Thalaguru Rajamaha Viharaya | AmazingLanka.com

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Step into the serene Thalaguru Rajamaha Viharaya, where history, legend, and devotion converge. Said to date back to King Saddhatissa’s reign, this sacred site echoes with stories of ancient arahants, royal visits, and timeless meditation caves preserved amidst Kandyan-era paintings and centuries-old Brahmi inscriptions.

Thalaguru Rajamaha Viharaya is situated in the Periyakulam Grama Niladhari Division of the Thirappane Divisional Secretariat in the Anuradhapura District. Traveling along the Colombo–Anuradhapura road, one must turn right at the Galkulama junction in Thirappane onto the Galen-Bindunu-Wewa road, where the temple appears on the right after approximately 2 kilometers.

Historical evidence suggests that the site’s origins trace back to the reign of King Saddhatissa (137–119 BCE). The Rasavahini chronicle records that Arahant Dhammadinna Thero resided here and preached the Satipatthana Sutta to a group of fruit bats (kiri-vavula). It is said that the bats attained Arahantship, passed away, and were reborn in the surrounding area.

According to tradition, during the 7th century, King Silameghavanna (623–632 CE) was invited by the chief incumbent of the temple to attend the eye-painting ceremony of a new Buddha statue. The king graciously accepted the invitation and arrived on his royal tusker, which was tied within the temple premises during the ceremony. The iron chain that once secured the royal elephant remains preserved at the temple to this day.

The iron chain that tied up the tusker of the king

It is said that Arahant Dhammadinna Thero resided here, meditating in the darkest cave while reciting the Maha Sathipattana Suthraya in solitude. Maliyadeva Arahant Thero, known as the last Maha Arahant of Sri Lanka, is also believed to have visited this temple during the latter years of Arahant Dhammadinna Thero’s life. A statue of Maliyadeva Arahant Thero now stands beside the reclining Buddha image within the temple.

Additionally, a cave inscription containing about 17 Brahmi characters can be seen below the drip-ledge in the cave complex that houses the Vishnu Devalaya, further confirming the site’s antiquity.

Upon examining the paintings and studying other factors of the ancient cave image house of the temple, the technique of these paintings is related to the Kandyan tradition. However, in the present day, layers of paint have been applied over them, altering the paintings, and only a few sections remain.

he support structure of the wall was created by laying sakkagal (small stones) and coating them with clay plaster. The natural surface of the cave serves as the canopy for the ceiling paintings, which are about 45 centimeters (1½ feet) thick. Close examination reveals that the plaster layer is a mixture of sand, clay, and lime.

The wall containing the main entrance has no interior paintings, but the other walls display both paintings and sculptures. There are five statues representing divine figures (deva rūpa), along with three sculptures believed to depict kings and nobles. A seated Buddha statue occupies the central position, accompanied by four female figures shown in worshipful postures before the Samadhi (meditation) image. The wall paintings include radiant light motifs (rashmi mālā), depictions of arahants, and lotus flower designs.

References

Dissanayake, S. B. (2023). 2015 වර්ෂය සඳහා පුරාවිද්‍යා අධ්‍යක්‍ෂක ජනරාල්ගේ පාලන වාර්තාව. Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka.

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Travel Directions to Thalaguru Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Colombo to Thalaguru Rajamaha Viharaya	Route from Anuradhapura to Thalaguru Rajamaha Viharaya
Through : Kandy Road – Ambepussa – Kurunegala – Dambulla – Kekirawa – Galkulama Distance : 212 km Travel time : 4-4.5 hours Driving directions : see on Google map	Through: Matale Road Distance: 19 km Travel time: 30 minutes Driving directions: see on Google map