The beautiful murals of Gothami Vihara

Last week, in our ‘News and Views’ page, we brought you a news item about giving a face-lift to the murals at Gothami Vihara.

Can you remember that? Those who like murals and temples must have wanted to know more details about this Gothami Vihara and its world-famous murals. So to fulfil their wish, we paid a visit to the Gothami Vihara in Borella.

Prince Siddhartha meditating at the Vap magul ceremony

Birth of Rahula

This temple is situated at Gothami Road, off Cotta Road, in a calm and quiet neighbourhood. As soon as you enter the temple, you would forget that you are just a few minutes away from a busy town.

According to Ven. Thelwatte Nagitha Thera, the chief monk of this temple, it was built by Apolonia de Soysa Peiris, mother of Sir James Peiris, in the early 19th Century.

If it was not for the world-famous murals, this would have been just another temple in Sri Lanka. Most murals at the temple have been painted by George Keyt, a world-famous painter. Keyt was one of the best painters in the world, and the best artist in Sri Lanka. He was assisted by Manju Sri, whose paintings of stylised art adorn the entrance of the temple.

Manju Sri was a priest-turned-artist and was also a Magsay say award winner. The imposingly carved door made of sandalwood leads to the shrine; outside are the murals. Most of the earlier outside paintings had been done by the painters who did the inside paintings.

However, Andrew Bayd, a famous architect, redesigned the temple walls to help George Keyt draw the murals. Keyt first did the line drawings on the whitewashed walls in dark brown.

It is said that he drew all the pictures without any prior practice. Since this was a new style, many praised his creativity and ability.

Later, Ven. Thelwatte Amarawansa Thera wanted these dark brown murals to be coloured. Then by using a method known as ‘burnt Sienna’ all the murals were coloured.

These murals can be identified as an example of another era in mural paintings. George Keyt had started painting these murals in 1939, and managed to complete them within an year.Inviting the Gods, the dream of Queen Mahamaya, wedding of Siddhartha, Birth of Rahula and the Buddha’s first sermon are some of the themes used in these murals.

The speciality of the Gothami Vihara murals is that they depict the life story of the Buddha, whereas, in other temples, almost all murals are based on Jathaka stories or stories about hell. Another special feature of these, is that almost all murals are painted below eye level.

Keyt also links the drawings from one to another so that the viewers have the ability of enjoying the murals as if he/she is reading a story through them. The Buddha visiting Kimbulvathpura, his first sermon and the great Passing Away are the main and biggest murals here.

The Gothami Vihara murals are one of the most important heritage treasures we have in Sri Lanka. This is the only place where we can find 3-D (three-dimensional) like murals in Sri Lanka.

After being subjected to the threat of destruction of the murals, now action is being taken to conserve this important heritage site.

- Janani Amarasekara