Athkanda Raja Maha Viharaya

 




Athkanda Raja Maha Viharaya also known as Ethkanda Viharaya is a Buddhist temple placed in Kurunegala city in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka. It is believed that this temple was built in the Dambadeniya era during the 14-15 centuries. The history of the establishment of Athkanda Viharaya is obscure. However, a name similar to this temple has been recorded in several country chronicles, including Mahavamsa, Sahassavattuppakaranaya, Saddharmalankaraya, Rasavahini, and Vamsattappakasini. According to the information given in Mahavamsa, it’s assumed that this temple may have been established during the reign of King Suratissa. This temple is believed to have received the royal patronage of prince Buvanekabahu and Bosath Vijayabahu at some stage in the Dambadeniya period. The Asgiri Thalpatha is famous because the Buddhist monks who had been touring Kandy in the arrangements made by King Parakramabahu IV (c.1305-1326 A.D.) had been accommodated at Athkanda Vihara in Kurunegala till the king’s officials were capable of taking them to Asgiri monastery at Senkadagala. Also, a few statistics referred to as Thalkola Seetu offer information about the temple and its in-charge monks during the 18-19th century A.D.






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