Bentara Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara 

At a Glance

This temple houses the tooth relic of one of the Buddhist closest disciples, Maha Kassapa, at the Bentara Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara Chetiya in the town of Galapatha, Bentara. Like the Buddha's tooth relic, this was initially houses in Anuradhapura before being moved to its current location for safekeeping.

The tooth relic ( the canine tooth - 'Dantha Dhatu') of the Arahant Maha Kassapa Thera is revered to this day at Bentara Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara Chetiya. According to histories, it had fallen out while the Thera was still alive and the Maha Sangha at that time had venerably cared and protected it. Later it was brought to Sri Lanka during the Anuradhapura era and had been there for some time. Due to enemy invasions from it was brought for safe-keeping to the present temple at Galapatha, Bentara.

The Bentara Galapatha Raja Maha Vihara dates back to the time of King Dutugemunu. His brother King Saddhatissa (137- 119 BC) erected this temple and presented it to the sangha. During earlier times it was known as the Galaturumula Temple and many arhats lived neaerby. In the thirteenth century CE, King Parakramabahu the Second visited the temple and for three days, venerated the arhat’s tooth relic, holding meritorious festivals at the temple. 

King Parakramabahu II (1236-1270 AD) of Dambadeniya Kingdom then had the relic stupa of Maha Kassapa Thera erected and the relic enshrined inside. Previously, the precious relic was guarded at the nearby vihara. The current stupa underwent renovation about 250 years ago. Near the stupa terrace there is a huge stone slab used for offering flowers and oil lamp offerings. There is a beautiful moonstone at the temple entrance doorway leading from the stupa terrace. The temple contains an image hall dedicated to the Buddha with a large recumbent Buddha statue, a seated Buddha image and also a standing Buddha image. In addition, a miniature stupa enshrined with Buddha relics is also housed within this temple.

The Mahavamsa states that King Sri Nissanka Malla had planted coconut trees nearby and donated the coconut estate to the temple. King Parakramabahu II also established a coconut estate between Bentota river and Kalu Ganga river and donated it to the Sangha. Unfortunately, the temple suffered ruin and neglect for centuries due to invasions. Devaduwa Sri Saddhabinanda Thera, a pupil of the great Weliwita Asarana Sarana Saranankara Sangharaja Thera, re established the ruined relic stupa with the help of the nearby village people. The last major renovation work at the present vihara was completed in 1959.

Coordinates: 6.4178261,80.0250961