Korathota Raja Maha Vihara

A place of historic significance right here in Colombo

Did you read our last Heritage Splendour page? In it, we featured an ancient and one of the greatest martial arts in Sri Lanka, Angam Pora. If you read that article, you may remember us mentioning the venue of that Angam Pora Kala Eli Mangalya - the Korathota Raja Maha Vihara in Kaduwela. It's a place with historical significance and value.

The history of the Korathota Temple dates back to 2,000 years. It had acquired an importance in the war times which occurred during the reign of King Seetawaka Rajasinghe (1581-1592). The temple is located on the top of a mountain next to the Balungala Rock in Kaduwela.

Some of the major attractions of the place are historical caves and cave inscriptions, dome-shaped dagobas (pagoda), two shrines dedicated to God Vishnu and Goddess Paththini and Seevalee Asapuwa dedicated to Ven. Seevali, one of the greatest disciples of Buddha.

The Korathota Raja Maha Vihara is believed to have the two oldest cave inscriptions in the Colombo district. Signs of an ancient civilization dating back to around the 6th century B.C. have been found from the premises, along the banks of the Kelani River.

It is said that after the arrival of Prince Vijaya in the island of Ceylon, his associates had moved through the Western Province, setting up villages along the fertile river lands.

During the reign of King Devanampiyatissa, Buddhism spread throughout the country, in every village. Stone inscriptions dating back to this period (3B.C.- 1 A.D.) have been discovered in the Western Province; at temples in Pilikuttuwa, Warana and Medabowita as well as in Korathota in the Colombo district.

According to these inscriptions, settlement reports and the remnants of pottery, coins and such that have been unearthed, the civilization of the area can be dated to the early Anuradhapura period.

During this time, the Western Province had been a part of the kingdom of Kelani, under the reign of King Kelanitissa, father of Viharamaha Devi. When the country was united under the rule of King Dutugemunu, it became a part of the Anuradhapura kingdom.

Besides the historic cave inscriptions, the six caves, which show signs of having been a residence for monks of these days, are also important. Five of these naturally formed caves can be seen high up on the rock that bounds the temple premises. All these caves have the 'kataram' carving, an arrangement built to prevent water dripping into the caves. This was a characteristic of every cave in ancient times.

The largest cave, which measures 25 metres in length, 15 metres in width and 18 metres in height, houses a temple, constructed more recently. It contains a large statue of a reclining Buddha, five large standing Buddha statues and two smaller ones. These statues have been reconstructed after the Kandy period.

The cave temple must have existed during the Kandy period as well, but no signs of the Kandy era are seen here. The characteristics of the statues belong to a later period. To the right of the large cave temple is a smaller cave with an old chetiya in front.

There is another cave to the right of the cave temple which is 16 metres long, 10 metres wide and 22 metres high. Now it is used as a 'Pattini Devale'. Below the kataram carving on the roof overhang of the cave, carved into the rock, are two rows of letters, which are said to belong to the pre-Brahmin period.

The inscription dating back to 3B.C.-1 A.D. refers to a king although no name is mentioned. Research carried out by Prof. Senerath Paranavitana indicates that this king may have been Mahachulika Mahatissa.

To the left of this cave is a smaller cave, 12 feet long, 8 feet wide and 18 feet high. The rocky overhang of this cave also has an inscription dated to the same period of the above, carved on the rock. In this inscription too, a king is being referred to, but his name is not mentioned. Ellawela Medhananda Thera believes it to be King Walagamba, while Prof. Paranavitana's belief was that it was Mahachulika Mahatissa.

These two inscriptions are very important factors in determining the government, economic, social and religious backgrounds which existed in the country during the relevant period. They are also the oldest inscriptions found from the Colombo District.

The site is also known to contain a tunnel leading to the Kelaniya temple. According to the resident Thera of the temple, a gold plate could be found in the middle of this tunnel. It's said that some people, who were greedy for gold, went in search of it, but never returned. It's believed that they must have perished due to the lack of Oxygen inside the tunnel. So, now, the tunnel is sealed.

The Korathota Temple is one of the most beautiful and important temples in the Colombo district. The authorities as well as the public should take all possible measures to protect this site.

Janani Amarasekara