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Kahandawa Purana Viharaya |
Kahandawa Purana Viharaya (Sinhala: රන්න කහඳාව පුරාණ විහාරය) is a Buddhist temple situated on the wayside of Tangalle-Ambalantota road near Rekawa junction in Ranna village in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka.
History
This temple was constructed in the 18th century by Kahandawe Senarath Seneviratna Mudiyanse for the usage of the erudite Buddhist monk Sitinamaluwe Dhammajothi Thera (Vanarathana, 1994). Dhammajothi Thera spent the latter part of his life at this temple (Vanarathana, 1994). Wehelle Dhammadinna Thera (1679-1775 A.D.), another erudite Buddhist monk is also said to have dwelled at this temple.
Paintings and sculptures following the Kandyan art tradition are found in the Buddha shrine of this temple. The modern Stupa was constructed at the site in 2009.
A Protected Site
The ancient Buddha shrine within the precincts of Ranna Kahandawa Purana Vihara situated in the Tangalle Divisional Secretary Division is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government gazette notification published on 6 June 2008.
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References
Books, Government Gazette Notifications
1) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka; Extraordinary, no: 1553. 6 June 2008. p.523.
2) Vanarathana, K., 1994. Matara Puravidyathmaka Ithihasaya (In Sinhala). ISBN: 955-9325-00-0. pp.210,216.
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Attribution
To Whom
LankaPradeepa.com extends its gratitude to Mr V. M. Vidanapathirana for providing the necessary photographs required for this article. All the photos are published here with the permission of the author.
