Situated
about six miles from Colombo, set within a sacred area of around
ten acres, the Kelani Vihara stands beside the Kelani river as evidence
of a Buddhist tradition in this country.
The
spot on which this vihara stands derived its sanctity in the Buddhist
era 2531, with the third visit of the Buddha to this country. He
hallowed this ground by His visit accompanied by 500 Arahants.
The fact that the Buddha visited the spot on a Wesak day on the
invitation of King Maniakkhika is given in the historic epics of
Sri Lanka.
The Naga King, according to these chronicles had invited the Buddha
to a repast at this spot which following the expounding of the Dhamma
was consecrated and on which the King had built a vehera wherein
the Buddha's hair and the utensils use at the repast together with
the seat on which the Buddha sat were buried.
However with the advent of time and the destruction of the vihara
by the foreign invaders has resulted in the original dageba being
lost today.
Kaleniya Vihara however, received its hallowed status and became
a place of Buddhist worship after venerable Mahinda brought the
Dhamma to this country. According to the Mahawansa King Devanampiyatissa's
brother Uttiya renovated the vihara for the first time. He is also
said to have built the first Quaters of the Monks (Sanghawasa) there.
Historical evidence shows that the Kelaniya Vihara was at its highest
glory during the Kotte Era. By the time the Portuguese conquered
the country considerable land had been donated by the kings to the
Kelaniya Vihara, and when in 1510 the Portuguese entered and destroyed
the secret temple. They had confiscated this land preventing Buddhists
from worshiping at the temple.
Restrictions placed on the development of Kelaniya were reduced
with the advent of the Dutch. They in 1767 perhaps in order to gain
King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha's good will permitted him to develop
Kelaniya Vihara. Thus the reconstruction of the Vihara was undertaken
by the then Chief incumbent Venerable Mapitigama Buddharakkhita.
He was provided with funds from the treasury. The King was so overjoyed
at the way the work was handled that further grants of lands had
been given to the vihara.
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