5/5 Roshan Kalpa T. 2 years ago on Google
The
Lankatilaka
Raja
Maha
Vihara
(also
known
as
the
Lankatilaka
Temple
or
the
Blue
Temple),
is
located
in
Hiyarapitiya
in
the
Udunuwara
area
of
Kandy,
Sri
Lanka’s
hill
capital.
It
was
constructed
as
a
four
storey
building
that
stood
eighty
feet
high
and
sits
on
an
uneven
rock
bed
overlooking
the
Hantane
mountain
range.
The
history
of
Lankatilaka
Vihara
dates
back
to
the
Gampola
era
and
was
constructed
during
that
time
under
the
patronage
of
King
Buwanekabahu
IV
in
1344
AD.
Lankatilaka
is
a
most
unique
structure
in
itself,
having
been
built
entirely
atop
an
uneven
rock
surface
and
rising
upto
a
height
of
eighty
feet.
Based
on
inscriptions
to
be
found
on
the
Temple’s
copper
plaque,
one
learns
that
the
foundation
of
granite
was
laid
on
the
rock
surface
and
the
rest
of
the
structure
was
made
of
bricks.
Beautiful
arches
and
sculptures
enhance
the
thick
outer
walls,
making
this
an
architectural
marvel
of
that
era.
There
are
many
inscriptions
in
both
Sinhala
and
Tamil
languages
cut
into
the
solid
rock
which
describe
the
facilities
provided
to
the
Temple
and
the
land
gifted
by
Kings
who
ruled
then.
According
to
historical
reports
King
Buwanekabahu
IV
entrusted
the
construction
of
this
Temple
to
his
Chief
Minister
Senalankadhikara.
South
Indian
architect
Sthapati
Rayar
was
responsible
for
the
design
which
blends
Sinhalese
architecture
of
the
Polonnaruwa
period
with
Dravidian
and
Indo
Chinese
styles.
The
Temple
building
took
the
shape
of
a
cross
with
the
four
sides
protruding
outward.
Although
it
was
originally
four
storeys
high,
all
that
remains
today
are
the
ground
floor
and
part
of
the
first
floor.
Lankatilaka
was
dedicated
to
the
worship
of
Lord
Buddha
as
well
as
several
deities
including
Deitys
Vishnu,
Saman,
Vibhishana,
Ganapathi,
Skandhakumara
and
Kumara
Bandara
(to
whom
the
Temple
was
entrusted).
It
can
be
seen
that
the
people
of
that
era
who
resided
in
the
Gampola
and
Kandyan
kingdoms
not
only
had
a
strong
belief
in
the
worship
of
deities,
but
were
also
devoted
followers
of
the
Buddha
and
His
teachings.
The
Lankatilaka
Raja
Maha
Vihara
can
be
approached
from
two
directions.
One
entrance
is
through
the
Sanghawasa,
located
at
the
bottom
of
the
rock
from
where
the
steps
leading
to
the
Vihara
begin.
One
can
see
large
rice
storage
bins
known
as
‘Atuwa’
within
the
premises.
A
breathtaking
view
of
the
surrounding
landscape
can
be
enjoyed
while
ascending
the
stone
stairway.
The
Vihara
complex
comprises
of
the
Temple
building,
the
Dagoba
(Chaithya)
and
the
Bo
tree.
A
large
image
of
Lord
Budhha’s
footprint
carved
of
stone
and
known
as
the
Buddha
Siripatula
can
be
seen
near
the
Bodhigharaya.
The
preaching
hall
stands
in
front
of
the
main
Temple
entrance
and
a
remarkable
feature
is
that
its
roof
is
thatched
with
flat
tiles
while
round
tiles
cover
the
central
part
of
the
roof
creating
beautiful
patterns.
The
main
Temple
or
Buddha
Image
House
is
built
of
granite
covered
with
plaster
and
extends
three
storeys
high.
Stunning
examples
of
architectural
design
and
wall
paintings
adorn
the
walls
and
ceiling
inside
this
building
providing
a
scene
of
rich
colour
and
skillful
craftsmanship.
A
Moonstone
or
‘Sandakadapahana’
lies
at
the
entrance
flanked
by
two
Korawakgalas
(balustrades)
bearing
the
Gajasinha
design.
Enter
through
the
arched
doorway
and
the
eye
is
drawn
towards
the
two
paintings
of
lion
figures
which
have
become
one
of
the
most
recognisable
and
unique
features
of
Lankatilaka
Vihara.
A
statue
of
the
Seated
Buddha
sheltered
by
a
Dragon
Arch
or
‘Makara
Torana’
takes
pride
of
place
within
the
Image
House’s
interior.
Surrounding
the
statue
are
designs
of
trees
and
flowers
which
promote
the
‘Bodhi’
concept,
and
the
walls
are
adorned
by
paintings
from
‘Suvisi
Vivarana’
(the
lives
of
the
twenty
four
previous
Buddhas).
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