Kande Viharaya Buddhist Temple – කන්දේ විහාරය
Kande Viharaya Buddhist Temple – කන්දේ විහාරය
Kande Vihara (Sinhalaː කන්දේ විහාරය) is a major Buddhist temple in Kalutara District, Sri Lanka and is striking by the height of the statue and historical value.
The temple name ‘Kande Vihara’ (Mountain temple) is so called because it is built on top of a hill near the Sri Lankan town of Aluthgama.
Kande Vihara History
The temple was founded by the venerable Karapagala Dewamitta thero arround 1734, under the guidance of the venerable Udugama Chandrasara thero, the chief incumbent of Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara . The temple has been renovated and developed over time to become a major Buddhist shrine in the country, visited by many local and international visitors.
In 1904 the Kshethrarama Pirivena institution of monks became attached to the temple and the pirivena acts as a center for Buddhist education in the country.
The Stupa and the image house, together with the sacred Bodhi tree in its enclosing octagonal shaped wall are considered as very old monuments in the temple.
Kande Vihara Bodhi Tree
The Bodhi tree is believed to be more than 300 years old. The large Stupa of the temple which was erected in 1935, has been constructed as enclosing a small sized Stupa, constructed by Ven. Udugama Chandrasara Thero in 1783.
Building of Kande Vihara
In 2002, a foundation stone for a gigantic Samadhi Buddha statue depicting the Bhoomisparsha Mudra was laid in the temple premises.The statue is 48.8 m (160 ft) in height and considered as one of tallest sitting Buddha statues in the world. The completed statue was open to the public in 2007 and has become most popular and a “must visit” on the tourism trail.
Kande Vihara Temple
The temple comprises the Stupa, Bodhi Tree, Relic Chamber, Image House, Upulvan Devalaya and the other main Devalas including Kataragama and Pattini Devalaya.
The Bodhi Tree, preaching hall and the Seema Malaka are situated outside the Vihara premises. The Stupa was built within an octagonal Shelter and is bell shaped.
The relic chamber of the temple is believed to be the oldest buildings in the temple premises. At the entrance of the chamber is sculptured with a stone moonstone and a door frame.
Inner walls and the ceiling of the chamber has been adorned with Kandyan Era Frescoes belonging to the latter part of the Kandyan period.
The image house of the temple is consist of an inner chamber and an outer chamber. Entrance to the image house is via the Thorana with three arch shaped entrances.
Three Buddha images in the standing, seated and sleeping postures can be seen inside the inner chamber . The walls and the ceilings of both chambers are decorated with moments of the Buddha’s journey of life, Jataka tales and various types of other interesting murals.
