Nedun Rajamaha Viharaya in Kiriella (කිරිඇල්ලේ නැදුන් රජමහා විහාරය)

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The History of Nedun Raja Maha Viharaya (Nadun Raja Maha Viharaya) goes back to the era of King Rajasinghe I of Sitawaka Kingdom (1581 – 1591).

Folklore states that the Sitawaka Rajasinghe killed his father Mayadunne and sought refuge from his sin from the Buddhist priests who were unable to help him with the solace he needed to clear his conscious. Then a Hindu priest promised to carry out a special puja to cleanse the sin of murdering the father.  This event not only converted Rajasinghe I to Hinduism but made him a fierce opponent of Buddhism.

It is said that King Rajasinghe I had murdered thousands of people who refused to follow Hinduism and the King’s supporters plundered and abolished many Buddhist shrines of the country.

During this time Nadun Maha Viharaya too fell into neglect with most priests going into hiding.

But during the era of King Sri Wickrama Rajasinghe (1798 – 1815), Rev. Karandana Devarakkhitha Thero who lived here wrote the Thripitaka manuscript called “Medun Sangiya” and presented it to the king who in turn presented a village called  “Dumbaragama” an 8305 acre land to this temple.  This presentation was done in the year 1801.

With this donation, the Devarakkhitha Thero rebuilt the temple with a Tampita Image house using Nadun Timber as the base pillars and laying the platform from the same timber. The Buddha Statue is also made of Nadun wood. The temple which was called Kirielle Viharaya came to be known as Nadun Rajamaha Viharaya thereafter. This Tampita Viharaya cannot be found today. The oldest structure found today is the Buddhalaya building which is believed to be located in the same place where the Tampita Viharaya stood.  It is possible that this viharaya was built by reinforcing the base of the ancient Tampita Viharaya with a stone foundation and building an outer structure with the Tampita Viharaya in the center.

The temple houses a long pair of tusks which is said to be the longest in Asia and some believe that these tusks belong the the Kadol Etha, the royal elephant of warrior king Dutugemunu.

Also See

Map of Kiriella Nedun Rajamaha Vihara

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Travel Directions to Kiriella Nedun Rajamaha Vihara

Route from Colombo to Nedun Rajamaha Vihara Route II from Colomboto Nedun Rajamaha Vihara
Through : Polgaswita – Horana – Ingiriya
Distance : 70 km
Travel time : 2 hours.
Driving directions : see on google map
Through : Kaduwela – Avissawella – Eheliyagoda
Distance :76 km
Travel time : 2 hours minutes.
Driving directions : see on google map

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