Madanwala Rajamaha Viharaya (මාදන්වල රජ මහා විහාරය)

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Madanwala is a village in Diyatilaka korale, Upper Hewaheta. According to tradition, in the olden days when certain Arhath priests were passing, a breakfast (mahadane) was offered to them by the neighbours, who eventually called the locality Mahadanewela, ie Madanwala (Lawrie,1896).

According to another tradition Mahadanewela had originated from Mahadanwela to mean alms offering for the mid-day. A chieftain named Dukganna Rala of Hanguranketha was responsible for the offering of daily alms to the vihara bringing it in a procession from Hanguranketha. Two large bowls used for the purpose had been engraved with the words ‘Maha Wahala’. The practice had been to bring the alms in one bowl for offering and take away the bowl left on the previous day (Abeyawardhana, 2004)

It is believed that the Madanwala Rajamaha Viharaya lying between Hanguranketha and Rikillagaskada has been in existence since the Dambadeniya Kingdom (1232 – 1272) since the ancient Buddha statue in the temple has been dated to this era based on the features.

The golden Buddha statue is the main historically important item at this temple. The image is 0.308 meters (12 inches) in height and is accommodated in a beautifully crafted seat together with a Dragon Arch (Makara Torana). This statue is believed to be one of the four valuable Buddha statues which have been brought to Sri Lanka from India by Arahat Maliyadeva (The last maha arahat to live in Sri Lanka). These four statues are said to be made from the gold collected from the funeral pyre of Buddha on his parinirvana. This statue is similar to the golden statue found at Kotmale Pusulpitya Rajamaha Viharaya and Haloluwa Katarangala Rajamaha Viharaya.

Records belonging to the Kandyan Era mention King Wimaladharmasuriya II (1687 – 1707) and King Viraparakrama Narendrasinha (1707 – 1739) as benefactors of this temple.

A pillar inscription found at the temple describes the donations made to the temple. Three sides of the pillar have been used for the inscription. The top of this inscription is broken and the first five lines of Side B is completely worn out and cannot be read.

Side A of the inscription states “A person named Sena who is the royal bedroom attendant and all three of us have offered the heritable land together. Wife and children of Sena Soli who comes from Elahera Kadawath area“. Side B states “. . . . . . . . their cattle should be protected. The cattle that could not be identified . . . . . . . .“. Side C states “After clearing the jungle, paddy fields were set up for the consumption by Merandur during the period he became a royal officer. His Majesty the king after judging (the situation) gave the order to set up this pillar containing the immunity grant“. (Gamage, 2020)

The cave temple and the monk’s residence building of the Madanwala Rajamaha Viharaya have been named as protected monuments by the Department of Archaeology.

other names : Madanwela Rajamaha Viharaya

References

Lawrie, A.C. (1896) A Gazetteer of the Central Province of Ceylon (excluding Walapane) Volume II. Colombo, Sri Lanka: George J. A. Skeen.
Abeyawardhana, H. A. P. (2004) Heritage of Kandurata: Major Natural, Cultural, and Historic Sites. Kandy: Kandurata Development Bank, in association with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Seneviratna, A., 1983. Kandy: an Illustrated Survey of Ancient Monuments With Historical, Archaeological and Literary Descriptions Including Maps of the City and Its Suburbs. Colombo: Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, p. 158.
Gamage, D.P. (2020) Epigraphical Notes Nos 22-23. Colombo 7, Sri Lanka: Department of Archaeology.

Also See

Map of Madanwala Rajamaha Viharaya

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Travel Directions to Madanwala Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Kandy to Madanwala Rajamaha Viharaya

Through : Ampitiya – Mailapitiya – Hanguranketha
Distance :29 km
Travel time : 45 mins
Driving directions : see on google map

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References

Also See

Map of Madanwala Rajamaha Viharaya

Travel Directions to Madanwala Rajamaha Viharaya

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