- Area: Sri Lanka
- Type: Attractions
- Group: Buddhism Kandyan era Viharaya
Burunnewa Sri Nagarukkarama Tampita Viharaya is an ancient temple hidden away in the middle of picturesque paddy fields between Ambepussa and Nelumdeniya.
One of the unique features a visitor could observe today at this temple is the Tampita Vihara Ge. Tampita Vihara was a popular architectural feature of temples during the Kandyan era. The temple is built on top of granite stumps with a wooden platform laid across the stumps.
The Tampita Viharaya at the Sri Nagarukkaramaya is built on 16 granite pillars of various sizes. The platform lies 4 feet 3 inches above ground level. A narrow circumambulating path with a wooden protective balustrade is built around it.
The entrance to the image house is through an exquisitely carved large wooden door frame, 4 feet 7 inches high, 18 inches wide, and 6 inches thick. The frame is flanked by statues of two guardian deities, each carrying a sword that flanks the door. Blue, black, brown, and blue colors have been primarily used for painting these statues.
Some of the wooden pillars which hold the roof are also carved and carry decorative bas reliefs similar to those of Embekke devalaya.
Inside the image house lies a seated Samadhi Buddha statue complete with the sira spatha at the top. The two chief disciples, Sariputta and Moggallana are drawn beside the seated Buddha statue. Two standing Buddha statues facing each other can be seen on the opposite walls. The inner walls of the image house are filled with paintings from the Kandyan era.
In addition to the Tampita Viharaya, two other items of importance in this temple are the finely carved wooden Buddha statue complete with a dragon’s arch and the small wooden replica of the Tampita Viharaya.
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