Maligatenna Raja Maha Vihara
Maligatenna Cave Temple is an old cave temple in a small village in the Gampaha District. It lies on the Gampaha – Wathurugama Road, with many other cave temples such as the Pilikuththuwa Cave Temple and the Varana Cave Temple in close proximity. With a history of over a millennia; the temple is an Archaeological Protected Site as recognized by the government.
History
The history of the Maligathenna Temple is believed to date back to the Anuradhapura Era; between the 4th century BC to the 11th century AD. Brahmi rock inscriptions found in the nearby Varana Temple and Pilikuththuwa Temple state that they were used as an abode of ancient Buddhist monks; suggesting that Maligathenna, being in the same area, may also have been used for the same purpose.
According to legends this temple was an important hiding place for many kings and their ministers during enemy invasions, and stories of these are spread throughout the neighborhood. One of the most prominent of these tales details the chronicles of King Valgamba I. After the Cholan army invaded the Kingdom of Anuradhapura, Valagamba escaped and had to run from place to place seeking protection. It is believed that the Maligathenna Cave Temple was one such place, along with the other nearby cave temples. Some of the drip ledges (carved along the edge of a cave’s overhanging entrance so that rainwater doesn’t penetrate the cave) carved at the caves in Maligathenna are regarded to be the King’s signature creations.
Other folklore state that this temple was the first place where the Holy Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha was hidden. As the story goes, it happened during the era of the Kotte Kingdom when the country was invaded by the Portuguese. The country had by then lost its unity, and was divided into several kingdoms, Kotte, Sithawaka and etc. Disaster happened when the Kotte king, Don Juan Dharmapala embraced Christianity. Other religions and their important holy symbols were ordered to be destroyed; and the King of Sithawaka, Mayadunne immediately sent a message. The person who received the message was the Village Head of Hiripitiya, Diyawadana Nilame. He read the message; which stated that there were disturbances in Kotte and told him to take the Tooth Relic of Buddha to the middle of the country for safety. And so, the Tooth Relic narrowly escaped destruction. As the story goes, the first stop on the Tooth Relic’s journey was Maligathenna, before being carried to Delgamuwa and finally to Kandy. In fact, it is believed that the name ‘Maliga’-thenna was derived due to the Temple having been a temporary haven for the Holy Tooth Relic.
A Guide to the Temple
The temple of Maligathenna is reached by way of an ancient flight of stone stairs. Along the way, picturesque views of the village of Waturgama with seemingly tiny houses and lush greenery become visible. The Temple is built atop a giant rock, and presides over the landscape majestically.
On entering the grounds of
