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Palkumbura Raja Maha Viharaya (පල්කුඹුර රජ මහා විහාරය)

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The history of succession at Palkumbura Raja Maha Viharaya is recorded on a finely crafted copper plate issued by the last king of Kandy, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha, on Monday, the seventh day of the waxing moon in the month of Durutu, in the Saka year 1726.

According to this inscription, during the reign of King Buwanekabahu VII (1478–1484) of Kotte, one of his brothers entered the Buddhist order. This monk, also named Buwanekabahu Thero, resided in the capital for some time but, following the king’s death, relocated to the hill country with several of his brothers and settled at Urulewatta in Udunuwara.

While the Thero resided there, Sena Sammatha Wickramabahu (1473–1511), founder of the Kingdom of Senkadagala (Kandyan Kingdom), passed away and was succeeded by his son, Jayaweera Astana. The new ruler invited Buwanekabahu Thero to the capital and requested him to transcribe the Visuddhimagga. In gratitude for his service, the king granted him the village of Palkumbura.

Monastic Lineage

The priest was later succeeded by his nephew, also named Buwanekabahu Thero. During the period of Buddhist persecution under King Rajasinha I of Sithawaka, this nephew continued to maintain possession of Palkumbura under the name Buwanekabahu Panditha Mudiyanse. He gained the patronage of King Senarat (1604–1635), whom he served as a royal tutor. His successor, another Buwanekabahu Thero, constructed a new vihara at the site.

Although further details of the monastic succession are not recorded, it is noted that during the reign of Sri Wickrama Rajasinha, the last king of the Kandyan Kingdom, the resident monk presented the king with the old sannasa (land grant) which had become charred and half-burnt. Consequently, the king issued a renewed dedication along with a fresh copper plate.

Architectural Features

Both this copper plate and a copper fan with a handle carved from an elephant tusk are still preserved in the temple. The image house (pilimage) and Dig-ge are built in the Dravidian architectural style, primarily from stone. The roof rests on a wooden frame supported by massive beams and finely polished stone pillars. The tops of the pillars feature pekada (පේකඩ) — intricately carved wooden capitals adorned with detailed floral motifs at the base and ornamental designs on the sides, reflecting the artistic traditions of the Kandyan period. Similar decorative carvings embellish the wooden beams and their edges.

Access to the inner chamber is via a stone staircase flanked by two carved stone balustrades (korawakgal) depicting the mythical Makara. The doorway, also hewn from stone, bears elaborate carvings that enhance the grandeur of the entrance.

References

Wickremasinghe, D.M.D.Z. and Codrington, H.W. (1993) in Epigraphia Zeylanica Being Lithic And Other Inscriptions Of Ceylon . London: Humphrey Milford for the Government of Ceylon, pp. 241–247.
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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Driving Directions to Palkumbura Raja Maha Viharaya

Route from Kandy to Palkumbura Raja Maha Viharaya

Though : Katugastota
Distance : 13 km
Travel time : 30 mins
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