Aramanapola Raja Maha Vihara

Coordinates: 06°38′04.3″N 80°31′22.2″E / 6.634528°N 80.522833°E / 6.634528; 80.522833
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Aramanapola Raja Maha Vihara
අරමණපොළ රජ මහා විහාරය
Buddhist Temple

Aramanapola Raja Maha

Gazette number 10217.[1]

Name

Aramanapola temple is referred to in historical sources as Denawaka Viharaya and Ganegama Viharaya. In the early periods, this region was called Denawaka as the river Denawaka Ganga flows through this area. The word Denawaka is said to be broken from Dona Wakka (

basin) as the area is located between the hilltops of Kiribathgala & Kuttapitiya. Word Dona Wakka became Denawaka and the temple located in Denawaka was begun to call as Denawaka Viharaya. The temple is also referred to in Vihara Asna (Nam Potha), a Kandyan period
compiled book about important Buddhist centres in the country.

The temple is also known as Ganegama Viharaya as Buddhist monks called Ganinwahansela lived in this temple during the Kandyan era. It is said that in this period, the country's Buddhism was in declined state due to colonial rule. The monks maintained the temple with many difficulties and due to that the temple was called Ganegama temple.[2]

In the present day the temple is known as Aramanapola Viharaya. According to the Sabaragamu Vamsakathawa, Buddhism in the country had suffered a lot after the

Upasampada Karma (ordination) of Buddhist monks. To re-establish Buddhism in the country, Vijayabahu I invited higher ordinate Buddhist monks from Arammana area of Myanmar. People believe that those monks have used this temple during their mission in the country. So it is said that this temple has got its name Aramanapola Viharaya, as the Buddhist monks from Aramana area of Myanmar
lived here.

History

The history of Aramanapola Vihara is dated back to the reign of King

Vijayabahu I established a military camp at a basin between hilltop of Kiribathgala and Kuttapitiya which is believed to be this location.[4]

During the 15th century the Sabaragamuwa area was under the rule of

Sunethradevi Pirivena inscription of Parakramabahu VI.[5] The king developed the Vihara as complete temple with all aspects and assigned it under the Sunethradevi Pirivena in Pepiliyana.[4]

The temple

The temple consists mainly of a Stupa, image house, sacred Bodhi Tree, Dhamma discourse hall and Bhikku dwellings. The image house consists of Kotte era paintings and is built using 27 carved rock pillars. Inside the most inner chamber of the image house is the main Samadhi Buddha statue with other related statues and paintings. The inner chamber is entered with a carved stone door frame (Gal Uluhau) and the corners of the building have been strengthened using stone columns. The Bodhi Tree of the Vihara which is believed to be one of 32 saplings of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, has been identified as the largest Bodhi tree among the 32 Bodhis that are found in the island.[6]

References

  1. The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
    . 10217. 2 March 1951.
  2. ^ Sabaragamu Vamshakathawa (in Sinhala). Vol. II. p. 458.
  3. ^ "ගණේගම අරමණපොල රජමහා විහාරයේ දෙතිස් ඵලරුහ බෝධි රන්වැට හා අටවිසි විහාර මන්දිරය විවෘත කිරීමේ පුණ්‍යෝත්සවය ජනපති ප‍්‍රධානත්වයෙන් (In Sinhala)". President's Media Division (Sri Lanka). 26 February 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Ganegama Aramunapola Rajamaha Viharaya – ගණේගම අරමුණපොළ රජමහා විහාරය". Amazinglanka. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
  5. ^ "Aramanapola Raja Maha Viharaya (Ganegama)". Lankapradeepa. Retrieved 22 July 2023.
  6. ITN channel. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.[permanent dead link
    ]
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