George Keyt’s Mural in Gothami Viharaya (බොරැල්ල ගෝතමී විහාරය)

RATE THIS LOCATION :1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (3 votes, average: 4.00 out of 5)
Loading...

Gothami Vihara located on Gothami Road, Borella, Colombo was started on a 2 acre of land donated in 1900 to Buddhist educator Dodanduwa Piyaratne Thero, a prominent monk who is credited with starting Sri Lanka’s first Buddhist School. Apart from providing serenity and a sense of spiritual solace in the middle of a busy town, this temple is famous for the frescos in the image house by the renowned artist George Keyt (17 April 1901 – 31 July 1993) who is considered the most distinguished modern painter in Sri Lanka.

This temple was built with the primary benefactor and the donor of the land. Apolonia de Soysa Peiris, mother of Sir James Peiris, a prominent leader in the Sri Lankan independence movement. With the temple donations, the foundation of the building for resident monks was laid in 1919 and the construction was completed in 1925. The foundation for the dagoba was laid in 1929 and on completion, was opened for public veneration in 1944.

Lady Apollonia’s grandson Harold Peiris who was married to the sister of George Keyt invited his brother-in-law to undertake the painting of the murals depicting the life of Buddha at the shrine room in 1939. It is said that Keyt did not charge for his labour and completed the painting in 1941. Andrew Bayd, a renowned architect had redesigned the temple walls to help George Keyt draw the murals.

Keyt first did the line drawings on the whitewashed walls in dark brown. Later, Ven. Thelwatte Amarawansa Thero, the chief parlate has requested the artist these dark brown murals to be coloured. Then by using a method known as ‘burnt Sienna’ all the murals were coloured.

Later, Ven. Thelwatte Amarawansa Thera wanted these dark brown murals to be coloured. Then by using a method known as ‘burnt Sienna’ all the murals were coloured. The murals show the life story of Buddha, from the invitation of the gods, the dream of queen Mahamaya, the birth, and wedding of Prince Siddhartha to Princess Yashodhara, the birth of his son Rahula, enlightenment, the first sermon to the parinirvana (death) of the Buddha. Deportation of Jathaka stories which is found in almost all the other temples have been left out at the Gothami Viharaya.

Keyt’s dominant style is influenced by cubism. He also claimed to be influenced by his contemporary Henri Matisse and the ancient Buddhist art and sculpture of NagarjunakondaSanchi and Gandhara. Fresco of the battle with the Mara at the time of enlightenment represents both styles is an art you must see in the temple.

This temple is one place an art-loving tourist should visit this unique art gallery in Colombo as this is the only temple George Keyt ever painted.

Also See

Map of Gothami Viharaya

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)
.

The map above also shows other places of interest within a approximately 20 km radius of the current site. Click on any of the markers and the info box to take you to information of these sites

Zoom out the map to see more surrounding locations using the mouse scroll wheel or map controls.

Travel Directions to Gothami Viharaya

Route Galle Face to Tissamaharama to Gothami Viharaya
Through :
Distance : 6 km
Travel time : 15 mins.
Driving directions : see on google map

© www.amazinglanka.com

Leave a Reply