Aluthnuwara Dedimunda Devalaya at Mawanella (අලුත්නුවර දැඩිමුන්ඩ දේවාලය)

56 years ago2 months ago05 mins

RATE THIS LOCATION : 1 Star

(32 votes, average: 4.72 out of 5)

Aluthnuwara Dedimunda Devalaya at Mawanella

The Alutnuwara Dēdimunda Dēvāle is a powerful shrine dedicated to the guardian deity Dēdimunda Dēyiyō, known for his resolute protection of the Buddha Sāsana. Originally a center for Upulvan Dēyiyō, the site now draws pilgrims seeking divine healing from spiritual ailments, especially on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Dēdimunda Dēyiyō is widely believed to be a guardian deity of the Buddha Sāsana. His name itself conveys a sense of firmness and severity, suggesting a powerful and resolute divine presence.

Approximately 3.2 kilometers (2 miles) from the Hiṅgula bazaar, a road leads inland toward Alutnuwara, where the shrine dedicated to Dēdimunda Dēyiyō is located. The approach passes through paddy fields and village homesteads, eventually reaching the Aluthnuwara Giruwa ambalama—a traditional wayside rest with tall stone pillars, once used by travelers in earlier times. Beyond this point, a flight of steps leads up to the maluwa (temple compound), within which stands the Alutnuwara Dēdimunda Dēvāle.

Historical Trade and Setting

To reach the shrine, one must first arrive at Hiṅgula, located about 3.2 kilometres (2 miles) from Māwanella along the Kandy–Colombo main road. In earlier times, Hiṅgula was a bustling bazaar frequented daily by villagers from Āraṇāyaka, Rambukkana, and Māwanella, who brought their agricultural produce on foot or by bullock cart. Trade in this region was largely controlled by the Cheṭṭiars, who exchanged goods such as coffee, pepper, areca nuts, and bananas for essential provisions. This vibrant commercial activity prevailed until the period preceding World War II.

Worship

The shrine is regarded as a powerful place of worship. Devotees gather especially on kembura days—Wednesdays and Saturdays—to offer pūjā and make vows. Many who believe themselves afflicted by illnesses attributed to yakṣa or bhūta spirits come seeking healing, trusting in the deity’s reputed power to cure such conditions. Pilgrims travel from various parts of the country to obtain blessings from Dēdimunda Dēyiyō.

Origins and Early History

The original shrine dates back to the Dambaḍeniya period and was situated near a hillock associated with Galgane Purāṇa Rājamahā Vihāraya, as mentioned in the Nampotha. It is believed that King Parākramabāhu II (1236-1270 CE), while passing through Alutnuwara on his pilgrimage to Śrī Pāda, was greatly impressed by the area. He subsequently donated the village of Pattu, belonging to his queen Giriwāsa Sunēthra Dēvī, to the temple.

Around this time, a monk from Galaturumula Vihāraya in Dēvinuwara took up residence here. Known as Assaddāna Piriven himi, he established the Assaddāna Pirivena near the temple. His monastic lineage continues today at the Kīrti Śrī Rāja Mahā Vihāraya.

The Cult of Upulvan Dēyiyō

According to tradition, King Parākramabāhu II later fell gravely ill and lost his ability to speak. His chief minister, Dēvapathi Rāja, travelled to Dēvinuwara Devalaya and made offerings to Upulvan Dēyiyō seeking the king’s recovery. However, he received a dream revelation that the king would not recover. Returning to Dambaḍeniya with the deity’s ornaments, he conveyed this message to the king, who soon passed away.

Subsequently, both King Bhuvanekabāhu (1272-1284 CE) and the chief monk of the Assaddāna Pirivena experienced a dream in which a divine being instructed them to construct a dēvāle for Upulvan Dēyiyō. Following this, a shrine was built near the cave temple, and a statue of the deity—carved from sapu wood by a skilled artisan—was installed within it.

The location of the sapu tree became known as Sapugahattara, and the ornaments of the deity were transferred from Dēvinuwara to Alutnuwara. Further additions to the shrine complex were made during the reign of King Paṇḍita Parākramabāhu VII (1484-1508 CE). The settlement was then known as Nawatilakapuraya, later evolving into Alutnuwara.

Later Developments and Decline

Another tradition holds that a regional chieftain, later deified as Dēvatha Baṇḍāra, served as the chief minister of Upulvan Dēyiyō. A smaller shrine was constructed nearby in his honor. Over time, successive kings and regional leaders, up to the reign of King Vimaladharmasūriya I (1592-1604) of Kandy, granted lands and valuables to sustain the shrine.

During the Portuguese invasions of Kandy, the shrine was looted. For protection, the image of Upulvan Dēyiyō was moved closer to the Śrī Daladā Māligāwa during the reign of King Senarat. This period also saw the growing influence of Hindu practices, leading to the identification of Upulvan Dēyiyō with Mahā Viṣṇu. Consequently, the shrine in Kandy became known as the Mahā Viṣṇu Dēvāle.

With the relocation of the Upulvan shrine to Kandy, only the Dēdimunda Dēvāle remained at Alutnuwara, preserving its distinct identity and continuing its role as a center of local devotion.

Also See

Map of Aluthnuwara Dedimunda Devalaya at Mawanella

Click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map

Show Location on Google Maps

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.

Travel Directions to Aluthnuwara Dedimunda Devalaya at Mawanella

Route from Colombo to Aluthnuwara Dedimunda Devalaya at Mawanella

Though : Gampaha – Warakapola – Mawanella
Distance : 100 km
Travel time : 2.5-3 hours
Driving directions : see on google map

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Pullavi Jungle Buddhist Monastic Ruins (1) in Kayankerni (කායංකේණි බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන් – 1)
The Pullavi Monastic Ruins (Site 1) in Kayaṅkerni, Vakare, is an Anuradhapura-period complex lying in the dry zone forest bounded by wetlands and the sea. It features a 75-meter-long stone enclosure wall containing building foundations, broken in-situ pillars, and scattered moonstones. […]
Palayadiodei Buddhist Monastic Ruins (2) in Vakare (පාලයඩිඕඩෙයි බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන් – 2)
The Palayadiodei-2 ruins in Vakarai are an Anuradhapura-era monastery featuring a looted hilltop stupa, a stone-floored building linked by an ancient path, stone pillars, and a rock pool. Quartz flakes also indicate prehistoric tool-making at the site. […]
Palayadiodei Buddhist Monastic Ruins (1) in Vakare (පාලයඩිඕඩෙයි බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන් – 1)
Located in Vakarai, the Palayadiodei site is an Anuradhapura-era monastery set on a high rocky hill. Overlooking two reservoirs, it contains a cave with a 10-meter-high drip ledge hidden by dense jungle, alongside circular brick layers on the summit that form the foundation of an ancient stupa. […]
Archaeological Ruins Near Kokuvil Tamil School in Vakare (වාකරේ කොකුවිල් දෙමළ පාසැල අසළ පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
The site near Kokuvil Tamil School in Mankerni indicates an Anuradhapura-era complex of significant size now disappeared forever. With new residential developments, the site has been completely bulldozed and destroyed, leaving only stone pillar bases scattered around various gardens. […]
Madurankeni Paddy Field Archaeological Ruins (මදුරංකේණි කුඹුර ආශ්‍රිත පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
The Madurankeni paddy field ruins near Kunjankulam are an Anuradhapura-era site featuring an intact foundation of a small ancient structure. Located within a highly developed agricultural landscape, the survival of these foundation pillars offers clear evidence of early historical settlements tied to local water and farming systems. […]
Madurankeni Watagala Buddhist Monastic Ruins (මදුරංකේණි වටගල බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
The Watagala Monastery Ruins are an extensive early Anuradhapura-period complex in Vakare. It features a large hilltop stupa, 13 ruined structures—including a unique circular or octagonal building—and three natural rock pools. The site has faced treasure-hunting damage at all structures. […]
Aththiyawadical Rock Buddhist Monastic Ruins (ආත්තියාවඩිකල් පර්වත බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
The Aththiyawadical Rock Monastery is an Anuradhapura-era complex featuring a hilltop stupa, stone staircase, and residential building foundations. Key artifacts include a damaged Buddha statue fragment, grinding cavities, and a secluded rock pool. A sacred footprint stone and moonstone from the site were later relocated nearby. […]
Rendamvayikkal Paddy Field Archaeological Ruins (රෙන්ඩාම්වයික්කාල් පුරාවිද්‍යා නටබුන්)
Located near the Kunjankalkulama Reservoir, this Anuradhapura-era complex features a 10x10 m rectangular structure with sixteen short stone pillars. Despite paddy cultivation encroachment and unauthorized digging, ancient grinding stones and conical-shaped cavities on the rocks suggest a settlement related to early hydraulic civilization. […]
Kunjankalkulama Wewa Reservoir (කුංජන්කල්කුළම වැව)
The Kunjankalkulama Wewa is a 125-hectare ancient reservoir in Vakarai dating to the Early Anuradhapura Period. It served as the hydraulic heart of a vast religious and residential landscape, supplying water to nearby monastic complexes and early agrarian settlements. […]
Bimpokuna Buddhist Monastic Ruins (බිම්පොකුණ බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
The Bimpokuna site in Vakare is an early Anuradhapura-era forest monastery centered on a rocky outcrop. Despite treasure-hunting damage, it preserves a stone-slab stupa, a ruined image house with pillar bases, a circular pedestal, and a stone-walled building complex. […]
Kunjankalkulama Buddhist Monastic Ruins (කුංජන්කල්කුළම් වනය තුළ බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
The Kunjankalkulama Archaeological Site, located in Madurankulama, preserves the remains of an ancient Buddhist monastic complex dating to the Early Anuradhapura Period. The site and its built environment have suffered extensive destruction and disturbance over time due to its remoteness. […]
Nagamalai Buddhist Monastic Ruins (නාගමලෙයි වනය තුළ බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
Located in Vakarai, this Anuradhapura-era Buddhist complex features a large stupa and numerous stone pillars. Despite severe treasure-hunting damage, the site preserves 30 brick layers and fragments of a potential Stupaghara. Nearby rock quarries show original ancient stone-cutting marks. […]
Buddhist Monastic Ruins in Ominiyamadu Jungle (ඕමිනියාමඩු වනය තුළ බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
Located in the Ominiyamadu Forest, this Anuradhapura-era site features a small rectangular building marked by four surviving stone pillars. Despite significant central disturbance from treasure hunters, the intact pillar bases provide evidence of an early monastery deep within the Madurankulama forest. […]
Buddhist Monastic Ruins at Ammaltherodinawatta Forest (අම්මාල්තේරෝඩිනවට්ට කැලය තුළ බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන්)
The Ruins of a dilapidated stupa, a muti storied building and ancient ponds located within the Ammaltherodinawatta Forest in Madurankeni, represent the remains of an early Buddhist religious complex dating to the early Anuradhapura period. […]
Pullavi Jungle Buddhist Monastic Ruins (2) in Kayankerni (කායංකේණි බෞද්ධ ආරාමික නටබුන් – 2)
The Pullavi Jungle Monastic Ruins (Site 2) in Kayankerni spans 25 acres and dates to the Anurādhapura period. It features five building sites surrounded by a stone wall, including a well-preserved northern structure with ten pillars arranged in three rows. […]
Ihala Kotuwella Ambalama in Pannala (පන්නල ඉහළ කොටුවැල්ල අම්බලම)
Ihala Kotuwella Ambalama in Pannala is a simple ambalama lying near a large paddy field by a water steam adjoining the Kotuwella road. Its a brick and mortar square building with half walls. The half walls would have been used as benches as there is no seating inside the Ambalama. […]
Ruins of Allirani Fort in Arasapuram, Kilinochchi (අරිසපුරම් අල්ලිරානි කොටුව නටබුන්)
Ruins found at Arasapuram are believed to be ruins of a fort of Queen Allirani by the locals. However, no formal archaeological excavation has been done on this site. These ruins most probably belonged to an ancient monastery built millennia ago. […]
A Ride Through the Historic Hamilton Canal (Dutch Canal)
Connecting Colombo to Puttalam, the Hamilton Canal was initiated by the Portuguese for flood control. Later expanded by the Dutch for spice transport, it was reconstructed in 1804 by the British. Today, it is a popular destination for scenic boat rides and kayaking. […]
Negombo Lellama Fish Market: An Explosion of Colours
The Negombo Fish Market (Lellama) is a vibrant and busy center of commercial activity located in the coastal city of Negombo, Sri Lanka. The market is known for its energetic atmosphere and the extensive variety of fresh seafood available for sale. […]
Mihintale Slab Inscriptions and the Relic House (4වන මිහිඳු රජුගේ මිහින්තලේ පුවරු ලිපි)
The inscription of King Mahinda IV belonging to the tenth century, is installed on the two sides of the entrance to this Vihara. The relic house is a square building. […]
Dambegoda Pillar Inscription in Maligawila (දඹේගොඩ ටැම් ලිපිය)
Discovered in 1982, the Dambegoda Pillar Inscription is a 3.8-meter-tall monument dating to 966 CE. Attributed to King Mahinda IV, its 139 lines narrate royal religious activities and administrative regulations. Though incomplete and roughly engraved, it remains a vital record of tenth-century Buddhist governance. […]
Kotttapitiya Slab Inscription (කෝට්ටපිටිය පුවරු ලිපිය)
The Kotttapitiya Slab Inscription is considered one of the 14 valuable inscriptions of the Anuradhapura Era. The pillar inscription is believed to have been placed by King Mahinda IV (956-972) and is 6 feet in height and 1.5 feet wide. 45 lines of text have been inscribed on this pillar. […]