Jankure Visnu Devalaya (Sinhala: ජංකුරේ විෂ්ණු දේවාලය) is a Devalaya Shrine situated in Jankure village near Rambadagalla in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. It has been dedicated to the God Vishnu, one of the deities of the Sri Lankan Buddhist pantheon. Presently, the shrine is maintained under the provisions of Section 8 of Buddhist Temporal Act No.19 of 1931.
History
Locals believe that this shrine was established during the reign of King Vimaladharmasuriya I (1592-1604 A.D.) of Kandy. It is mentioned in the folklore that the king visited this site to hear a Pena (hear foretell or prophesy a future event) from a Visnu-devoted Brahmin named Govinda Narayana who came to the Jankure area from India. The king who was pleased after hearing the Pena is said to have established the present Devalaya at the site for worshiping god Visnu.
A Protected Site
The Jankure Sri Vishnu Devale premises and its ancient buildings and other archaeological remains situated within the limits of No.571 Jankure Grama Niladhari Division in the Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretary’s Division are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government notification published on 8 April 2009.
References
1) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1597. 8 April 2009. p.446.
Attribution
#) LankaPradeepa.com extends its gratitude to Ven. Ankumbure Chandananda Thero for providing the necessary photographs required for this article. All the photos are published here with the permission of the author.
