Thanthirimale Rajamaha Viharaya

Thanthirimale

Thanthirimale is one of the ancient settlement.Some factors had found about that there were settlements in this region before Mahinda thero’s arriving.Religious creations,irrigation systems, carvings, and architectural creations, inscriptions paintings and other things people used, were spread from starting to ending Anuradhapura era.According to ancient resources and folklore there were productive settlements from here to northwest beach.On the declension of Anuradhapura kingdom These villages had dark era. From 1960 villages and temple are developed. villagers by temple.81 small lakes are reconstructed and now nearly 2700 familieve lived there.

Location

It is situated in Mahavillachchi regional secretariat.Demattamalgama,Nelumvila Sadamaleliya,Tuppitiyawa,Nawodagama,Maha ahatuwewa,Oyamaduwa are some of other villages.This ancient land limited to north and east to Malwathu oya andwest to Wilpaththu national forest and south to Mahavillachchiya main road.

On the way Anuradhapura – Mahavillachchiya passing 18 kms and turn to south side.go ahead on Sri Wimalaghana road nearly 18 km.You can reach Thanthirimale Raja Maha Viharaya.

Development Of Name

In the time period of king Devanampiyathissa this region called as ‘’ Thivakka Bamunugama”.The sacred Sri maha bodhi had brought to Anuradhapura in Devanampiyathissa time period.These Perahera was settle down this village a day.Prince Wijaya came to Srilanka and he appointed Anuradhapura as his kingdom.The ministers came with him were advised to built settlements in each regions.According to that Upathissa minister created “Upathissagama’’ in the place which ‘’maha oya’’ and ‘’ kanadara oya’’ meet.Today it is called as Thanthirimale. Prince Saliya and Ashokamala were lived there because they were deported due to unconventional marriage.King Dutugamunu gave them forgiveness. King donated a gold neckless shaped in thanthiri butterfly.

According to popular usage Thanthirimale was named as so the neckless was deeproted here.the sacred people accomadated place mountain was ‘’Thanthirimalei”.It was the tamil customery and it become thanthirimale.

The monks attached to trisect in Anuradhapura era and venerable Brahmins who live in Butanaya. Had lived here.It is caused to say thanthirimale.

Bodhi Rukshaya

Mahinda maha thero had brought Buddhism to srilanka and thereafter Sangamiththa theranee came here with Srimaha bodiya’s south branch.She started dispensation.It was dispensation to ‘’Dabakolapatuna’’ fort which situated in the middle of Jaffna and Mannar.King Devanampiyathissa went through water and accepted Bo tree to a goldbowl. It was brought to Anuradhapura by procession on the way chief of the Thivakka bamunugama and his colleagues warmly welcomed from here to ‘’malvatu oya’’.They arranged a beautiful and the heighest place on stone board to keep ‘’bodhiruka’’.They gave residence to people who were royal and sacred and gave offering hospitalities.

Arahath Mihidhu ,Arahath Sangamiththa, another eleven bikkunees and royal party with king Devanampiyathissa were included to sacred people in that night the bodhi climbed to sky and scattered rays of Buddha and show miracle.The day after day had brought to Anuradhapura and was planted eminently.Eight bo nascents were arisen in here.The chief and colleques represented all regions were at planting ceremony.Thiwakka brahma also took part ceremony.

According to determination of Lord Buddha and decision of mihidu thero brahma was given a one of nascent.He accepted warmly and brought it to thanthirimale on a large procession.Then built a circular bulwark at the stone board whrere Srimaha bodhi was kept in the day before and planted there.On this historical incident all people in these regions became Buddhist.They protected the bodhi as their lives.They worshipped on great faith.After that they built a stone wall for secure.Four flower boards in foursides were found in excavations done in near.Before starting creating images of Lord Buddha people worshipped sacred antiques were excavated.It is wonder, that various barriers like sunshine wind,rain, were came the ‘’bodhi rukka’’ is alive until today as a result of determination of Lord Buddha. All Buddhist in the world got many mental cure from it. Some are got meditate under boshade.

Samadhi Image

It is located to the south in high and circled rock.It’s height is eight feet.Both sides of image are ready to build images throwing keeping granites.It is stopped cutting staircase somewhat off.Underneath of image is uncompleted.It was made by excavating granite and a concave creation.The yak’s tailed gods were represented in both sides.Headress finished.Halo also had planned to creat.Behind the image there was a dragon pandol.It was bear by two lions.Dwarf pictures were used to decorate.There was a roof to secure from sunshine,wind and rain.Doar frames and posts in large doar was made by granite.It was consisted with boraclam.Excavations found that roof were installed with tiles.

It’s robe was started to made in end of Anuradhapura.It was fit at Polonnaruwa.On the attacks of robbers it couldn’t be ended .Soit might be created in Polonnaruwa.A large ancient informations could be get from image.But excavations by archiological department is not finished yet.

Recumbent Image

The recumbent image was pledged on the northern slope of the rock where bo tree was insisted.It carved in stone and raised the image.It’s robe was fit to body.It’s head located to the east and 45 feet in lengh.The ruins showed the image house was kept there.After depopulated treasure thieves destroyed.Excavation done in 1974, found that a large burns had been lighted to take treasure.Charcoal and firewood remained were proved that.Parts of hair,nose,ears,lips, cheeks were also fond.Archiologist department had tired to recreate image in1984 but until yet it.It had not happened .This image had features same to polonnaruwa image.

Library And Padanagaraya

Well designed quadrangular monument was located the top of the natural rock which situated near to beautiful lotus pond on the north side of rock.It was used as a library.Walls were tied together and kept a doar the roof had been made by granite.The characters belonged to ce 8^th century were written in every stones.There was a starecase made by wood or bricks.Valuable talipotbooks had been protected here

There was a beautiful cave in this rockbase.It was made by digging inside the rock.The roaf had used and doarframes designed by cauldron.In front of the cave a building called Padanagaraya which used toget meritate and it’s ruins were found.Here and there twell buildings ruins were invented.Rock was nearly 250 acres. All these were used for residence or centres of meritating.

Caves And Pre Historical Paintings

There were five various caves in this place.These all were designed cauldron and monks were lived here.Pre historical paints were in largest cave.In primary time period wedhi people lived in caves and hunting animals.In the leisure time they drew various images on the wall .Therefore ashes after mixing.

They drew animals,sun,moon stars,bows and arrows.Fast peoples details were found in these historical paintings.According to Mr. Senarath Paranavitharana these images had been old 4000 years.When anyone go from library to east and go through the forest this cave was met.There could be gathered 150 people.Another two caves were near it.It was a beautiful and natural situation.Then few steps to east and passing small pond and climb the rock there could be seen four villages Thanthirimale.And also could see northern plain expand to mannar and Jaffna region.

Inscriptions

Inscriptions can be seen in each of the era in caves.Stone boards,Library, bo courtyard,Ponds and also important inscriptions which owns to ce 8^th century was here.There were consist pre brahmee characters.It was noticed that various offerings for monks.

Cairn And Shrine

In 1980 the temple was found and developed.But there was no tope here.After knowing, company of Premadasa Colombo, Mr and Mrs Premadasa had built bell tower.After the death of Mr Premadasa, Mrs Premadasa and children had built cairn and worshipped. in 1976 it’s pinnacle was adorned.Ananda Premadasa the son of the them started to built shrine.