Malwathu Maha Viharaya (also called Malwatta Temple) is a Buddhist monastery located in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is the headquarters of the Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya and one of the two Buddhist monasteries that holds the custodianship of sacred tooth relic of Buddha kept in Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy. The Chief Incumbent of the Malwathu Maha Viharaya is the MahanayakaThera of Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya, a leading Buddhist monastic fraternity in Sri Lanka. The present Chief Incumbent of Malwathu Maha Viharaya is Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera.
This temple is believed to be built by Senasammatha Vikramabahu (1473–1511) along with a stupa and a double storey ordination hall (Uposhathagaraya) in the late 15th century or early 16th century.[1] It was originally built as the residence of three monks but today it houses many Buddhist monks including the monks of Karaka Sangha Sabha (Executive Council) of Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya. The building known as ‘poya ge’ is used as the assembly hall for the important meetings of the monastic fraternity. This building was built during the reign of King of KandyKirti Sri Rajasinha.
The monastery
Malwathu Maha Viharaya consists of two sections, the Uposatha Viharaya which is also known as Poyamalu Viharaya and the other Pushparama Viharaya popularly known as Malwathu Viharaya.[1] Poyamalu Viharaya is the oldest section of the Vihara complex which is today recognised as an archaeologically protected monument.[2]
Chief Incumbents
The following is a list of Chief Incumbents of Malwathu Maha Viharaya, Kandy who are also the Mahanayaka Theras of Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya. Appointment of senior Buddhist monks to the Mahanayaka position in Sri Lanka began with the re-establishment of Upasampada in 1753 on the initiatives taken by SangharajaWeliwita Sri Saranankara Thera during the reign of King of KandyKirti Sri Rajasinha.
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