijayawardhana, 2010).

Walala Tempita Viharaya
The Walala Tempita Viharaya is a rectangular-shaped structure built upon 25 short stone pillars (Silva & Chandrasekara, 2021). There are four pillars grouped at four corners, two each at the front and back, two sides and one at the centre of the structure (Silva & Chandrasekara, 2021). The sanctum is surrounded by a narrow ambulatory margined by a short wall. A Mandapa (a preaching hall) and a bell tower were added in front of the Tempita Viharaya later (Silva & Chandrasekara, 2021).

References
1) Rajapakse, S., 2016. Pauranika Sthana Ha Smaraka: Mahanuwara Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Archaeological Department of Sri Lanka. ISBN:955-9159-34-8. pp.173-174.
2) Silva, K.D. and Chandrasekara, D.P., 2021. The Tämpiṭavihāras of Sri Lanka: Elevated Image-Houses in Buddhist Architecture. Anthem Press. pp.88-89.
3) Wijayawardhana, K., 2010. Sri Lankawe Tampita Vihara (In Sinhala). Dayawansa Jayakody & Company. Colombo. ISBN: 978-955-551-752-2. p.12,291-294.

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This page was last updated on 10 April 2023
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