Arambegama Sri Sudassanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya (අරඹේගම ශ්‍රී සුදස්සනාරාම පුරාණ ටැම්පිට විහාරය)

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Tampita Viharaya of the Arambegama Sri Sudassanarama Purana Viharaya

Arambegama Sri Sudassanarama Purana Viharaya is a historic temple located in Arambegama, within the Pitiyegama Grama Niladhari Division of Rambukkana. To visit the temple, begin by heading towards the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage from the Kandy Road. Continue for approximately 3.5 km until you reach the Hiriwadunna junction, just before the orphanage. From there, turn left onto the road leading to Naranbedda and travel another 1.2 km. Then take the Nilwakka road to the left, and the temple is situated about 2 km further along this route.

There are no written records detailing the origin of the Arambegama Temple. However, according to village elders, the current structure is believed to have been constructed around 1855. Despite this, the presence of ancient stone remnants at the site suggests that the temple is likely much older than that.

A notable feature of this temple is the Tampita Viharaya, a unique shrine type associated with the Kandyan period. This structure is built on a wooden platform supported by short stone pillars, typically 3 to 4 feet high. The superstructure is made of timber, and the walls are commonly constructed using wattle and daub. The inner walls of the shrine are usually adorned with murals, predominantly in the traditional Kandyan artistic style.

The Tampita Viharaya at the Arambegama Sri Sudassanarama Purana Viharaya was built during the period of Palamugedara Attadassi Thero, who is credited with the building of the temple. It is built on 12 cross beams laid on 18 granite pillar A stumps. A verandah has been built around the image house, protected by a balustrade except at the front. A wooden staircase is built to reach the Tampita platform, which directly leads to the front chamber of the image house. Both the inner and outer walls of the image house is covered in murals.

The inner chamber of the temple features a statue of the Buddha flanked by the two chief disciples, Sariputta and Moggalana. Additionally, statues of the deities Vishnu and Saman are placed beside them. A distinctive aspect of these deity statues is the presence of two dragon arches (makara thorana) encircling them.

At the entrance to the chamber, two guardian figures are sculpted on either side of the doorway. The walls of the outer chamber are adorned with murals depicting various Jataka tales, including those of Dharmapala, Sasa Jataka, and Vessantara. Scenes such as King Ajatashatru sending the elephant Nalagiri to attack the Buddha and characters from the Dhammasodha Jataka are also illustrated.

A notable section of the wall is dedicated to vivid portrayals of hell. These illustrations depict the suffering endured by those reborn in hell due to their sins—such as alcohol consumption or immoral behavior—showing individuals tortured in symbolic ways like being raised in thorny bushes. These depictions serve as moral reminders, aiming to deter wrongdoing and guide people toward righteous living.

Positioned at the main entrance is a Hevisi Mandapaya (drummers’ pavilion), constructed with similar architectural features found in the Kandyan period.

This Tampita Viharaya has been declared a protected archaeological monument by the gazette dated 22 November 2002.

References

Dhammarama Thero, D. (1993). කෑගල්ලේ අරඹේගම විහාරස්ථානය (ශ්‍රී සුදර්ශනාරාමය) පිලිබඳ ඓතිහාසික තොරතුරු. Degalakiriye Ghanarathana Thero.

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Map of the Arambegama Sri Sudassanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya

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Driving Directions to Arambegama Sri Sudassanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya

Route from Kegalle to Arambegama Sri Sudassanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya

Though : Nilwakka road
distance : 4.5 km
Travel time :10 minutes
Time to spend : 20-30 mins
Driving directions : see on google map

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References

Also See

Map of the Arambegama Sri Sudassanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya

Driving Directions to Arambegama Sri Sudassanarama Purana Tampita Viharaya

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