The archaeological and historical heritage of GADALADENIYA RAJAMAHA VIHARAYA -YATINUWARA
Gadaladeniya Raja maha viharaya has got great attention from historian, archaeologist artist and sacred Buddhist.It is situated on beautiful rock near two large nuga trees on the way to Dawulugala, away from half kilometer to 65th mile stump .Kept on Pilimathalawa town.Which could be passed Colombo kandy road.
Creation Time
It is identified as a largest stone temple in Sri Lanka and a greatest creation belong to upcountry.It was built by Dharmakeerthi thero on king fourth Buvanekabahu’s reign.It is mentioned on the Gadaladeniya inscription.There were two largest and attractive temples on Gampola kingdom.Gadaladeniya and Lankathilaka are the only temples made at these period.According to shapes of them anyone could thought they were closed to hindhu and Buddhist culture.Gadaladeniya temple is built according to hindhu architecture.It is memorized hindhu siva fane and highly equal to hindhu fane made by king Wijaya nagara who was the ruler south India after Pandayan.Polonnaruwa siva fane and its siva fane are same in architecture.
Main Temple palace
It was created in carved granite It is insisted with two room and outside pavilion.Two rooms are on one behind the other.When the entrance of outside pavilion first can be seen a half circuled moonstone.There was no pictures of animals only could see a boarder and a blossomed lotus.Then there is a way with four stairs.Inside the edges attractive drames were carved.They were consisted with dramatic,recitatist carvings.There are two animal pictures which grave shaped in both sides of this way.It has elephant’s head and lion’s body.So it called as ‘’Gajasingha’’ picture.There is a fact it shows the prosperity of a nation.Some parts had been broken because of attacks by antagonists.Huge two stone towers are used doorframe in this building.Another two small towers are connect to main tower .So it is identified as ‘’Third Towers’’It has more beautiful carvings and expanding artistic’s talent and mental continence of stone carpenter.The main tower set quadrately and others head were consisted with sharp edges of pillar caps
The towers carvings are started lions of plank.There are pictures of lions on head .They are decorate with vase lotus.The pillar caps is consisted with upside down baby lotus with coil boarder.The carvings of both towels are not equal.In popularity two carpenters made them.
Antharalaya
Antharalaya is met after the outside pavilion.A hindhu fame is in one side.The Vishnu fane is identified as ‘’Devrugeya’’ in Dharmakeerthi thero’s inscription.It is called as Upulvan devol.It is located west to main temple place.There are a bodhi house and a antharalaya,There is a building face to east and could enter a small stair It is called Diggeya.
Middle Door
A large door is used to enter from antharalaya to bodhihouse.It has two parts and made by jak timber, and valuable arts,pictures were drawn on these.It consists two door shutters.One shutter sets for five panel.
Sun,lotus,bird,Narilatha flower and another were painted.Decorate motif and palapethi pattern on woods These paintings were designed yellow colour on the red background.Black,green and white colours were used simply.
Garbha House
There was a samdhi image under a dragon pandal which made by granite, shaped in plaster and painted with various boarders.The specialization of this statue is not having calm mood.It has glorious shape.and is is caused to hindhu religious affect in Gampola era.The robe of it is shaped waves of river.Open eyes were put so that the person who was in front of image could think image looks for him.
Wijoyothpaya Cairn
Wijayothpaya means waijayantha mansion.It is another name for god of sacra’s palace.It is belived that the god’s palace was over the heaven and human world.So that the cairn was built on a high foundation.Other four cairn were built in four sides to typicall four gods.The height of this cairn is 40 feet and built built on rock in front of viharageya.Today it is shined as such as past..It is clear that a house which king fifth parakramabahu made on high towers consist with a roof gave secure to crain.Some one identifies that house as a watadageya.Some one says it may be a chethiyagaraya.
Bodhi Tree
The Bodhiya is as old as viharaya.It is sacred and admirable.It is located on the rock where the viharaya was kept It was secured by the valuable granite wall.Majority of inscriptions of Gadaladeniya were on therock near bo tree.This was nascent of Ananda Bodhiya which in near Devram vehera at Dambadiva.It was brought first Dharmakeerthi thero.The buildings of uposathagaraya and monastery were reconstructed but old faces were not changed.
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