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Kawatayamuna Rajamaha Vihara, located between Matale Dambulla main road and Matale Galewela road, about 10 kilometres away from Matale city, is a temple visited by Buddhists and other faiths alike due to its uniqueness. The temple has no historical value but is popular for the galley of various sculptures of hell and of others.
According to Rajavaliya, the 17th-century chronicle of Sri Lanka, King Gajabahu I (112-134 CE) went to the country of Soli in India to rescue 12000 Sri Lankan prisoners taken to Soli country during King Vankanasika Tissa’s reign and returned with 12000 additional Soli prisoners. According to legend, some of them settled in the Matale area. One of the strong Soli prisoners named “Kawataya” had built an “Amuna” (a weir) in this area to obtain water for the fields thus the Kawataya Amuna had become Kawatayamuna over time.
The temple was started in 1941 and the image house was completed in 1946. Several of its sculptures can be seen even from the Galewela road before entering the temple. They represent Kawataya, the warrior Neelamaya Youdhaya of King Dutugemunu’s army, childhood sculpture of Nandimithra.
The Balumge (gallery) of this vihara contains sculptures from scenes depicting women of evil conduct reborn as spirits and how persons such as Purna Kasyapa, Kahanta, Bhikkhu Kokilayi, the youth called Nanda, Chinchimanawikawa, King Supra-buddha and Devadatta Thero taken to hell etc.
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.
Also See
Map of Matale Kawatayamuna Rajamaha Viharaya
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Travel Directions to Matale Kawatayamuna Rajamaha Viharaya
| Route from Matale to Kawatayamuna Rajamaha Viharaya |
| Via: Palapathwela Distance: 10 km Travel time: 30 mins Driving directions: see on Google map |
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