The Tempita building at Panduwasnuwara Raja Maha ViharaThe Tempita image house at Yatawatte Purana Vihara
Tempita Vihara (Sinhala: ටැම්පිට විහාර) is a unique type of image house found in some Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. With an inimitable architecture design, Tempita Viharas were a popular aspect of many Buddhist temples during the 17th to 19th centuries.[1] Construction of Tempita Viharas in or after the 20th century has been not recorded.[2] More than two hundred Tempita Viharas have been identified in Sri Lanka to date.[3] Most of the shrines are found in North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Western provinces.
Medawala Tempita Vihara in Kandy is considered the first accounted Tempita Vihara in Sri Lanka.[2] According to the Medawala copper plaque, it was a two-storied shrine during the 14th century and was renovated as a Tempita Vihara by Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747–1781) in 1755. Minuwangamuwa Tempita Vihara in Kegalle is believed to be the last Tempita Vihara in the island built on 2 May 1886.[2]
Beside the Buddhist temples, few Ambalamas and Devalayas have been identified in Sri Lanka as Tempita buildings. These structures are also built on raised stone pillars or rock boulders but have minor differences in its architecture design. Awariyawala Ambalama in Gampaha, Panawitiya Ambalama in Kurunegala and Halpe Pattini Devalaya in Ella are three examples of them.
^"මැදවල ටැම්පිට විහාරය". ICT Branch, Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
^ abc"ජනප්රිය කලාවෙන් උපන් ටැම්පිට විහාර". Divaina. Upali Newspapers. 21 October 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
^"President directs tampita vihara conservation". President's Media Division. Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
TempitaVihara (Sinhala: ටැම්පිට විහාර) is a unique type of image house found in some Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. With an inimitable architecture design...
some Tempita temples are about 6 feet from the ground. The best examples for that kind of TempitaVihara are Mawanella Dodamthale Rajamaha Vihara and Ambulugala...
2009. Bandaranayake, S. D. (1974). Sinhalese Monastic Architecture: The Viharas of Anuradhapura - Senake Bandaranayake - Google Books. ISBN 9004039929...
constructed with brick walls, granite window openings, and ceilings. The Gal vihara, Polonnaruwa and the cave temples of Dambulla were initially constructed...
built under the Chola occupation period in 10th century. The Lankatilaka Vihara, a 14th-century building influenced by Dravidian architecture, designed...
history is going back to the period of King Parakramabahu VI. The Tempita house of the Vihara is an archaeological protected monument which is believed to...
constructed with brick walls, granite window openings, and ceilings. The Gal vihara, Polonnaruwa and the cave temples of Dambulla were initially constructed...
Maligawa Pokuna Walauwa Religious Buddhist Viharaya Mahavihara Gal ViharaTempitaVihara List Pansala Dagoba/Stupas Devale Hindu temples Mosques Cathedrals...
structures in Polunnaruwa where also documented in 3D: Gal Vihara; Kiri Vihera; Lankatilaka Vihara and the Quadrangle (Hatadage; Atadage; Recumbent-house;...
Pothgul Vihara Lihinigiriya Polgahawela 7 December 2001 Ancient image house Ahugoda Purana Vihara Ahugoda Polgahawela 27 July 2001 The Stupa and Tempita Vihara...
Panduwasnuwara Raja Maha Vihara (Sinhalaː පඬුවස්නුවර රජ මහා විහාරය) is an ancient Buddhist temple situated in Panduwasnuwara, Kurunegala District, Sri...
2018. Bandaranayake, Senake (1974). Sinhalese Monastic Architecture: The Viharas of Anuradhapura. Brill. pp. 328–329. ISBN 9789004039926. Daniel, Shannine...
Maligawa Pokuna Walauwa Religious Buddhist Viharaya Mahavihara Gal ViharaTempitaVihara List Pansala Dagoba/Stupas Devale Hindu temples Mosques Cathedrals...
Maha Vihara Wewagama Harispattuwa 9 February 1973 Cave temple with paintings Bodhirukhkharama Vihara Siwurupitiya Hatharaliyadda 8 July 2005 Tempita vihara...
Maligawa Pokuna Walauwa Religious Buddhist Viharaya Mahavihara Gal ViharaTempitaVihara List Pansala Dagoba/Stupas Devale Hindu temples Mosques Cathedrals...
Maligawa Pokuna Walauwa Religious Buddhist Viharaya Mahavihara Gal ViharaTempitaVihara List Pansala Dagoba/Stupas Devale Hindu temples Mosques Cathedrals...
Katâraya (Sinhala: කටාරය) are a unique feature of monastic caves (guhā-vihāra) and cave temples in Sri Lanka. It refers to a drip line or ledge carved...
Maligawa Pokuna Walauwa Religious Buddhist Viharaya Mahavihara Gal ViharaTempitaVihara List Pansala Dagoba/Stupas Devale Hindu temples Mosques Cathedrals...
Maligawa Pokuna Walauwa Religious Buddhist Viharaya Mahavihara Gal ViharaTempitaVihara List Pansala Dagoba/Stupas Devale Hindu temples Mosques Cathedrals...
November 2002 TempitaVihara Pulinatalarama Vihara Kalutara, North Kalutara 22 November 2002 Buddhist shrine Rambukkana Raja Maha Vihara Rambukkana Bandaragama...
Stupa mound in the site Kshestrarama Purana Vihara Hapuwana 87, Hapuwalana Divulapitiya 12 June 2015 Tempita shrine and Phoya Seemawa Lenagampala Purana...
22 October 2010 Drip-ledged stone cave Asmadala Vihara Asmadala Aranayaka 8 July 2005 TempitaVihara Asokarama Forest Hermitage Kothapaluwa and Ranwala...
ruin site a modern temple, Panduwas Nuwara Raja Maha Vihara is situated and where small TempitaVihara (Temple on pillars) and several pillar inscriptions...
Maligawa Pokuna Walauwa Religious Buddhist Viharaya Mahavihara Gal ViharaTempitaVihara List Pansala Dagoba/Stupas Devale Hindu temples Mosques Cathedrals...
Maligawa Pokuna Walauwa Religious Buddhist Viharaya Mahavihara Gal ViharaTempitaVihara List Pansala Dagoba/Stupas Devale Hindu temples Mosques Cathedrals...
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