- Area: Sri Lanka
- Type: Attractions
- Group: Buddhism tample Viharaya
Godakawela Sri Mahinda Purana Viharaya is an ancient temple with a Tampita Viharaya built during the era of the Kandyan kingdom. The temple lies right in the center of Godakawela town between Madampe and Pallebedda.
A Tampita Viharaya is a structure built on a wooden platform that rests on a number of stone stumps usually 3-4 feet tall. The roof is held by a structure built of timber and the walls are generally made of wattle and daub. These buildings were a popular religious architectural design during the Kandyan period.
The Tampita Viharaya at the Godakawela Sri Mahinda Purana Viharaya is believed to have been built by Dumbara Meegasthanne Adhikaram on the instructions of King Kirthi Sri Rajasinghe (1747 – 1781) of Kandyan Kingdom. The temple was deserted a few decades ago but today has been developed into one of the foremost Pirivena temples in the area.
The Tampita Viharaya at the temple looks like two storied buildings from the outside due to the layered roof. The Viharaya is built on 8 massive square beams laid on 16 uneven granite pillars about 2 feet high. A 1-foot-high platform built with rocks and filled with soil has been built with surrounding pillars. The wooden platform is built with 2-inch thick Jack and Na wood planks. The Tampita Viharaya is 22 feet long and 17 feet 3 inches wide.
The inner chamber of the image house is covered in murals including scenes from Jataka stories such as Sama, Nalapana, Watu, and Thelapaththa. In addition to the Buddha statues, there is a statue of the deity Saman without any weapons. This is believed to be a depiction of the deity Saman after attaining the level of Sowan.
Map
