Kelaniya Temple (Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya) – Kelaniya , Sri Lanka

The sanctity of the Kelaniya Temple and the site

Kelaniya Temple engineered on the banks of the Kelaniya watercourse is one in all the foremost sacred sites of the state. it’s believed Buddha alongside five hundred Arahats (Supremely enlightened beings) visited Kelaniya on the Wesek day of the Buddhist Era 2531 and exposition of the Dhamma, the Buddhist belief to the inhabitants of the island.

Buddha’s timely visit to the island resulted in prevention associate close war between 2 kings named Chulodara and Mahodara over a jewel-encrusted throne. Buddha having preached the belief on the controversial throne offered to him ensued lasting peace between the 2 kings. the good stupa engineered upon the location enshrining the throne was since then known as Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara.

History of Kelaniya Temple

Kelaniya Temple believed to had been in-built the age before the chronologically recorded history of Sir Lanka (since 543 B.C) was restored by patrician Uttiya, brother of King Devanampiyatissa following the arrival Arahat Mahinda in 307 before Christ. consistent with the Mahawansa, King Devanampiyatissa’s brother Uttiya restored the vihara for the primary time. patrician Uttiya additionally engineered the primary ever residential quarters of the Buddhist monks (Sanghawasa) there.

The ancient temple was destroyed time and once more by the Dravidian invaders from Southern Asian country. anytime the temple had been reconstructed. The medieval temple was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1510 nevertheless reconstructed by King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha within the year 1967. New Temple was initiated in 1927 and completed in 1946 underneath the patronage of giver Mrs. state capital Wijewardene.

The Bo tree and the courtyard at the Kelaniya Temple

he entrance to the temple yard is over the park across the most street. The arched grill gate opens up to the lower terrace of the temple yard. The lower terrace leads four sets of flight of steps in four body structure directions to the higher terrace that options the Image Hose, Dagaba and also the sacred fig (Peepal tree) with different buildings.

New Temple

Aluth Vihara Ge’ or the New Temple House section of the Kelani Viharaya is one hundred fifty feet long and ninety feet broad. It stands on a stone footstall three feet tall. The roof is made within the Kandyan type of architecture with a style of an associate polygonal shape.
‘Aluth Vihara Ge’ consists of 4 mage homes.
The ‘Oth Pilima Ge’, the oldest section of the temple homes an oversized reclining Buddha sculpture and 2 seated Buddha statues.
The ‘Ran Pilima Ge’ homes another seated Buddha sculpture
The ‘Ran Pilima Ge’ or the Golden Buddha Image House

Murals in Kelaniya Temple

Kelaniya Temple has none of the traditional or medieval paintings. The murals square measure those of the eighteenth century and also the early twentieth century.

The Duruthu Perahera (Kelani Procession)

Kelaniya Temple is that the place to begin of the “The Duruthu Perahera” (Kelani Procession) inaugurated in 1927 and since then that has persevered the pre-phase of the moon day of the month of Gregorian calendar month each year. annually many thousands of locals and thousands of foreign tourists gather at Kelaniya to get pleasure from the grand procession that options whip kooky, torch carriers, flag carriers, clad elephants, dancers, trumpeters, drummers and various different participants. The Kelani Procession options 3 separate processions: that of Siddhartha Relics and people of the 3 shrines dedicated to the deities of Hindu deity, Kataragama and Vibishana.

“The Duruthu Perahera” (Kelani Procession) attracts tons of and thousands of individuals from all provinces of state, and many foreign tourists trek their thanks to the temple purlieu to witness this spectacular pageant.

More :  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelaniya_Raja_Maha_Vihara