Vanavasa Raja Maha Viharaya, full of eighty Rahats in Benthota town, full of ancient architectural features - Part 2

Hi my fellow Architecture lovers,

What's up guys? I believe you are doing well. Greetings from Sri Lanka. You already know the location of the content I am posting today. A week ago, I mentioned about Vanavasa Raja Maha Viharaya, which is located a little inland from Bentota area. You can check it here There I described the architectural features of the upper floor of the temple and related information. But there were some notable places on the lower floor as well. There was more space downstairs than upstairs. Therefore, the space was filled with trees. From Colombo city, take the Dakshina Expressway, exit Welipanna Interchange and reach Bentota Vanavasa Temple via Aluthgama. You can also get down from Aluthgama railway station and visit this temple. Like an ashram in a forest, the surroundings are filled with the shade of trees. It can be considered as a suitable place to get mental freedom. However, due to lack of popularity, the temples remain unharmed to the environment or features.

Bentota Vanavasa Temple is also known as Asu Maha Sravaka Temple. Eighty Disciples have been created here. Strong wooden pillars were installed to support the roof of the long hall. A large number of idols painted in yellow color are arranged in a row of elephant motifs.

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The statues of eighty disciples, each named separately, were created in a long temple. The color combination inside it was properly matched. But I don't see raw bamboo planted between the concrete pillars with layers to increase the strength as a successful strategy. However, distinctive features can be seen in the sculptures.

I got to know from someone in this Vanavasa temple that there is a small tunnel temple here. But he further stated that it is not possible to go further because the tunnel is still being dug. However, traveling a short distance or along the tunnel can gain some experience as well as knowledge. So he started traveling to Uman Vihara. We got more coolness by being surrounded by plants and trees on both sides of the road.

While walking, we could see some impressive architectural features covered with granite tiles. A small chamber was constructed of four rectangular glass-covered frames with a triangular roof, probably for lighting lamps or for a light bulb.

A row of stone steps can be seen at the entrance to this place. Sculptures of elephants were carved in gold on the walls against a dark background. You can see the leader elephant is nicely highlighted. Its front was made using red cement. As in Sri Lanka, the dragon, a common architectural symbol of Chinese and Thai Buddhism, could also be seen here.

In the further exploration of the site, it has been named as the Golden Statue Temple. There is no mistake in its meaning because the architectural elements of the respective region are coated with gold. Vanavasa Raja Maha Vihara's Golden Statue Temple has been opened on Vesak Poya 2012. Gautama Buddha was installed on top of it, and 28 other Buddhas were carved below it. Below that, there were sculptures of gods from the divine world.

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The building where Dhamma education is currently provided at Bentota Vanavasa Temple was used as a library in the past. There is ample evidence that traditional Sri Lankan architecture was used in the construction of the building. The old Sri Lankan tiles are used to cover the roofs as they were then to preserve the ancient value.

Bentota Asu Maha Sravaka Vihara, by planting green leaves and giving a green color to the lower part of the temple, it can be imagined that the administration will give a great space to the community. Stupas were built from place to place above the eighty Shravaka temple chambers with the aim of giving value to Buddhism.

Below the roof of the old library building, an old Sri Lankan wood carving continues. It can be seen all around in white color. At first glance it can be seen that the wood carvings are attractive carvings.

The shape of the roof of the old library building, which currently provides Dhamma education in the Bentota Vanavasa Temple, can be seen in many temples in Sri Lanka. But the small gate that enters the Dhamma school building of Vanavasa Temple is made of wood and painted white.

The small building currently used as the library and reading hall of the Bentota Vanavasa Temple is also a place that exhibits elements of ancient Sri Lankan architecture. A stupa is carved on top of it. Below the roof are Chinese architectural carvings mounted in wood and coated with white paint. The window frames are covered with glass and the inside of the glass is white to create a fresh artistic symbol. Needless to say, it is an inspiring piece of architecture. On both sides of the entrance to the reading hall, images of a deity have been created. In other temples in Sri Lanka, near the entrance gate, you can see the lamp carved in stone with designs of animals and flowers. But in the Vanavasa temple, a stone section with a different carving could be seen.

The old library building of Benthota Asu Maha Shravaka Maha Vihara has traditional architectural shapes. The inner towers had a rectangular shape. As Attonia wood was used for the roof frame, frequent replacement is essential. There is no doubt about the strength of the roof as many towers have been built in this building.

Next I noticed the entrance to the recently excavated tunnel temple of Bentota Asu Maha Sravaka Maha Vihara. Its entrance is set on a stone wall. When I went to the entrance, there was no one there, so I was a bit nervous. Neither my daughter nor my wife wanted to visit the tunnel temple because it was full of darkness.

With a mouth created in the shape of a demon, Bentota must enter the tunnel temple of Vanavasa Temple. After entering, I turned on the light switch and the light inside was glowing. The devil's teeth, coated in white, were like living ones.

*Inside the tunnel area of Bentota Vanavasa Vihara, which is being built recently and still not finished, you can also see the Aukana Buddha statue and the paintings of the past parables related to Buddhism. They are more important for our future life. The paintings are displayed here without damaging them. After few minutes atayed in cave place in Bentota Vanawasa Raja maha temple we deciced to leave from beautiful travel destination. I'll come back to share another useful content into this awesome community.

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