Gadaladeniya Vihara

The history of the temple goes back to the 14th century. According to historical reports this temple was built in 1344, under the patronage of King Bhuvanekabahu IV, who reigned from 1341 to 1351 A. D.,[1] by the Ven. Seelavamsa Dharmakirti.[2] The architecture of the temple was designed following Hindu artistic styles by, Ganesvarachari, a South Indian architect.[3] On the rock outcrop, upon which the temple stands, is a carved inscription regarding the temple's construction.[2] The temple was constructed in the Dravidian architectural style[4] incorporating Sinhalese architecture from the Polonnaruwa era and other Indo Chinese architectural patterns.[5]

Celebrated scholarly monks who have resided at the temple include Sangharaja Dharmakirti II, the author of the Sangharaja-Nikāya (14-15th century)[6] and Vimalakirti I.[2]

The temple was abandoned until King Vira Parakrama Narendra Sinha (1707-1739) handed over it to Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thero,[7] whose pupils have looked after the temple ever since.[8]

^ "Gadaladeniya Viharaya". kandycity.org. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2016. ^ a b c Seneviratna, Anuradha; Polk, Benjamin (1992). Buddhist Monastic Architecture in Sri Lanka: The Woodland Shrines. Abhinav Publications. p. 82. ISBN 9788170172819. ^ "Gadaladeniya – The temple of many names". tourslanka.com. Retrieved 2 November 2016. ^ Holt, John Clifford (2008). The Buddhist Viṣṇu: Religious Transformation, Politics, and Culture. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 379. ISBN 9788120832695. ^ Bandaranayake, Senake D. (1974). Sinhalese Monastic Architecture: The Viháras of Anuradhapura. Brill Publishers. pp. 371–372. ISBN 9789004039926. ^ Evers, Hans Dieter (1972). Monks, Priests and Peasants: A Study of Buddhism and Social Structure in Central Ceylon. Brill Publishers. p. 10. ^ "Gadaladenyia Temple". tour.lk. Retrieved 2 November 2016. ^ "Gadaladeniya Rajamaha Viharaya – ගඩලාදෙනිය රජමහා විහාරය". amazinglanka.com. Retrieved 2 November 2016.