Doragamuwa Shylapabbatharama Tampita Viharaya (Gale Pansala)

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Doragamuwa Shylapabbatharama Rajamaha Viharaya (Doragamuwa Gale Pansala)
photo by : Shalaka Gamage

Doragamuwa Shylapabbatharama Rajamaha Viharaya lies about 12 km away from the city of Kandy on a picturesque rocky hill in the village of Doragamuwa. This Temple is also known as Doragamuwa Tampita Viharaya or simply Gale Pansala.

It is said that during ancient times a farmer had a dream where he was told that there was a stock of good sickles in a certain cave. The next day, farmers in the village visited this cave to find the tools stocked inside the cave. They took the sickles and used them in their paddy fields. At the end of the day, the farmers went back to return the sickles to the cave and one farmer noticed a heap of gold and jewellery in the cave and went in to take some. The moment he picked up the gold, the door of the cave shut down, trapping the farmer inside, thus this area was known as Doragamuwa.

The history of this temple goes as far back as King Walagamba (89-77 BC). Based on the documents in the temple, the current temple was built by King Rajadhi Rajasinghe (1781 – 1798) and a village with 65 amunu of land has been donated to the temple for its upkeep.

As you enter the premises the first thing you would come across is the ancient bo tree. Similar to the Sri Maha Bodhi, this is about 10 feet tall and is surrounded by numerous accompanying Bodhi trees rooted in the original. According to folklore, during ancient times a passing Brahmi had brought this Bodhi tree left it in this location and had gone for some other work. When he returned, he noticed that the tree had been rooted at this location. Considering this a miracle, he has decided to leave the tree at the same location and he, along with this entourage has settled down at the village to look after the Bodhi.

Passing this tree is a recently built Buddha statue and to its right the ancient stupa. Two rock caves can be found on the rock plain behind the stupa and there are signs of an attempt to build a reclining Buddha statue in one of the caves.

At the top of the rock, you will find a large Tampita Viharaya. A preaching hall has been built surrounding this tampita viharaya and until you go in, a person will not realize that this building is part of a Tampita Viharaya. This viharaya is built on 9 tall rock pillars. It measures 4.62 metres (15 ft. 3 inches) in length and 3.08 metres (10 ft. 7 inches) in width. Walls have been done by using wattle and daub.

A wooden flight of steps on one side of the preaching hall takes you to the upper floor. A Samadhi Buddha statue lies in the inner sanctum of the temple. It is unique in positioning where the statue is facing west, which is a rare occurrence. The walls are decorated with frescoes drawn in Kandyan style. According to the head priest, the depiction of the defeat of “Mara” where the Buddha is depicted with hands spread indicates that he, the Buddha had prepared for millions of years ( සාරාසංඛ්‍ය කල්ප ලක්‍ෂයක්‌) to defeat the Mara is a unique art not found anywhere else.

The Tampita Viharaya of this temple was restored by the Department of Archaeology around 1900. Again restoration of this temple has started recently and abruptly stopped halfway. The frescoes are now fading with age and the ancient ruins are crumbling.

Doragamuwa Gale Viharaya can be reached from Kandy through Katugastota – Ambathanna road or Katugastota – Madawala road. Travelling through Ambathanna, take the Matale Road for 700 meters and turn to Kudugala Wattegama Road. Travel 6.5 km on this road up to Doragamuwa Junction. Turn right towards Polgolla. After 400 meters turn left and 50 meters down this road you will come across a narrow road paved with concrete blocks. Climb this road for 250 meters (motorable) to reach the entrance to the temple.

References

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.

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