"Dambulla cave temple"

Dambulla cave temple (Tamil: Tampuḷḷai Poṟkōvil Sinhalese: Dam̆būlū Len Vihāraya, ) also known as the Golden Temple of Dambulla is a World Heritage Site "1991" in Sri Lanka, situated in the central part of the country. This site is situated 148 kilometers east of Colombo and 72 kilometers north of kandy.

 There are a total of 153 Buddha statues, three statues of Sri Lankan kings and four statues of gods and goddesses. The latter include Vishnu and the Ganesha. The murals cover an area of  23,000 sq ft ( 2,100 square meters) . Depictions on the walls of the caves include the temptation by the demon Mara, and Buddha's first sermon.

Prehistoric Sri Lankans would have lived in these cave complexes before the arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka as there are burial sites with human skeletons about 2700 years old in this area, at Ibbankatuwa near the Dambulla cave complexes.

 It is the largest and best-preserved cave temple complex in Sri Lanka. The rock towers 160 m over the surrounding plains.There are more than 80 documented caves in the surrounding area. Major attractions are spread over five caves, which contain statues and paintings. These paintings and statues are related to Gautama Buddha and his life.

                                                          Dambulla cave templehttps://heritagetemplesrilanka.blogspot.com

This temple complex dates back to the first century. It has five caves under a vast overhanging rock, carved with a drip line to keep the interiors dry.the Dambulla cave monastery is still functional and remains the best-preserved ancient edifice in Sri Lanka. This complex dates from the third and second centuries, when it was already established as one of the largest and most import monasteries.

Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara

                                         

                              Historical and Cultural

Kelaniya is a suburb of Colombo city in Western Province, Sri Lanka.Kelaniya "Kalyani" is mentioned in Ramayana and in the Buddhist chronicle,It is known for the Buddhist temple built on the banks of the Kelani River, which runs through the suburb. It is also a religious center for veneration of the figure Vibhishana. the Mahawansa which states that the Gautama Buddha "5th century BC" visited the place, after which the dageaba of the temple was built

                                          

Sri Lankan Buddhists believe that the Buddha visited Kelaniya in order to quell a quarrel between two Nāga leaders of two warring factions: Chulodara and Mahodara.They were quarrelling over a jewel-encrusted throne.

Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara has become famous because of the beautiful paintings and sculpture by Solias Mendis depicting various events in the history of Sri Lanka. Thousands of Buddhists come to see the Buddhist pageant of Kelaniya, popularly referred to as Duruthu Maha Perahera of Kelaniya in the month of January every year.

                                                 According to Ramayana, After King Ravana’s death, Vibeeshana was coroneted as King of Lanka by Lakshmana at Kelaniya. There are murals enshrined outside the Buddhist temple depicting the crowning of Vibeeshana.

 After the Buddha showed them the futility of their quarrel they converted to Buddhism and together offered the throne to the Buddha. It is believed that the Dageaba seen today was built with the throne as a relic inside.                                 

The reason Lakshmana crowned Vibeeshana, 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.

The Kelani River is mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana and Vibeeshana palace was said to be on the banks of this river. 

                            Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya

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.

 Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya