Kelaniya Buddhist Temple Sri Lanka

Kelaniya Temple is a sacred Buddhist temple dating to the time before chronologically recorded history of Sri Lanka. It is believed to be the place where lord Buddha visited Sri Lanka for the third time and the Mahawansa state this visit was due to an invitation from king Maniakkika and lord Buddha arrived in Kelaniya with 500 arhat theros. The initial temple is said to be built on the ground where lord Buddha preached dharma to people in Kelaniya, enshrining the jeweled seat lord Buddha sat on for the preaching (in 543 B.C).

This temple was later said to be renovated by Prince Uttiya, brother of King Devanampiyatissa following the arrival Arahat Mahinda in 307 B.C , which also included the first ever residential Qquarters of the Buddhist monks (Sanghawasa). The temple was destroyed frequently throughout the history by Dravidian attackers giving rise to the popular saying ‘if Kelaniya falls, the country falls’. Kelaniya temple was completely destroyed by the Portuguese in 1510, reconstructed by King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha in 1967 and the temple existing today was initiated in 1927 and completed in 1946 under the patronage of philanthropist Mrs. Helena Wijewardene.

How Kelaniya Buddhist Temple related to Ramayana Story of Sri Lanka ?

Even though Kelaniya is very important Buddhist Temple in Sri Lanka, there is a direct link between Ramayana tour Sri Lanka and Kelaniya Buddhist Temple. Ramayana states that after the death of King Ravana , King Vibhishana was crowned by Lakshmana . So Kelaniya is the place which had been ruled by Vibhishana. The reason Lakshmana crowned Vibhishana in Kelaniya was because Rama had to return to India as he had to continue his self-exile of 14 years to honour the commitment to his father, King Dasarath of Ayodhya. Therefore, Kelaniya Buddhist Temple also considered as important site of Ramayana tour of Sri Lanka. King Vibhishana was considered a fair king, as he supported Rama against his own brother’s injustice.

Many devotees that visit king Vibhishana ’s shrine pray to him asking his intervention to a fair recourse to their problems even today. The Kelani River is mentioned in the Ramayana by Valmiki as Vibhishana ’s palace was said to be on the banks of this river. King Vibhishana is still considered as one of the 4 guardian deities of Sri Lanka, there can be seen many temples for King Vibhishana god (Vibhishana Deviyo) throughout Lanka. It is a fact that there is no temple for King Ravana where as many exist for King Vibhishana . This goes on to prove that his stand towards Dharma and justice made him a god is Sri Lanka. Also Vibhishana is venerated by Sinhalese Buddhists as a God, they believe him to be one of the main protectors of the island, especially in its western territories. In the temple of Kelaniya a shrine of Vibhishana can be noticed even at the present. Murals of crowning of king Vibhishana is also there giving proof to the epic story of Ramayana and its importance in Sri Lanka.