Kelaniya Temple
Highlights of Kelaniya Temple
Historically, Kelaniya is older than the great cites of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. When Lord Buddha first visited Mahiyanganaya, Sri Lanka , after the 9th month of the Enlightenment, Maniakkitha, the Naga King of Kelaniya was one of the kings who has come there to pay homage, the Mahawamsa states.
It is described in the chronicles that the ancient Stupa first built at Kelaniya enshrined a gem-studded throne on which the Buddha preached the sermons to the Maniakkitha, the Naga king, on whose invitation the Buddha had visited.
in 1769 AD , the temple was reconstructed by the patronage of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe. There are paintings belonging to Kandyan period , showing Jathaka stories .There is a large gold plated reclining Buddha Image in the Image house.
A Gem studded seat is enshrined in this Dageba. The Gauthama Buddha who visited Sri Lanka for the Third time is said to be preached Dhamma to the Naga kings seated on this Gem studded seat. The height of the Dageba is presently about 90 feet.
