- Area: Sri Lanka
- Type: Attractions
- Group: 137-119 BC Buddhism Viharaya
The Bodhi Sameepa Viharaya is the place where a secondary Bodhi Tree was located, Vanawasa Rajamaha Viharaya is where the Bikkus residential ‘Kuti’ were located, Bodhimalu Rajamaha Viharaya is where the sapling of the Sri Maha Bodhi was planted, the main image house and the relics of Maha Kasyapa Thero were enshrined at Galapatha Viharaya and Gane Rajamaha Viharaya is where the main Vehera (stupa) was located.
Bodhimalu Rajamaha Viharaya has been built during the reign of the minister Devaprathiraja of the king Saddhatissa (137-119 BC) by the minister Devapathiraja.
The original Bodhi tree and Image House of Bodhimalu Viharaya had fortunately escaped the Portuguese destruction can still be seen. The image house of this temple is also unique. Generally, you will find statues of the two chief disciples, Sariyuth and Mugalan Theros beside the statue of Buddha. However, besides the huge seated Buddha statue at Bodhimalu Viharaya, you find two 18-cubit high statues of the deities of Vishnu and Kataragama. It has been reported in 2017 that the building and the murals are decaying due to a lack of maintenance by the authorities.
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