Kottukachchiya Bodhirukkharamaya Purana Viharaya

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Kottukachchiya Bodhirukkharamaya Purana Tampita Viharaya
source : පුත්තලම දිස්ත්රික්කයේ ටැම්පිට පිලිමගෙවල් සහ ටැම්පිට දේවාල

Kottukachchiya Bodhirukkharamaya Purana Viharaya is a temple built on an aramic complex belonging to the Anuradhapura era. The current temple with a Tampita Viharaya was built during the era of the Kandyan kingdom. A Tampita Viharaya is a special building constructed on a wooden platform supported by several stone stumps, typically around 3 to 4 feet tall. Its roof is supported by a timber frame, and the walls are often made of wattle and daub, a mixture of woven branches and clay. Inside, the chamber walls are usually adorned with paintings, often in the Kandyan style, depicting religious themes and stories.

A broken statue belonging to the Anuradhapura era discovered at this site has been placed in the Puttalam Archaeology Museum. Ruins of a stupa belonging to the same period can be seen at the temple premises. This temple complex lost its glory with the passage of time and around 1750 was again developed as a Buddhist temple including a Tampita Vihara.

This two-storied Tampita Viharaya is built on 16 stone pillars with an average height of 5 feet. Six more 5 feet 8 inch high pillars made of cement have been added at a later date. The ground floor is 22 feet 11 inches long and 16 feet 7 inches wide. The upper floor is 21 feet 8 inches long and 13 feet 8 inches wide. The inner chamber (image house) at the top is 12 feet 11 inches long and 8 feet 9 inches wide. The front porch outside the image house is 6 feet 2 inches deep. The circumambulating path around the image house is 2 feet 6 inches wide on the 2 sides and 2 feet 8 inches wide at the rear.

Unfortunately, this viharaya has been completely renovated losing most of its historic value. The statues and the paintings of the Kandyan era have been completely removed new statues have been placed and walls freshly painted. Fortunately, the pillars and the lower floor have not seen much damage and the Department of Archaeology has carried out restorations on this section of the Tampita Viharaya. Most of the wooden beams have been carved with various designs. You can observe traditional woodcarvings of Narilatha, Sansa Puttuwa, Lotus flower designs, Lakshmi, Gaja Singha. Singha, Rabit, parrot and lion, elephant and various creeper carvings on the beams.

This temple lies 18 km (30 mins ) from Puttalam and 55 km (1 hour) from Chilaw. To reach the temple from Chilaw, Travel to Anamaduwa and then turn towards Puttalam. Travel 10 km on this road and take the left lane after passing Kottukachchiya Reservoir and Kachchimaduwa Reservoir which lies on the two sides of the road.

This Tampita Viharaya was declared a protected archaeological monument by the gazette dated 23 January 2009 as described as follows ;

“The Tempita Vihare and dagoba belonging to the Bodhi Rukkarama Vihare situated in the Grama Niladhari Division of Kottukachchiya First Colony in the Divisional Secretary’s Division of Anamaduwa, in Puttalam District, North Western Province”

References

Thalgahawela Sumedha Thero, 2021. පුත්තලම දිස්ත්රික්කයේ ටැම්පිට පිලිමගෙවල් සහ ටැම්පිට දේවාල. 1st ed. Chilaw: Thalgahawela Sumedha Thero.

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