Gerekmedilla Raja Maha Viharaya is a Buddhist temple situated in Arambepola. The temple was abandoned for many years and was rebuilt around 1812.
Gerekmedilla Raja Maha Viharaya G erekmedilla Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: අරඹේපොල ගැරැක්මැඩිල්ල රජමහා විහාරය) Garakmadilla Viharaya is a Buddhist temple situated in Arambepola village near Alawathugoda town in Kandy District, Sri Lanka. It is one of the temples that belongs to the Malawathu Maha Vihara Chapter . History The name Gerekmedilla is thought to have evolved from breaking the word Garuka-Mandapa (the pavilion of honour) or Gara-Yakun-Netu-Pitiya (the dancing ground of Gara devils). According to Lawrie, this temple was abandoned for many years and was rebuilt around 1812 (Lawrie, 1896). A plot of land named Bomaluwewatta is said to have been dedicated to Atera Terunnanse of this temple by a king who lived at Kotte (Lawrie, 1896). The Siri Pathula which is presently placed in the small shrine under the Bodhi tree was created in 2478 B.E. (1934 A.D.). Image Houses There are two image houses in the Gerekmedilla Viharaya. The oldest of them is constructed over the preaching hall and is balanced on wooden pillars. Th…
