Dodamthale Raja Maha Vihara
| Dodanthale Raja Maha Vihara | |
|---|---|
| දොඩන්තලේ රජ මහා විහාරය | |
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Mawanella, Sri Lanka |
| Geographic coordinates | 07°13′47.7″N 80°25′45.9″E / 7.229917°N 80.429417°ECoordinates: 07°13′47.7″N 80°25′45.9″E / 7.229917°N 80.429417°E |
| Affiliation | Buddhism |
| District | Kegalle |
| Province | Sabaragamuwa Province |
| Heritage designation | Archaeological protected monument (10 November 1978) |
| Architectural description | |
| Architectural type | Buddhist Temple |
| Architectural style | Tempita Vihara |
| Completed | 1748 |
Dodanthale Raja Maha Vihara (also known as Sri Seneviratne Uposatha Raja Maha Vihara) is an historic Buddhist temple situated in Mawanella, Kegalle District, Sri Lanka. The temple is located about 4 km (2.5 mi) away from the Mawanella town. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 10 November 1978 under the government Gazette number 10.
The temple at Dodantale was first designed by chief Adikaram Molligoda to serve as a royal palace. It is said that the ground floor of this palace was intended to use as royal audience hall while the first floor as living quarters of royalty and the third for the tooth relic of Buddha. However on second thoughts Molligoda converted the building to a Buddhist Vihara.
The temple is well known for its Image House, built in Tempita Vihara tradition. Usually the pillars used for the many of other Tempita buildings found in the country are about 3 or 4 feet in height. However the pillars used in Dodantale temple are about 6 feet in height and has been built as a two storied structure where the ground floor serve as the preaching hall (Bana Maduwa) and the upper floor as the image house.
The paintings of the Dodantale temple are belonged to the 18th century. A portrait of the Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747-1782) wearing the Kurulu Padakkama (Bird pendant) has been identified on one wall of the image house. Kurulu Padakkama is a jewel made for the Adikaram Molligoda which has a Sinhalese inscription on the reverse. Also an old wide-mouthed large earthen vessel called Pathra, used to hold water or to receive offerings from worshipers, has been preserved in the Vihara premises today.
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