5/5 Miyuru J. 6 years ago on Google • 533 reviews
On
to
the
North-West
of
the
palace,
in
front
of
the
“Natha
Devale“
is
the
“Vishnu
Devalya”
popularly
a
the
“Maha
Devale”.
This
is
one
of
the
Hatara
Devale
in
the
Kandy,
the
other
three
being
the
Natha,
Kataragama
and
Patini.
These
four
Devalayas
have
a
long
association
with
the
Royal
Palace
(
Maha
Vasala)
and
the
Temple
of
Tooth
Relic
(Sri
Dalada
Maligawa)
and
has
been
venerated
by
Buddhists
and
Hindus
alike
from
the
inception.
Different
historical
documents
have
called
this
deity
and
the
Devale
by
different
names.
Robert
Knox,
the
English
Prisoner
has
called
the
deity
in
this
devale
“Aluth
Nuwara
Deiyo”.
According
to
legend
the
“Aluth
Nuwara
Deviyo”
was
brought
to
Aluth
Nuwara
in
Kegalle
District
from
Devinuwara
in
Matara.
This
deity
was
called
“Upulvan
Deiyo”
(deity
with
a
colour
of
a
lotus).
Later
this
deity
in
Aluth
Nuwara
was
known
as
“Vishnu”.
The
15th
century
“Paravi
Sandeshaya”,
a
poetical
work
describes
the
deity
at
Devinuwara,
Matara
as
a
destroyer
of
Asura.
Thus
it
can
believed
that
this
same
deity
is
also
“Rama”
of
the
great
Indian
Epic
“Ramayana”.
Interestingly
“Ehelapola
Varnanawa”,
a
poetical
work
done
in
the
19th
century
calls
this
shrine
at
Kandy,
“The
Rama
Devale”.
It
is
also
interesting
to
note
that
this
devale
has
had
in
possesion
a
cloth
painting
depicting
the
Battle
of
Rama
and
Rawana.
“According
to
Mahavansa,
The
great
chronicle
of
Sri
Lanka,
It
was
“Upulvan
Deiyo”
thus
Vishnu
that
was
selected
as
the
guardian
to
protect
the
land
of
Sri
Lanka
and
Buddhism
within
it
at
the
time
of
Buddha’s
passing
away.
“When
the
Guide
of
the
World,
having
accomplished
the
salvation
of
the
whole
world
and
having
reached
the
utmost
stage
of
blissful
rest,
was
lying
on
the
bed
of
his
nibbana;
in
the
midst
of
the
great
assembly
of
gods,
he,
the
great
sage,
the
greatest
of
those
who
have
speech,
spoke
to
Sakka’
who
stood
there
near
him:
`Vijaya,
son
of
king
Sihabahu,
is
come
to
Lanka
from
the
country
of
Lala,
together
with
seven
hundred
followers.
In
Lanka,
O
lord
of
gods,
will
my
religion
be
established,
therefore
carefully
protect
him
with
his
followers
and
Lanka.
When
the
lord
of
gods
heard
the
words
of
the
Buddha
he
from
respect
handed
over
the
guardianship
of
Lanka
to
the
god
who
is
in
colour
like
the
lotus.
“
—
From
Mahavansa
According
to
beliefs,
Vishnu
is
a
future
Buddha
after
Natha.
Therefore
Vishnu
always
has
had
a
high
ranking
within
the
deities
worshipped
by
the
Sri
Lankans.
During
the
Kandyan
Era
the
the
Kings
“Abisheka
Mangallaya”
or
the
Coronation
Ceremony
was
held
at
this
Maha
Devale
.
The
origin
of
Vishnu
Devalya
or
the
shrine
of
Vishnu
is
unclear.
This
is
a
long
building
with
a
storied
sanctum
at
the
end.
In
front
the
sanctum
is
a
long
hall
called
“dig-ge”.
This
hall
is
for
dancers
and
who
carry
out
puja
for
the
deity.
Today
it
is
used
by
the
devotees
to
pray.
This
building
complex
is
entered
through
a
two
storeyed
Vahalkada
(entrance
doorway),
to
an
open
hall
with
timber
columns
in
the
middle
terrace,
a
beautifully
carved
stone
flight
of
steps
and
the
drumming
hall.
On
the
upper
terrace
is
another
small
shrine,
the
God
Dedimunda’s
Shrine
and
a
large
Bo-tree.
Primary
Source
:
“Kandy”
By
Central
Cultural
Fund
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