Malwatu Maha Viharaya at Kandy – මල්වතු මහා විහාරය

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The Buddhist clergy of Sri Lanka have organized themselves into several sects distinguished by subtle changes in rules of discipline. Of these, the Siamese Sect has the largest number of Buddhist monks and temples under its jurisdiction.

The monks in turn owe their allegiance to two main Maha Viharas in Kandy referred to as Chapters of Malwatta and Asgiriya temples.Across the lake from the temple of the Tooth Relic, is situated the great centres of the Sangha, belonging to the Siam Nikaya, known as “Malwatu Maha Viharaya”.

This site of this temple was the Royal Pleasure Garden of the kings of Kandy, This great monastery consists of two sections. The first is the “Uposatha Viharaya” on the right, popularly known as “Poyamalu Viharaya” and the other “Pushparama Viharaya” popularly known as “Malwatu Viharaya” which is seen today with a newly built octagon. Of these two complexes, the older is the Poyamalu Viharaya, supposed to have been built by Senasammata Vikramabahu (1473-1511) with a two storeyed Uposathagaraya or Ordination Hall and a Caitya or a Dagaba close by. The Chronicle goes on to say that he further built 86 monasteries for the use of the monks in the two fraternities namely, Malwatu and Asgiri Viharas. This account is further supported by Sulu Rajawaliya, Asgiri Talpata, and Pohoya Malu Upatha.

It is believed that this temple initially had only 3 dwelling places. One was “Sangaraja Pansala” dedicated for the great Velivita Sri Sarankara Thero. The “Thibbotuwawe Pansala” and the “Poyamalu Viharaya” was for the chief monk Thibbotuwawe thero and the “Meda Pansala” for Moratota who was the the “Raja Guru” or the Kings Teacher. All these temples can be seen today and the Sangaraja Pansala, today known as “Welivita Pansala” houses all the personal belongings that the great Velivita Sri Sarankara Thero used. A room in the Thibbotuwawe Pansala displays belongings of the Thibbotuwawe Thero.

Since the time of the Sangharaja, residing monks have grown in numbers and a great number of high priests specially those who are in the “Karaka Maha Sangha Sabha” or the executive council of monks now reside there. The Maha Nayake is the Viharadhipati or the chief incumbent of the monastery and one of the three joint custodians of the Tooth Relic, the other two being the Maha Nayaka of Asgiriyia Maha Viharaya and the Diyavadana Nilame, the lay custodian.

The “Poya-ge” of the Malwatu Viharaya is part of the Malwatta complex and here in takes place all the important meetings of the Sangha Sabha as well as the annual higher ordination ceremony. The poye-ge is supposed to have been built during the reign of Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747 – 1781) with a beautiful image of the Buddha installed therein.

At present, there are over sixty temples in this complex. In addition there are several chambers occupied by the monks.

References

1. 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.
2. 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

• Ancient Heritage Sites of Sri Lanka
• Other Places of Interest Within Close Proximity

• An impressive museum in the Malwatte temple tells the story of the last ‘Sangaraja’ or the king of the monks
• Some Historical Places Associated with Dalada Maligawa
• Kandy – The Last Kingdom of Sinhale

Map of the Malwatu Maha Viharaya

Driving Directions to Malwatu Maha Viharaya