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Kandegama Raja Maha Viharaya |
Kandegama Purana Raja Maha Viharaya (Sinhala: හුණුපොල කන්දේගම පුරාණ රජමහා විහාරය), is a Buddhist temple situated in Hunupola village in Ganewatta Divisional Secretariat Division in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka.
History
Hunupola is believed to be one of places where Pandukabhaya (5th-4th century B.C.) and Valagamba (103, 89-77 B.C.) organized troops to fight against enemies (Anuradha & Kumari, 2015). The Brahmi Inscription engraved below the drip-ledge of the main cave temple proves that the history of Kandegama Viharaya dates back to the early period of the Anuradhapura Kingdom (Godakumbura, 1964). A large reclining Buddha statue, several other standing statues with wooden core and stucco finishes, and paintings belonging to the Kandyan Period are found inside the cave temple (Anuradha & Kumari, 2015; Godakumbura, 1964). The cave walls are filled with murals depicting popular Buddhist themes such as Suvisi Vivaranaya (Buddha receiving the blessing from 24 previous Buddhas).
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References
Books
1) Anuradha, R.K.S.; Kumari, A.S., 2015. Pauranika Sthana Saha Smaraka: Kurunegala Distrikkaya (In Sinhala). Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka). ISBN: 955-9159-37-2. pp.34-35.
2) Godakumbura, C.E., 1964. Administrative Report of the Archaeological Commissioner for the Financial Year 1962-63. Part IV: Education, Scienece and Art (G). p.72.
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Attribution
To Whom
LankaPradeepa.com extends its gratitude to Mr Navod Hemal for providing the necessary photographs required for this article. All the photos are published here with the permission of the author.
