Athkanda Raja Maha Viharaya also known as Ethkanda Viharaya is a Buddhist temple placed in the Kurunegala city in Kurunegala District, Sri Lanka.
History:-
The history of the establishment of Athkanda Viharaya is obscure.
However, a name similar to this temple has been recorded in several chronicles in the country which include Mahavamsa, Sahassavattuppakaranaya, Saddharmalankaraya, Rasavahini, and Vamsattappakasini.
According to the information given in Mahavamsa, it’s assumed that this temple may have been established during the reign of King Suratissa.
This temple is believed to have received the royal patronage of prince Buvanekabahu and Bosat Vijayabahu at some stage in the Dambadeniya period.
The Asgiri Thalpatha is famous because the Buddhist monks who had been touring to Kandy in the arrangements made by King Parakramabahu IV (c.1305-1326 A.D.) had been accommodated at Athkanda Vihara in Kurunegala till king’s officials were capable of taking them to Asgiri monastery at Senkadagala.
Also, a few statistics referred to as Thalkola Seetu offer some information about the temple and its in-charge monks during the 18-19th century A.D.
Folklore:-
Locals consider that the Jathaka testimonies were composed in a cave in this historic temple.
This local belief is pinned through the Korawakgala (the balustrade) at the entrance of the cave temple no. 1 in which a unique carving that depicts a Buddhist monk writing a book is found.
The temple:-
There are two drip-ledged caves in the temple premises.
Of them, the cave temple no. 1 is the biggest and the main Buddhist shrine.
It includes statues of Buddha and numerous artwork belonging to the Kandyan tradition as well as to the present-day period.
The cave is divided into sections: the internal shrine and the outer part.
Three doors offer front to the inner shrine and the center door is guarded by way of two doormen of Nagas.
The inscription:-
A rock inscription belonging to the nineteenth century A.D. has been found adjacent to the cave temple no. 1.
It records about certain lands donated to the temple.
A protected site:-
The Buddha shrine and different archaeological remains in Athkanda Raja Maha Vihara situated within the Kurunegala Divisional Secretariat Division are archaeological monuments, declared by a government gazette notification posted on 7 December 2001.
Athkanda Raja Maha Vihara is one of the best places to visit to witness the Buddhist cultures.
