Kelyaniya Raja Maha Vihara (S)

At a Glance

At this site, the Naga King Maniakkika returned to his home in Kelaniya with a jewel-studded throne the Buddha had gifted to him in Nagadipa. The king kindly constructed a stupa to encapsulate this throne, ensuring its blessing would remain for many years to come. The Buddha himself would later visit this site.

The Story

The original stupa at Kelaniya enshrined a gem-studded throne which had been the object of dispute between two Naga Kings, Chulodara and Mahodara. After hearing the Buddha teach, the Naga kings paid homage to the Buddha with overwhelming faith. The Naga King Maniakkika, the then ruler of Kelaniya, was also present at Budhdha's Dharma sermons and pleaded for a support to worship. So the Buddha bestowed the jeweled throne as a suitable offering support. 

In the afternoon, the Buddha moved toward the interior of the island and once again entered meditation on the Brahmaviharas, or the Four Immeasurables. In the evening, he addressed the nagas saying, 

Here we see an instance of the Buddha himself designating a specific focus of devotion, objects, or places marked by his presence. These sacred reminders are classified in later Theravada Buddhist texts as one of three types of relics, known as paribhoga, or relics of use or enjoyment. Often these include locations that are so designated because the Buddha remained in samadhi there, “using” the location and thereby imprinting it with his blessings.

King Maniakkika constructed a stupa to enshrine the gem-studded throne in Kelyaniya for the benefit of thousands of devotees to worship. He also again entreated the Budhdha to visit the holy site. According to the Mahavamsa, on his third and final visit of the Buddha eight years after his awakening, on Wesak Poya Day the Buddha turned the Dharma wheel at this location. 

According to the text, “The sins of a life time are all rendered null, Once Kelaniya is worshiped a single time.”

How To Get There

The Kelani Raja Maha Viharaya, also known as the Kalaniya Temple, is located in the district of Gampaha about 11 kilometers from the capital city of Colombo. Please keep in mind that the distance is not far, but the Colombo traffic can be very heavy and it may take more than one hour to travel to the site.

BY ROAD

It is possible to hire taxis, cars with guides, or tuk-tuks (ubiquitous in Sri Lanka) to travel from Colombo or the popular tourist area of Negombo (near the international airport). Tuk-tuks can be hired by using UBER-Tuk. 

While At the Main Site (MAP LOCation)

The temple was destroyed and rebuilt many times during its long history. In the middle of the fifteenth century known as the Kotte period, the fame of Kelyaniya Viharaya as a seat of Theravada Buddhism reached its peak. During that time, King Ramadipathi of Burma sent a bikkhu mission to Sri Lanka, seeking assistance from the Sinhala kings to reinstitute the Theravada ordination in his country, which had become extinct in Burma due to conflict and disorders. A mission of 45 Burmese arrived in Sri Lanka, to receive the bhikkhu ordination on barges staged outside the temple on the Kelani river. When they returned to Burma, King Ramadipathi celebrated by building a chapter house named Kelani Sima. He recorded the history of this mission on slabs of marble, preserved to this day and known in Burma as the Kelani Inscription.

Offering at the Site

Pilgrims can purchase flowers for offerings from the many shops outside the temple complex. Platforms for offerings are available around the main temple. You can also purchase coconut oil, wicks and matches to offer inside the designated area for butter lamps. The shops also stock incense which can be offered at the large designated incense burners around the temple. There are opportunities to make food and robe offerings for the sangha as well. 

All Sri Lankan sites are busiest on weekends and on full moon days. You will see groups of devotees dressed in white. They often spread mats on the sand or stone pathways surrounding the site and chant suttas and prayers. The customary prostration or show of respect to the 3 Jewels in Sri Lanka is a simple anjali mudra at the heart and a short head bow. 

Sculptures and Paintings

After a 20th century restoration, the temple complex became renowned for its image of the reclining Buddha. The site also features paintings by the native artist Solias Mendis depicting important events in the life of the Buddha, in the history of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, as well as incidents from the Jataka tales. 

The Duruthu Festival

Every January a commemorative procession known as the Duruthu Perahera concludes a month-long religious festival annually held at the Kelyaniya temple to commemorate the Buddha’s first visit to Sri Lanka in the month of Duruthu or January. On this occasion, thousands of people from all parts of the country, and hundreds of foreign tourists visit the temple to witness this spectacular pageant. The Duruthu Festival begins with a series of sermons (Dharma Desana) held each night, followed by a week’s pirith-chanting ceremony (Paritrana Desana). This ritual culminates in the famous procession, the Perahera, where relics of the Buddha are cermoniosuly paraded atop lavishly decorated elephants and accompanied by music and chanting.

Avalokitesvara Statue

Mahayana Buddhists also make offerings and dedicate their prayers at an 18-foot stone statue of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara at the temple.