Ancient Malagammana Rajamaha Viharaya

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Malagammana Rajamaha Vihara is situated in the beautiful surroundings of Kulagammana Malagammana village in Kandy district. Malagammana Viharaya can be accessed when you turn left from Nugawela junction on Kurunegala road in Kandy and walk 500 meters on Vidyala Mawatha.

According to historical records, this temple was built during the reign of King Buwanekabahu V (1372–1408 CE) of the Gampola Kingdom. Local legend suggests that during a visit to the villages of Harispattuwa, one of the King’s Hindu queens was miraculously cured of a serious illness by the Kapuwa of the Malagammana Pattini Devale. In gratitude, the King had this temple constructed and enshrined the queen’s necklace within it. It is also believed that the village’s name, Malagammana, originated from this act of enshrining the necklace (“mala”).

Initially, this temple was built as a Tampita Viharaya, as seen by the stone pillar stumps in the temple. This Tampita Viharaya was burnt by the British in 1818. The current viharaya was built by Nugawela Disawe in 1872. The massive main doorway built in the form of Suryawanka of the Viharaya is a wonderful work of art made of black stone.

The reclining Buddha statue, like the rest of the statues, displays the local art characteristics of the Kandy period. It is mentioned on the front wall that the British damaged this temple in 1818.

There are two image houses in the temple. There are many paintings on the ceiling and the walls along with the Buddha statue and a Vishnu statue inspired by the Kandy era art in the image house you find as you enter from the main entrance.

Among the murals, some are believed to have been created during the reign of King Bhuvanekabahu V (1372–1408) of the Gampola period. A portrait of King Keerthi Sri Rajasingha (1747–1781) is also featured in the temple. Behind the main image house, there is a large reclining Buddha statue, which dates back to the Kandyan era. According to records, all the artistic work and sculptures were done by three craftsmen: Hingulwala Mulachari, Kulagammana Kajugahawatte Mulachari, and Kirihami of Ambulpure—each of whom hailed from the Harispattuwa area.

The temple also holds the oldest known Rate Kodiya (regional flag) of Harispattuwa. This flag is rectangular and measures 147 cm in width and 91 cm in height. It is made of an aged, thick white cloth with a red floral border. At the center, it features two stylized elephants facing each other, with the male elephant slightly larger than the female. The background is decorated with eight four-petaled flowers, all designed in red against the white backdrop.

The oldest Harispattuwa regional flag found in Malagammana Rajamaha Viharaya
source : Flags : Flag Traditions of Sri Lanka

The other specimen of the Harispattuwa flag found at Malagammana Rajamaha Vihara too is horizontal and rectangular, 147cm by 81cm. It comprises a finely woven white cloth with a liyawela border drawn along all four edges. The two confronting elephants were beautifully dressed and it appears to be a later production than the previously described Harispattuwa flag.

Another ancient Harispattuwa regional flag found in Malagammana Rajamaha Viharaya <br> source : Flags : Flag Traditions of Sri Lanka — Another ancient Harispattuwa regional flag found in Malagammana Rajamaha Viharaya
source : Flags : Flag Traditions of Sri Lanka

References

De Silva, N. (2012) Flags : Flag Traditions of Sri Lanka. Colombo 08, Sri Lanka: Padmapani Designers & Publishers.
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.
Seneviratna, A., 1983. Kandy: an Illustrated Survey of Ancient Monuments With Historical, Archaeological and Literary Descriptions Including Maps of the City and Its Suburbs. Colombo: Central Cultural Fund, Ministry of Cultural Affairs, p. 158.

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