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Peellawela Viharaya |
Peellawela Purana Viharaya (Sinhala: පීල්ලවෙල පුරාණ විහාරය), is a Buddhist temple situated near Weeraketiya in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka. The temple is notable for its Tempita Viharaya which is believed to have been erected more than 100 years ago.
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).
Peelawela Tempita Viharaya
The Tempita Viharaya of Peellawela temple is enclosed within an outer chamber. Inside the shrine, there is a seated Buddha statue accompanied by two standing images of gods on the side walls.
A Protected Site
The Tempita Vihara, ancient rest house of the Bhikkus, the ancient heap of ruins with the Bodhi tree and dhamma discourse hall within the precincts of the Peellawela Raja Maha Vihara, situated within the Grama Niladhari Division of Gajanayakagama in Angunukolapelassa Divisional Secretary Division are archaeological protected monuments, declared by a government notification published on 6 July 2008.
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References
Books, Government Gazette Notifications
1) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1553. 6 July 2008. p.522.
2) Wijayawardhana, K., 2010. Sri Lankawe Tampita Vihara (In Sinhala). Dayawansa Jayakody & Company. Colombo. ISBN: 978-955-551-752-2. p.12.
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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.
