Kelaniya
Temple built on the banks of the Kelaniya River is one of the most sacred sites
of Sri Lanka. It is believed Buddha together with 500 Arahats (Supremely
enlightened beings) visited Kelaniya on the Wesek day of the Buddhist Era 2531
and expounding of the Dhamma, the Buddhist doctrine to the inhabitants of the
island. Buddha’s timely visit to the island resulted in quelling an imminent
war between two kings named Chulodara and Mahodara over a jewel–encrusted
throne. Buddha having preached the doctrine on the disputed throne offered to
him ensued lasting peace between the two kings. The great stupa built upon the
site enshrining the throne was since then called Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara.
History of
Kelaniya Temple
Kelaniya
Temple believed to had been built in the era prior to the chronologically
recorded history of Sir Lanka (since 543 B.C) was renovated by Prince Uttiya,
brother of King Devanampiyatissa following the arrival Arahat Mahinda in 307
BC. According to the Mahawansa, King Devanampiyatissa’s brother Uttiya
renovated the vihara for the first time. Prince Uttiya also built the first
ever residential quarters of the Buddhist monks (Sanghawasa) there.
The ancient
temple was destroyed time and again by the Dravidian invaders from Southern
India. Each time the temple had been reconstructed. The medieval temple was
destroyed by the Portuguese in 1510 yet reconstructed by King Kirthi Sri
Rajasingha in the year 1967. New Temple was initiated in 1927 and completed in
1946 under the patronage of philanthropist Mrs. Helena Wijewardene.
The Bo tree
and the court yard at the Kelaniya Temple
The
entrance to the temple yard is over the park across the main street. The arched
grill gate opens upto the lower terrace of the temple yard. The lower terrace
leads four sets of flight of steps in four carinal directions to the Upper
terrace which features the Image Hose, Dagaba and the Bo Tree (Peepal tree)
with other buildings.
New Temple
‘Aluth
Vihara Ge’ or the New Temple House section of the Kelani Viharaya is 150 feet
long and 90 feet broad. It stands on a stone plinth 3 feet in height. The roof
is built in the Kandyan architectural style with a design of an octagon.
‘Aluth
Vihara Ge’ consists of four mage houses.
The ‘Oth
Pilima Ge’, the oldest section of the temple houses a large reclining Buddha
statue and two seated Buddha statues.
The ‘Ran
Pilima Ge’ houses another seated Buddha statue
The ‘Ran
Pilima Ge’ or the Golden Buddha Image House
Murals in
Kelaniya Temple
Kelaniya
Temple has none of the ancient or medieval paintings. The murals are those of
the 18th century and the early 20th century.
The Duruthu
Perahera (Kelani Procession)
Kelaniya
Temple is the starting point of the “The Duruthu Perahera” (Kelani Procession)
inaugurated in 1927 and since then that has been held on the pre – full moon
day of the month of January every year. Each year hundreds of thousands of
locals and thousands of foreign tourists gather at Kelaniya to enjoy the grand
procession that features whip crackers, torch carriers, flag carriers,
caparisoned elephants, dancers, trumpeters, drummers and numerous other
participants. The Kelani Procession features three separate processions: that
of the Buddha Relics and those of the three shrines dedicated to the deities of
Vishnu, Kataragama and Vibishana.
“The
Duruthu Perahera” (Kelani Procession) attracts hundreds and thousands of people
from all provinces of Sri Lanka, and hundreds of foreign tourists trek their
way to the temple purlieu to witness this spectacular pageant.
