Kande Vihara Temple

Kande Vihara Temple is a major Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka’s Kalutara District. The temple is known as ‘Kande vihara’ (Mountain temple) because it is built on top of a hill near Aluthgama town. The Government of Sri Lanka has formally recognized the temple as an archaeological site.

The Temple

The temple comprises the Stupa, Bodhi Tree, Relic Chamber, Image House, Upulvan Devalaya and the other main Devalas including Kataragama and Pattini Devalaya.Bodhi Tree, preaching hall and the Seema Malaka are situated outside the Vihara premises. The Stupa has been built in bell shape and erected within an octagonal Shelter.

Vows are exchanged and tied on the Sacred Bo tree at Kande Viharaya in Aluthgama. The temple’s relic chamber is believed to be the oldest structure on the temple grounds. A stone moonstone and a door frame are sculptured at the chamber’s entrance. Kandyan Era Frescoes from the late Kandyan period adorn the chamber’s inner walls and ceiling. The temple’s image house is made up of an inner and outer chamber. The image house’s entrance is a magnetic Thorana with three arch-shaped entrances. Three Buddha images in standing, seated, and sleeping postures can be found within the inner chamber. Both chambers’ walls and ceilings are adorned with Jataka tales, scenes from the Buddha’s life journey, and various other murals.

History

The temple was established in 1734 by Ven. Karapagala Dewamitta thero, who was then the chief incumbent of Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara and a pupil of Ven. Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero. Since then, the temple has been renovated and developed under state patronage, leading it to become a major Buddhist shrine in the country. As a result of Ven. Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thero’s efforts, the Kshethrarama Pirivena, an educational institution for monks, was attached to the temple in 1904. The Kande Vihara also runs the pirivena, which serves as a center for Buddhist education in the country.

The image house, Stupa, and the sacred Bodhi tree with its enclosing octagonal shaped wall are among the temple’s oldest monuments. The Bodhi tree is thought to be over 300 years old. The large Stupa of the temple, which was built in 1935, was designed to enclose a small Stupa built in 1783 by Ven. Udugama Chandrasara Thero.

Buddha Statue in Kande Vihara Temple

The foundation stone for a massive Samadhi Buddha statue depicting the Bhoomisparsha Mudra was laid on the temple grounds in 2002, and the completed statue was opened to the public in 2007, increasing the temple’s popularity among local devotees. The statue stands 48.8 m (160 ft) tall and is regarded as one of the world’s tallest sitting Buddha statues.