Dorabawila Sri Sugatharamaya Tampita Viharaya

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The high platform Tampita Viharaya at Sri Sugatharamaya Rajamaha Viharaya
Image courtesy of Dr. Ashan Geeganage

Located among scenic coconut plantations near Nugawela Junction on the Chilaw-Wariyapola Road, Dorabawila Sri Sugatharamaya Rajamaha Viharaya is a must-visit for history and architecture enthusiasts.

This temple is home to one of the more unusual Tampita Viharayas in Sri Lanka. Unlike most Tampita structures, which are built on short stone pillars, the image house here is elevated on eight tall granite pillars, each standing 5 feet 6 inches high. The structure rests on a solid granite base measuring 22 feet 3 inches by 17 feet 10 inches and about 2 feet 4 inches high. Inside, the image house itself is compact, measuring just under 11 feet long and nearly 7 feet tall up to the ceiling.

Visitors can ascend a wooden staircase to reach the image house, which features a narrow walkway around the central shrine. Two guardian statues flank the entrance. Inside, a seated Buddha statue is surrounded by four standing Buddha images, and paintings of the great disciples, Sariputta and Mogallana Theros, adorn the walls.

Attani Pillars of the Tampita Viharaya

Archaeological studies by Dr. Charles Godakumbura reveal that two of the supporting pillars are ancient Attani pillars, dating back to the 9th century. This discovery suggests that the history of this temple stretches back over 1,100 years.

It’s believed that the Attani pillars, along with other stones, were transported from the nearby ruins of Panduwasnuwara, following a common practice of reusing materials from older sites.

Pillar 1: has inscriptions on all four sides of the pillar. On the 4th side of the pillar, the text is followed by a carving of a sickle, a watapatha (monk’s fan), a crow, and a dog. This decree is dated to the 4th year of King Abha Salamevan. This inscription was read by Godakumbura and published in 1963.

The purpose of the edict is to proclaim the fixing of ‘boundary stones’ for certain lands set apart for the benefit of a hospital built in the ‘ inner city’ (of Anuradhapura) by King Kasub (Pali: Kassapa), the son of the Twice Anointed Queen and to decree immunities in respect of these lands. Based on other evidence, both King Abha Salamevan and King Kasub were King Kassapa IV, who reigned in the 9th century (Godakumbura, 1963).

Pillar 2: has inscriptions on 3 sides and the 4th side, a sun, a moon, a crow, and a dog are carved. This pillar inscription was read by Ranawella and published in 2004.

This is a decree to register a grant of land and immunities by the state to a senior physician named Punalna. The decree was made in the first regnal year of the king Abha Salamevan and had been issued by Mahapa called Uda. In addition to recording the granting of the land, the decree prohibits government officials from entering to appropriate carts and buffaloes, and Perenattu officers in charge of domesticated elephants. It also prohibits capturing criminals who enter this land after committing theft or murder, making this land another one of state state-declared human sanctuaries by King Abha Salamevan (Ranawella, 2004).

Ranwella believes the king Abha Salamevan described in this pillar inscription to be king Dappula IV (923-924 CE), as in the Ranawa Andiyagala Pillar Inscription.

The high platform Tampita Viharaya at Kadawalagedara Sri Sugatharamaya Rajamaha Viharaya

The carved pillars of Tampita Viharaya at Kadawalagedara Sri Sugatharamaya Rajamaha Viharaya

Inside the Tampita Viharaya at Kadawalagedara Sri Sugatharamaya Rajamaha Viharaya

References

Godakumbura, C.E. (1963) ‘TWO PILLAR INSCRIPTIONS FROM DORABAWILA (DORABA VILA)’, in Epigraphia Zeylanica : Being Lithic and Other Inscriptions of Ceylon -Volume V (Part II). Colombo, Ceylon: The Archaeological Department, Ceylon, pp. 288–308.
Ranawella, S. (2004). Inscriptions of Ceylon Vol V (part II). Colombo: Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.

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