Kelaniya Temple (PART ONE)

*Kelaniya Temple - One of the Ancient Buddhist Temples in Sri Lanka-

Historically, Kelaniya is older than the great cites of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. When Lord Buddha first visited Mahiyanganaya, Sri Lanka , after the 9th month of the Enlightenment, Maniakkitha, the Naga King of Kelaniya was one of the kings who has come there to pay homage, the Mahawamsa states.

It is described in the chronicles that the ancient Stupa first built at Kelaniya enshrined a gem-studded throne on which the Buddha preached the sermons to the Maniakkitha, the Naga king, on whose invitation the Buddha had visited.

in 1769 AD , the temple was reconstructed by the patronage of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe. There are paintings belonging to Kandyan period , showing Jathaka stories .There is a large gold plated reclining Buddha Image in the Image house.

*The Sthupa at Kelaniya Temple-

The Kelaniya stupa is about 90 feet high and has a diameter of 98 feet at the base. This is the most well known paddy heap shaped stupas in Sri Lanka. Embedded inside the Stupa is the gem studded chair or the carpet that Lord Buddha made the sermons sitting on , to Chulodara and Mahodara Naga Kings and the followers during the Third visit of the Lord Buddha. This Dageba had been renovated several times by kings Uttiya,Yatalatissa and the Parakramabahu IX. 

 *Awalokitheshwara Bodhisathwa Statue, Kelaniya Temple-

  

* Naga guardian figure - One of wall paintings at the Aluth Vihara ge or the New Image House at Kelaniya Temple-

 

*Kelaniya Temple building-

**Some other images i took at the Kelaniya Temple-