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Discover Sri Lanka with Charnika Munasinghe

The view of the temple from the steps leading to the inner sanctum

A number of prominent Buddhist temples in Colombo have been featured in these columns, each with a history that's almost a century long. But, of the front line temples in Colombo, it is the Kuppiawatte Jayasekararama that earns the distinction of being the oldest. 179 years to be exact. Many Buddhists flock to this temple well-known for its neat, quiet and simple presence almost tucked away from the main road, Maradana. The mention of the name Maradana is sufficient reason for anyone to know why this place of tranquillity would be tucked away!

It is not difficult to get to the Kuppiawatte Jayesekerarama. When travelling from the Borella junction you go along the Maradana road and turn left to a by-road namely Ananda Mawatha, which is alongside the Ananda College. A few metres down this road you will arrive at Temple road along which the Jayasekerarama Temple is situated.

Every temple has its own character and outstanding feature, be it the 'Buddha statues' the 'Dagobas' the 'Dana Salawa' or architecture. The 'Kuppiawatte temple', as it is more popularly known by some, it has many features to be proud of. But what strikes you first is its cleanliness and orderliness that is evident from the entrance. The grounds are beautifully swept and the buildings are well maintained and clean. It is so well kept that it appears as though it has jsut got a fresh coat of paint. The temple by appearance hence looks very new, and so makes it even harder for one to believe that it is in fact 179 years old.

The soothing sound of the Bo-leaves fluttering in the breeze, beckons you in to the temple. When you climb up the steps, the half walls on either side of the steps with a row of neatly sculptured elephant heads greet you. The shrine room adorned with elegant sculpture working grey on an off-white exterior wall. The simple single colour art work on the exterior walls of the shrine room is captivating. And when you enter the room, more creativity in full colour in the from of paintings and sculptures are in store, but they are all very simple and pleasing to the eye.

I met the Chief Incumbent of the Jayasekerarama temple Ven. Thalwatte Mahinda Thera. With much appreciation of the series of articles on religious sites, he happily related the interesting story of how the temple came to be named as 'Kuppiawatte Jayasekerarama' but also its history.

According to him the Chief Mudliyar Arnold de Abrew Rajapakse Wijayasekera owned a large extent of property around the area, which was referred to as Rajapakse Walauwa. Milk was supplied to the Walauwa by "Kuppia', a Muslim man. To deliver the milk, 'Kuppia' had to travel daily from quite a distance where his cattle were kept. Consequently he was regularly late. One day the Mudliyar's wife inquired as to why it was delayed. Kuppia, moaned that it was because he had to travel a long distance to get to the Waluwa and pointed out that had he got a property close by, he would deliver the milk in no time. As a solution to this problem, the Mudliyar gave one of his properties to Kuppia to operate his business so that the milk would be delivered to the Walauwa on time.

Once Kuppia established himself in the area, the village became known as Kuppiawatte, explained the Chief Incumbent. So much for my "Kuppi lampu" theory.

Tragedy

The Mudliyar inherited much wealth and property and achieved a prestigious position in the social circles as one of the leading Ceyloness men under the British administration. But personal happiness was to be robbed off him cruelly when on March 8, 1823, his beloved wife, Don Mariyade de Silva Siriwardena died while giving birth to his first child.

Devastated at the turn of events, he turned to his faith. He also wanted to fulfil a wish of his wife who wanted one of their lands donated to build a temple. This was a time when the country, under the British, did not allow transactions that involved donations of land to build temples. The Mudliyar was supervisor of a land area for the British and was able to persuade them to grant him permission to proceed with the donation.

He fulfilled his wife's wish on March 25, 1823 by donating two-and-a-half acres of land to Ven. Delduwe Dhamma Rakhithe Thera. This eminent priest, well-known at the time of the propagation of the Dhamma commenced the setting up of the temple named Jayasekerarama. The temple was named after Mudliyar Wijayasekera. The "Wi" part was dropped and thus the "Jayasekera" part was used for the temple name that became Jayasekeraramaya informed Ven. Mahinda Thera.

Thereafter other relatives of the Rajapakse family got involved in the temple's development work. The Chaitya was donated by Louisa Moraya Johanna de Soysa Seneviratne Siriwardena of the Norman Rajapakse Walauwa. The Shrine Room built at the time was donated by Thomas Mendis Siriwardena and Abraham de Livera Appuhami. The new Shrine Room work was funded by Mudliyar Ardris Mendis Wickremasinghe Senanayake and J.P. Mendis, Alexandra de Abrew Abeysinghe and H.E. De Silva.

The original Seema Malake was built out of wood. This was disintegrating and a new one was needed. On 1966 May 25, the new Seema Malake was of the temple was established. Incidentally this was the same day the present Chief Incumbent was ordained as a priest at the temple. 'I was ordained in the morning and the Seema Malake function was in the evening', he recalled.

Over the years the temple was to see five Chief Priests who continued to develop and maintain this spot of land. After the demise of Ven. Delduwe Dhamma Raktitha Thera, Ven. Lankagoda Deerangoda Thera took over. The priests who followed as Chief Incumbents include Ven. Kalalle Ihelewela Sri Seewaka Thera, Ven. Kalalle Ihalawela Sri Dhamma Rakitha Thera, Ven. Thallale Dherananda Thera and Ven. Thalalle Sri Dhammananda Thera. The Ven. Thalalle Mahinda Thera (present Chief Incumbent) took over in 1997, and he is assisted by Ven. Rajawatte Wappa Thera and Ven. Mapalane Shantha Thera.

The Kuppiawatte Jayasekerarama Temple's simple elegant physical features are exceptional and its interior is a haven for those who seek solitude, peace and tranquillity within its sanctuary. You will always see an 'Upasikawo' or a 'Silmeniyo' meditating at the temple. The surroundings help them to fulfil their aspirations to the full. Once you have visited the temple there's no doubt that you too would want to visit again.

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