Medawala Raja Maha Viharaya - example of a Tampita temple
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Medawala Rajamaha Viharaya is a temple much revered by local people as a Buddhist religious center. It belongs to the Malwatta Chapter of the Siyam Nikaya. It has been a quite popular place in the Kandy period. The monastery is mentioned in the Vihara Asna, also known as Nampota, which was composed in Sinhalese in the late Middle Ages (or maybe the early modern period). The Vihara Asna contains a list of the 267 principle Buddhist temples of Sri Lanka, of which 75 are located in today's Central Province, one of them being the Medawala Rajamaha Viharaya. The text was popular with villagers as it was used for educational purposes in the schools attached to Buddhist temples in the Kandy period.
The temples dates back to the period Vatthagamani (around end of the 2nd and begin of the 1st century BC), who is one of the most famous Sinhalese monarchs. One Pali inscriptions was found here, it is called "Medawala Inscription". Another text called "Medawala Sannasa" from the Kandyan period attributes the temple to the famous Kandy King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha, who reigned in the mid 18th century. He is credited with the construction of the buildings that can be seen today. The style of the wooden architecture and the roof as well as the main Buddha statue and the paintings in the interior is clearly that of the Kandyan period.
The temples dates back to the period Vatthagamani (around end of the 2nd and begin of the 1st century BC), who is one of the most famous Sinhalese monarchs. One Pali inscriptions was found here, it is called "Medawala Inscription". Another text called "Medawala Sannasa" from the Kandyan period attributes the temple to the famous Kandy King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha, who reigned in the mid 18th century. He is credited with the construction of the buildings that can be seen today. The style of the wooden architecture and the roof as well as the main Buddha statue and the paintings in the interior is clearly that of the Kandyan period.
The main attraction of the Medawala Rajamaha Viharaya is the so-called Tampita Temple. The characteristic feature of a Tampita Temple is that it is a pillared house. Actually the meaning of the term "Tampita" (also transcribed "Tempita") is "pillar" or "stone stilt". Shrines of this design are mainly made of wood but placed on small stone blocks. This architecture is typical of the Kandyan period. Like storage rooms from the same period, the small shrines containing statues or relics or scriptures are elevated in order to protect the objects of value against rats, ants and other insects and also against moisture. The Medawala temple, only a little bit off the beaten path, is an even more perfect specimen than the slightly more frequented Tampita Viharaya in Habarana. Tampita Tempels can not only be found in the hillcountry of Kandy but also in large numbers in today's Kurunegala and Kegalle Districts.
The upper floor of the Tampita temple in Medawala, placed on 20 stone pillars at right angles, is a small image house made mainly of wood. Its porch too is a typical feature of temples built in the Kandyan period. The less touristy Medawala Rajamaha Vihara, though small in size, is noteworthy as an excellent example of both the Tampita and the Verandah architecture of the Kandyan period, as the Tampita temple of the Medawala Rajamaha Viharaya is probably one of the oldest buildings of this classical type in Sri Lanka. Definitely, it's one of the the best preserved Tampita temples.
The upper floor of the Tampita temple in Medawala, placed on 20 stone pillars at right angles, is a small image house made mainly of wood. Its porch too is a typical feature of temples built in the Kandyan period. The less touristy Medawala Rajamaha Vihara, though small in size, is noteworthy as an excellent example of both the Tampita and the Verandah architecture of the Kandyan period, as the Tampita temple of the Medawala Rajamaha Viharaya is probably one of the oldest buildings of this classical type in Sri Lanka. Definitely, it's one of the the best preserved Tampita temples.
Medawala is situated 15 km northeast of Kandy, just 5 km north of Hedeniya at the A10 Kandy Kurunegala main road. Medawala belongs to the regional area of Harispattuwa (හාරිස්පත්තුව) in the Kandy District of the Central Province. The temple known as Medawala Rajamaha Viharaya is situated at the Kandy-Doranegama about 1.5 km distance from Medawala town.
