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Added by Jopie, at 08 December 2016
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4 Reviews
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05 May 2018
The Maligawila temple had been known in the past as Ariyakara. The villagers believe that the name was changed to Maligawila on account of the great palace and lakes in the area. The Maligawila temple is spread on 250 acres of land.
The history of Maligawila runs back to the 7 th century and 8 th century A.D. Historically, the statue here had been built by King Dappula.
There are many theories about the height of the Maligawila statue. It is 54 feet and 110 tons in size. There is evidence that the statue had been made in another place, and transported here. This is the only temple that has been built without any supports, and is an important Thereada Buddhist statue
When travelling about a kilometer on the road near the Maligawila statue, the Dabegoda Bodhisatva statue is seen. This area was known as Kana grama in the past, referring to the healing of eye diseases.
The dabegoda Statue is an Apa Loketheesvara statue. This statue, with Mahayana influence, shows evidence of a seven storied building built around it. The two eyes of the statue depict the sun and moon. According to folklore, gems were placed in the eyes in the past.
This area was known as Dewala kanda in the past, and had been dilapidated for some time, and reconstructed in the 1990’s.response / report this review -
10 March 2018
Maligawila is in the Buttala Divisional Secretariat Division of the Moneragala District. It could be reached by trversing 8 miles along the right turnoff from the Kumbukkana Junction at the 154 mile post on the Colombo-Moneragala road. Maligawila comprises the ruins of an Image House and a Monastic Complex in an area of 400 acres. Archeologists believe that Maligawila is the Ariyakara Vihara mentioned in the chronicles. According to the chronicle Culavamsa King Aggabodhi who reigned from 667-683 A.D. had constructed a hospital for the blind and the sick at this place.
The ruined Image House could have been constructed with a vaulted stone roof, which may have had a perambulatory passage as evidenced from the findings.
The 37 feet 10 inches tall standing Buddha statue which belongs to the 7th -8th c A.D. is in the Samabhanga posture and displays the Abhaya Mudra. The moonstone at the entrance to the Image House is a unique creation.response / report this review -
19 April 2017
A place with lot of ruins.
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15 December 2016
Maligavila Vihara is also identified as Padma Vihara.
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