Moragammana Sri Mayurapada Purana Tampita Viharaya

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Moragammana Sri Mayurapada Rajamaha Viharaya is an ancient temple with a Tampita Viharaya  hidden between Aranayake and Hettimulla in Kegalle.

It is believed that the original name of the village has been Monaragammana and this word has transform into Moragammana with time. According folklore Mayurapada Viharaya at Moragammana has been in existence since the king Parakramabahu IV (1302 – 1326) and has been Pirivena. Budda Putta Thero, the author of the Poojawaliya is also said to have lived at this temple  although no firm proof exists to validate these claims.

One of the unique features a visitor could observe today at this temple  are two tampita structures. A Tampita Viharaya and a Tampita Monk Residence. Tampita Vihara were a popular architectural feature of temples during the Kandyan era. Such structures are built on wooden platforms built on top of granite stumps.

The Tampita Viharaya at Moragammana  is rather small and  is built on 4 granite pillars of 2 feet in height. The image house is 7 feet 7 inches in length and 5 feet 3 inches in width. A new section has been attached to the original structure at a later date. Although there is no circumambulating path, the wooden platform has been extended outward by about 1 feet around the structure.

There are 3  seated Buddha statues in the image house which are made of wood, plastered and painted.  The main statue lie underneath an Manara Thorana (Dragons Arch) and is 2 feet 6 inches tall. The other two statues are 2 feet tall. The head dress (සිරස් පත) of the three statues have been lost with time. The paintings inside the image house has been repainted destroying their original kandyan style. The original door which had been placed towards the west has been changed to south and a 12 1/2 x 11 foot porch has been added.

Molligoda Adhikaram has been the original patron of this temple.

The living quarters of the monks (Sangawasa)  lie at one corner of the temple. This structure has an 18×10.5 foot inner courtyard taken off the popular walawwa architecture of that time.The The veranda of this building is built on 4 inch thick wooden planks on 2 feet 6 inch high 10 granite stumps. Stone steps has been built to enter the verandah. The walls of the Sangawasa is made of wattle and daub. A plain moonstone is found at the bottom of the steps. The entrance to the Sangawasa is through a massive door frame built in the form of Suryawanka. The frame has been  decorated with ivory although missing today.

The Bodhi tree of the temple is also about 700 years old. A 28×28 feet Bodhi Prakaraya (wall) has been built in the recent past surrounding the tree. An old wall can be seen few feet inwards to the new wall. According to a HCP Bell’s reports this Bodhi Wall has been 18×18 feet in size at that time.

To reach the temple, take to road towards Aranayake from Mawanella for 9 km until you reach Gevilipitiya Junction.  Take the road to the right towards Hettimulla (Debathgama Road) and travel a further 1.7 km. A narrow concrete laid road to the left will lead you to the temple.

Alternate names : Debathgama Tampita Viharaya

Reference

  • Vijayavardhana, K., 2010. ශ්‍රී ලංකාවේ ටැම්පිට විහාර. 1st ed. Colombo: Dayawansa Jayakodi.
  • Yatawara, M. D. M. S., 2009. කෑගලු කෝරළ පවත : පරණකුරු, කිණිගොඩ සහ ගල්බඩ කෝරළයන්හි ඓතිහාසික, සංස්කෘතික සහ පුරාවිද්‍යාත්මක ගවේෂණය. 1st ed. Warakapola: Ariya Publishers.

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Map of Moragammana Sri Mayurapada Purana Tampita Viharaya

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Traveling to Moragammana Sri Mayurapada Purana Tampita Viharaya

Route from Mawanella to Moragammana Sri Mayurapada Purana Tampita Viharaya
Distance : 11  km
Travel time : 30  mins
Driving directions : see on google map

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