Sri Saddharmagupta Piriven Vihara

Last updated

Sri Saddharmagupta Piriven Vihara
ශ්‍රී සද්ධර්මගුප්ත පිරිවෙන් විහාරය

Sri Saddharmagupta Piriven Vihara, Udugampola.jpg

The preaching hall at the Vihara.
Basic information
Location Dombawela, Udugampola, Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates 07°07′26.4″N79°59′04.2″E / 7.124000°N 79.984500°E / 7.124000; 79.984500 Coordinates: 07°07′26.4″N79°59′04.2″E / 7.124000°N 79.984500°E / 7.124000; 79.984500
Affiliation Buddhism
District Gampaha
Province Western Province
Heritage designation Archaeological protected monument
Architectural type Buddhist Temple

Sri Saddharmagupta Piriven Vihara (Sinhalese : ශ්‍රී සද්ධර්මගුප්ත පිරිවෙන් විහාරය) is an old Piriven Vihara in Dombawela, Sri Lanka. The temple is located on UdugampolaDivulapitiya road approximately 0.5 km (0.31 mi) away from the Udugampola Roundabout. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological protected monument in Sri Lanka.

Vihara Sanskrit and Pāli term for a residence, monastery usually Buddhist

Vihara generally refers to a monastery for Buddhist renunciates. The concept is ancient and in early Sanskrit and Pali texts, it meant any arrangement of space or facilities for pleasure and entertainment. The term evolved into an architectural concept wherein it refers to living quarters for monks with an open shared space or courtyard, particularly in Buddhism. The term is also found in Ajivika, Hindu and Jain monastic literature, usually referring to temporary refuge for wandering monks or nuns during the annual Indian monsoons. In modern Jainism, the monks continue to wander from town to town except during the rainy season (Chaturmas), the term "vihara" refers their wanderings.

Sinhalese language language of the Sinhalese people of Sri Lanka

Sinhalese, known natively as Sinhala, is the native language of the Sinhalese people, who make up the largest ethnic group in Sri Lanka, numbering about 16 million. Sinhalese is also spoken as a second language by other ethnic groups in Sri Lanka, totalling about four million. It belongs to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. Sinhalese is written using the Sinhalese script, which is one of the Brahmic scripts, a descendant of the ancient Indian Brahmi script closely related to the Kadamba alphabet.

A pirivena are monastic colleges for the education of monks in Sri Lanka. These have also been the centers of secondary and higher education in ancient times for lay people. As of 2018, 753 Piriven have been founded and maintained by the Ministry of Education. Young priests undergo training at these pirivenas prior to their Ordination.

The temple

The temple consists mainly of a Stupa, image house, Bodhi Tree, bell tower, preaching hall, library and Bhikku dwellings. The old library building of the Vihara was conserved in 2010 by the archaeological department. [1] The Dhamma discourse hall is built in the middle of the grounds of the Vihara and its canopy is decorated with old floral diagrams and other various designs.

Stupa mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the ashes of Buddhist monks, used by Buddhists as a place of meditation

A stupa is a mound-like or hemispherical structure containing relics that is used as a place of meditation. A related architectural term is a chaitya, which is a prayer hall or temple containing a stupa.

Bodhi Tree Sacred fig tree under which Buddha is said to have achieved enlightenment

The Bodhi Tree, also known as Bo, "peepal tree", or "arasa maram" (Tamil:அரசமரம்)(Devanagari: पीपल क पेड़), was a large and ancient sacred fig tree located in Bodh Gaya, Bihar, India, under which Siddhartha Gautama, the spiritual teacher who became known as the Buddha, is said to have attained enlightenment or Bodhi. In religious iconography, the Bodhi Tree is recognizable by its heart-shaped leaves, which are usually prominently displayed.

Department of Archaeology (Sri Lanka)


The Department of Archaeology is a non-ministerial government department in Sri Lanka responsible for managing the archaeological heritage.

Related Research Articles

Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara

The Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara or Kelaniya Temple is a Buddhist temple in Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, seven miles from Colombo. The Chief Incumbent is Venerable Professor Kollupitiye Mahinda Sangharakkhitha Thera.

Embekka Devalaya

Embekka Devalaya was built by the King Vikramabahu III of Gampola Era in Sri Lanka. The devalaya is dedicated to the worship of Mahasen, popularly known as Kataragama deviyo. A local deity called Devatha Bandara is also worshiped at this site. The shrine consists of three sections, the "Sanctum of Garagha", the "Digge" or "Dancing Hall" and the "Hevisi Mandapaya" or the "Drummers' Hall". The Drummers' Hall that has drawn the attention of visitors to the site, due to the splendid wood carvings of its ornate pillars and its high pitched roof.

Udugampola Town in Gampaha District, Sri Lanka

Udugampola is a small town in the Gampaha District of Sri Lanka and was a sub kingdom during reign of the King Sakala Kala Wallabha of Kotte Era. The main point in the area is around the intersection of Gampaha-Minuwangoda and Kotugoda-Naiwala roads.

Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya

Bellanwila Rajamaha Viharaya is a Buddhist temple situated in Bellanwila, Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Located around 12 km south to the Colombo city, near Dehiwala - Maharagama road, the temple attracts hundreds of devotees daily and is famous for its annual Esala Perehera festival which usually takes place in the month of August or September. One of the most venerated Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka, many devotees flock to worship the sacred Bo tree of Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara, which is considered to be one of the first offshoots of Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. The present chief incumbent of Bellanwila Rajamaha Vihara is Ven. Bellanwila Dhammaratana Nayaka Thera.

Gokanna Vihara

Gokanna Viharaya was an ancient Buddhist temple located in Trincomalee in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. The temple lies in the premises of Fort Fredrick close to the fort entrance.

Dewalapola town in Western Province, Sri Lanka

Dewalapola is a small rural area in Minuwangoda Divisional Secretariate of Gampaha District, Western Province, Sri Lanka. It is situated on the 245/1 Nittambuwa - Katunayake / Airport bus route between Veyangoda and Minuwangoda.

Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara

Mulkirigala Raja Maha Vihara is an ancient Buddhist temple in Mulkirigala, Sri Lanka. It has been built on a 205 m (673 ft) high natural rock, surrounded with another four rocks known as Benagala, Kondagala, Bisogala and Seelawathiegala. The temple site is located about 2 km (1.2 mi) from the Mulkirigala junction and can be reached from either Dikwella or Tangalle towns. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 8 April 1988 under the government Gazette number 501.

Kadurugoda Vihara

Kadurugoda Viharaya is an ancient Buddhist temple situated in Chunnakam, Jaffna District, Sri Lanka. The temple is located in a small hamlet called Kandarodai and it is one of the few Buddhist temples remaining in Jaffna today. Currently this temple has been declared as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka and is maintained by the Sri Lankan army.

Aluthepola Ganekanda Raja Maha Vihara

Aluthepola Ganekanda Raja Maha Vihara is an old Buddhist temple in Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka. According to the regional folklore this temple is believed to be one of places where King Valagamba spent his time when five Dravidian were ruling Anuradhapura. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 22 November 2002 under the government Gazette number 1264.

Maligatenna Raja Maha Vihara

Maligatenna Raja Maha Vihara is an ancient Cave temple which is located in Malwatuhiripitiya village, Gampaha District, Sri Lanka. The temple is located on the Gampaha - Wathurugama Road and approximately 1.6 km (0.99 mi) away from the ancient temple Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Vihara.

Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Vihara

Pilikuththuwa Raja Maha Vihara is an ancient Cave temple situated in Pilikuththuwa, Sri Lanka. It is located on the Gampaha - Wathurugama road approximately 3.8 km (2.4 mi) away from the Miriswatta junction and 1.6 km (0.99 mi) from the ancient Buddhist temple, Maligatenna Raja Maha Vihara. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka.

Gonagolla Vihara

Gonagolla Vihara is an ancient Cave temple situated in Ampara District, Sri Lanka. The Vihara is also known as punchi Seegiriya by the locals since the temple contain ancient frescoes similar to Sigiriya. The site is in Kotmale Canal Settlement in Wewagampattuwa Division and lies about 4.8 km (3.0 mi) east of Kohombana Junction on Ampara – Gonagolla Road. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 10 October 2014 under the government Gazette number 1884.

Koskandawala Raja Maha Vihara

Koskandawala Sri Sunandarama Piriven Raja Maha Vihara is an old Buddhist temple in Koskandawala, Sri Lanka. The temple is located on Yakkala – Radawana road approximately 2.66 km away from Yakkala town. The temple has been formally recognized by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka.

Pathaha Pokuna

Pathaha Pokuna is an ancient bathing tank or pool situated in Udugampola, Sri Lanka. It is located approximately 0.45 km (0.28 mi) from Udugampola Roundabout and close to the historic temple Uththararama Purana Vihara. The pond has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological protected monument in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 8 July 2005 under the government Gazette number 1401.

Uththararama Purana Vihara, Udugampola

Uththararama Purana Vihara is a historic Buddhist temple situated at Udugampola in the Western province, Sri Lanka. The temple is located on Udugampola – Weediyawatta junction road approximately 0.5 km (0.31 mi) away from the Udugampola Roundabout. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 7 July 2005 under the government Gazette number 1401.

Kshetrarama Maha Vihara

Kshetrarama Maha Vihara is a historic Buddhist temple situated in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. It is located in the Lakshapathiya area, approximately 1.2 km (0.75 mi) from Katubedda junction on Colombo-Galle main road (A2). The temple has been formally recognized by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka.

Panasawanarama Purana Vihara

Panasawanarama Purana Vihara is a Buddhist temple in Kospillewa, Sri Lanka. The temple is located on Udugampola – Divulapitiya road approximately 2 km (1.2 mi) away from Udugampola town. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 22 November 2002 under the government Gazette number 1264.

Uththara Jayamaha Vihara

Uththara Jayamaha Vihara is an ancient Buddhist temple in Hingurana, Sri Lanka. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 26 December 2014 under the government Gazette number 1895.

Tempita Vihara

Tempita Vihara is an unique type of image house found in some Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. Have an inimitable architecture design, Tempita Viharas were popular aspect of many Buddhist temples during the 17th-19th centuries. Construction of Tempita Vihara in or after the 20 century has been not recorded. There are more than two hundred Tempita Viharas have been identified in Sri Lanka to date. Most of the shrines are found in North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Western provinces.

Dodanthale Raja Maha Vihara

Dodanthale Raja Maha Vihara is an historic Buddhist temple situated in Mawanella, Kegalle District, Sri Lanka. The temple is located about 4 km (2.5 mi) away from the Mawanella town. The temple has been formally recognised by the Government as an archaeological site in Sri Lanka. The designation was declared on 10 November 1978 under the government Gazette number 10.

References