Hindagal Raja Maha Viharaya
Source - http://kandyholiday.com/places-of-interest/kandy-temples/hindagala-temple
Hindagala Raja Maha Viharaya is one of the places that one
must visit in the historical city of Kandy, which exemplify the class of
Sinhalese art, craft and architecture.
Hindagala Raja Maha
Viharaya is situated in the Kandukarapahala Korale of Udapalatha Division of
Kandy District, which can be reached through Peradeniya-Delthota road, few
kilometers away from Galaha junction.
Source - https://www.google.lk/maps/place/Hindagala
There
are two entrances, both on to the left side of the road, one(tar road) heading
towards North Western side of the temple where the Avasage (Monk Residence) is situated and the other one is a fleet
of steps heading straight to the temple starting near the ambalama.
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| Entrance to stone staircase |
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| Stone staircase leading to the temple |
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| Avasage (Mon Residence)
Source - http://www.panoramio.com
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Hindagala Raja
Maha Viharaya has a history dating back to pre-Christian era, probably to 3rd
century B.C. when Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka. The cave with the
drip-ledge (katarama) had been a
hermitage where Buddhist monks (Bikkhu)
had resided and was later transformed into a “Pathimagara”(Image
house). The verandah with timber pillars, the roof and some paintings were done
during the Kandyan era (14th century A.D.).
There are two
rock inscriptions to be found in the site, from which the oldest one dates back
to 6th century A.D. and it was for the construction of bodhigara.
According to paleographical evidence, the other inscription belongs to 7th
century A.D. which is fragmentary.
The second rock
inscription says that the ancient name of the monastery was “Vataka-Vahara”. The painting above the
shrine which could be dated back to 7th century B.C., portraits the
Buddha residing in Indrasala cave in Magadhadesha (North-eastern India) where God Indra (Sakra) is illustrated asking
questions and the Buddha answering them for the satisfaction of Indra.
According to Prof.Senarath Paranavithana the name “Hindagala” was derived from the name “Indrasala” or “Hindasala”.
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| Painting above the shrine- Lord Buddha and God Indra |
There are many
legends that surrounds Hindagala Raja Maha Viharaya. The Gazetteer of Central
Province compiled by A.C.Lawrie in 1896, refers to a legend of erection of the
recumbent Buddha statue in the center, to Queen
Henakanda Biso Bandara whose original name was Lilawathi, a royal lady who is believed to have lived in the latter part of the 9th
century. The legend says that the
queen was travelling through the village in the night, had asked for torches from
the employees of the local chief. The employees who were unable to recognize
her, had asked her to obtain it from the old man, referring to the Buddha
statue in the cave. The queen was annoyed by this insult and had confiscated
all the lands of the local chief and had donated them to the monastery next
morning.
In another
legend related to Henakanda Biso Bandara, says that she had waited in the ambalama for a torch (Hulueliya-a light) and an assistant to help her to go up to the temple, from the walauwa on a visit to Hidagala. The
Walauwe Nilame who did not abide by the Royal lady’s request had sent a message
saying her that she can get the ‘Hulueliya’
from the ‘lokkan’ in the cave.
The legend says that the recumbent Buddha statue was built by her.
There is a belief
among the villagers that King Walagamba
(103, 89-76 B.C) had shot an arrow (“eeya”)
while he was travelling through the jungle, where the king found the arrow near
a large rock which looked like a seated elephant. Therefore, the village was
known as “Vidigala” meaning the rock (gala) which was shot (viddha), which later transformed to “Hindigal” and to the present day name Hindagala.
The land of
entire Hindhagala village between Liyanagaha, Nadaha, Ethpara and the Mahaveli
river had been donated to the temple which devolved along with the “Rajakari panguwa” (service tentures). Therefore
the village falls under a “Viharagama” (village
of the Viharaya).Dope Thera had claimed in a statement made to the Temporalities
Commission, that he built two statues of Buddha in the cave in 1820 A.D.
When the Kandyan
Kingdom fell to British on 02nd March 1815, the Sacred Tooth Relic
of Shakyamuni Gauthama Buddha (Vaama Dhantha Dhathu) had been taken to
Pusulpitiya Raja Maha Viharaya in Kothmale. Later on 22nd April
1815, it was brought to Kandy by “perahara”
(procession) on the assurance of John Doyle who is considered as the first British
resident in Kandy, that its safety and performance of rites and rituals without
any laps. On the way to Kandy it was decided to keep the Tooth Relic in the
Hindagala Raja Maha Viharaya for a night as it was getting dark by that time.
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| Bell tower |
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| Entrance to the cave with the stupa |
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| Roof of bell tower cover with traditional flat tiles |
Stone staircase leading towards the temple meets with a square
shaped bell tower acting as a gate way to the main shrine. The bell tower has
two roofs in which the first roof rests
on four pillars which are probably made using stones or bricks and plastered
with clay which are painted in white. On top of theses pillars, there are
twelve wooden pillars (three on each corner) on which the second roof rests which
is a pyramid shaped pitched roof. Both roofs are covered with traditional flat
tiles (Pethi Ulu)
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| Drip-ledge ( Katarama) |
The main shrine is
built with the use of a cave where a
drip-ledge (katarama) had been
constructed to drain off rain water. The rock which creates the cave runs for a
very long span covering different ground levels, where it has created another
comparatively small cave just below the ground level of the main premises where
a stupa has been constructed.
This temple belongs
to cave temple with a roof where there is a double pitched roof, which is a main architectural element in the Kandyan
buildings. It was covered with traditional flat tiles (Pethi Ulu), and had been replaced very recently with Spanish S-tiles which are similar to half round tiles (Sinhala Ulu) . which is rather a doubtful choice since it does not create the
same radiant image it used to have.
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The roof has a
very complicated plan using timer rafters, beams, purlins and other vertical,
horizontal and diagonal timber members which certainly is a fine example in terms
of technology and aesthetics. The rafters are aligned accurately using a “hee liya” which is
a technique used during Kandyan era.
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| Rafters aligned with the use of Hee Leeya |
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| Pekada |
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| Varendah |
The
shrine wall has been constructed using huge stones and clay mortar, plastered
with clay which is 1.6m (approx.) in thickness, which acts as a thermal mass creating
a cooler and a comfortable interior. Both
inner wall and the outer wall are painted with painting belonging to Kandyan
era and there Anuradhapura era paintings to be found on some parts of the outer wall and on the rock itself. The entrance to the
shrine is decorated with a sculptured “Makarathorana” with two deities on either sides. Inside
the shrine there are three Buddha statues. The largest is a recumbent Buddha
statue (Sathapena) and on to its
right hand side there is a standing Buddha statue (Hiti) and a seated Buddha statue (Hindhi).
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| Makara Thorana |
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| Paintings on the outer wall |
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| Paintings on the outer wall |
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| Inside the shrine |
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| Seated Buddha |
There are lot of things to be learnt from this wonderful temple in terms of art, architecture, landscape, craft and spirituality, which is why these have inspired both scholars and lay people of different levels for centuries and it is very important that we appreciate and look after these masterpieces for the future generations.
Photography - Rajitha Katugaha
References -
- Senevirathne.A.(2013) Kandha Udarata Maha Nuwara. Central Cultural Fund, Ministry for Cultural Affairs and Arts
- Hewapathirana.D. (2008) Disi Ruu Pelahara: Bodhu Hagum Varna Rekhawen. Sri Lanka Presidential Office and Sri Dhaladha Maligawa
- Udagama.U. (2007,November 04). The many legends that surround the Hindagala Raja Maha Viharaya. Sunday Times:Kandy Times
- Sri Lanka Travel Guide (2011). Hindhagala Raja Maha Viharaya. Retrieved by http://www.sldestinations.info/2011/02/hindagala-temple.html#.VTzamCGqqko
- Jayatilake.R.L. (2005). Hindagala Raja Maha Vihara:Cave Paintings in Decay. Retrieved by http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=818
