Heritage

Talaguru Rajamaha Viharaya (තලගුරු රජමහා විහාරය)

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Thalaguru Rajamaha Viharaya was named in memory of Nayake Thero who for the first time in the country in the 2nd century Before Christ. (B.C.)

This ancient sacred place is situated at Galkulama village of Anuradhapura district in Sri Lanka.

Talaguru Rajamaha Viharaya is said to have been built in the time of King Saddhathissa (137-119 B.C.) using natural caves. Despite its historical importance, it is unseen and unprotected by the officers of the Archeological Department. Due to this reason, This temple has been vandalized by relic hunters.

History

Sacred Places of the Temple

The huge iron chain that tied up the tusker of the king.

The king was invited to the ceremony of eye painting on the lord Buddha statue that was made of rock by the chief incumbent of the temple in the 6th century – A.D. The king Meghawarnabhaya (623-632 A.D) accepted this invitation very eagerly and participated on the tusker to the occasion. At that time the iron chain that the tusker tied up had been left at the temple can be seen even today.

The cave of the bats
Old temple – statues and paintings
Watch stones and footsteps (Made of rock)
The new temple that had been made in the cave
The Chaithya was built in 1960 AD
The engraved holy foot of lord Buddha
Brahman letters Engraved on the stone
The sitting statue of Thalangara Dhammadinna Arahath Thero

It is said that Dhammadinna Arahath Thero who occupied the temple had been chanting the Maha Sathipattana Suthraya in the darkest cave in solitarily. Maliyadeva Arahath Thero (the last maha arahath in the country) is said to have visited this temple when the Dhammadinna Aarahath Thero was old.

The statue of Maliyadewa Arahath thero the Last Arahath thero of Sri Lanka has been put up beside the statue of sleeping Lord Buddha.

Talaguru Kanda

This temple was called Wehera Kanda Temple. Dammadinna Arahath there used to worship twice (Morning/Evening) a day at the hill temple. The stone footsteps used earlier can be seen presently.

This mountain is surrounded by lots of trees and creepers are a canopy to the temple vicinity. Also, this forest is a kingdom for those who love animals like Elephants, Leopards, Bears, Deer, Elks, wild boars, peacocks, Iguanas, and also for birds, etc.

Location and Access

This Maha Viharaya is situated 12 miles away from holy Anuradhapura city where pilgrims have to come along the Kandy road. Then you will face the small town of Galkulama and there will be 2km from that junction to the temple via Yakalla road.

Thalguru Rajamaha Viharaya is an unseen national asset to our Devotees of the Island as valuable as the places of worship in the ancient holy city of Anuradhapura.

Source : www.thalagurutemple.org

Also See

Map of Talaguru Rajamaha Viharaya

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)

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Travel Directions to Talaguru Rajamaha Viharaya

Route from Colombo to Talaguru Rajamaha Viharaya	Route from Anuradhapura to Talaguru 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

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