Shila Pokkaranee Viharaya (Sinhala: ශිලා පොක්ඛරණී විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated in Udubaddawa in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. The Tempita Viharaya building is considered the main monument of this temple with an architectural value.
Tempita Vihara
Tempita Viharas were a type of building that was popular in many Buddhist temples during the Kandyan Period. They were usually built on a wooden platform resting on bare stone pillars or stumps which are about 1-4 feet tall. The walls are usually made of wattle and daub and form the main enclosed shrine room containing Buddhist sculptures and murals. 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).
Shila Pokkaranee Tempita Viharaya
The small granite structure which is erected beside the Tempita Viharaya building of Shila Pokkaranee temple is marked with the date 2452 B.E. (1909 A.D.) probably indicating the year it was built. The building has been built over several stone stumps a few feet in height. A narrow ambulatory margined by a short protective wall and timber railing has been built around the inner chamber where the main Buddha statue is placed. The roof is thatched with flat clay tiles and a flight of steps made of wood provides access to the structure. The murals inside the inner chamber are said to have been done by the famous artist Solias Mendis (1897-1975).
The name Shila Pokkharani means the stone pond and a natural pond formed by a fracture of the rock is found within the temple premises.
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Attribution
#) LankaPradeepa.com extends its gratitude to Lalith Kekulthotuwage for providing the necessary photographs required for this article. All the photos are published here with the permission of the author.
References
1) Wijayawardhana, K., 2010. Sri Lankawe Tampita Vihara (In Sinhala). Dayawansa Jayakody & Company. Colombo. ISBN: 978-955-551-752-2. pp.12,56.
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This page was last updated on 21 December 2023