History

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE

Situated on the (150 feet) One Hundred and fifty feet high mounted of the Divisional Secretariat of Padukka in the Hevagam korale of the Colombo District of the Western Province, one hundred and fifty meters from the Padukka twon in front of the route number 125 –Ingiriya Colombo road and in front of the Kelaniveli Railway line from Colombo Fort.

HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE

Founded by late Rev. Kurugala Sri Piyarathana Nayaka Thero (1881 – 1924)

Born as Walopalage Girigoris at the Meegahawatta premises on 26.05.1848 at Kurugala Village of Medagam Patthu of Hewagam Korale. His parents were Walpolage Daniyel Appuhami and Gallage Machohami. He was the third of the four sons of the family. He was Ordained under the Meewana Dhammapala Thero in 1869 and obtained Higher Ordination ship at Kalyani Sāmagri Dharma mahā Sangha Sabhāat Mangala Uposatha Hall.

He was educated at Vidyodaya Maha Pirivena at Māligakanda. He was an active member of the “National movement of School Creations”. Owing to the demise of his teacher he had to come back to the Udumulla Temple. But unfortunately, there arose a conflict with his youngest brother monk named Watareka Dhammarathana. So that Rev. Piyarathana left the Udumulla Temple and planned to go to the Up country. On his way to Up country by walking from Udumulla to Padukka, he met Mr. D.M.Diyonos Vidanarachchi. That meeting was able to stop his going to up country. Thus, he was able to settle down at an abandoned house with help of Notary Public named Charls Padama peruma in front of above-mentioned temple.

At that time the missionary movement badly affected. Therefore the Rev. Piyarathana Thero realized that there must be temples in the Padukka area. So he purchased a block of land of (A.05R.03P.37.2) from the then famous as “Moragahalanda”(present temple land) for Rs.1750/- in 1881. Thus, he erected a reverential Temple and offered it to the Community of the Sangha. (Sānghika)

At the outset he put up a cottage near the present God Palace and planted a sacred Bodhi sapling and allow people to make their offerings. Not only that he built several temples in the area such as Angampitiya,Galagedara,Hanwella and Diddeniya.

The salient features of his services is the Sri Piyarathana Madya Maha Vidyala of Padukka. He started it on 01st of May 1897.In addition to that he built Pinnawala Vidyalaya and Angampitiya Vidyalaya.

THE SECOND CHIEF INCUMBANT

Rev. Padukka Sri Sirinivasa Nayaka Thero (1924 – 1956)

Late Kurugala Piyarathana Thero had 04 pupils. Among them Pādukke Sri Sirinivasa was the eldest. In 1924 he became the Chief Incumbents of the temple after demise of Rev. Kurugala Piyarathana Nayaka Thero. He was the founder of the Vidyachandra Pirivena. Though he started Shrine Room he couldn’t complete it.

THE THIRD CHIEF INCUMBANT

Rev. Mandawela Sri Soratha Nayaka Thero (1956 – 1996)

He was born on 17th July 1916 at Mandawela in the Siyanee Korale. His parents were Mr.and Mrs. Marasinghege Jemis Appuhami. His lay name was Mārasinghege Yothan Siñño. He was Ordained under Pādukke Sirinivāsa Nāyaka Thero on 2nd November 1931. Having had his basic education under his teacher he entered the reputed Institute called Vidyodaya Pirivena at Māligākanda. He gathered his English knowledge at Aquinas College. He obtained his Higher Ordination at Kotte Sri Kalyani Dharma Mahā Sangha Sabhā in 1936. He went to Calcutta for the further education and well versed in Pali, Sanskrit, Hindi and English and Sinhala languages.

Cultivating his virtue and knowledge our well-built Nāyaka thero became the Chief Incumbent of the Sri Mahā Vihāraya of Moragahathenna after the demise of Rev. Padukka Sri Sirinivāsa Nāyaka Thero 1956.

Utilizing his education knowledge, he rendered his service not only to the children but also to the elders too. Thus he played an important role at the Vidyachandra Pirivena by teaching Pāli,Sanskrit,Sinhala, English and Hindi languages.

His dedication to the development of the temple is incalculable. Thus he was able to complete the construction of the Shrine Room with the help of the chairman of the dāyaka sabhā late Honorable Minister Mr. M.D.H.Jayawardhana and the temple development committee. Here we may add a word of late Mr. And Mrs. M.D.H. Jayawardhana. Among his noble activities, Four Great Gods Palaces Seemāmālakaya and Sri Jayawardhana Library which declared open by late Prime Minister Mr. Ranasinghe Premadāsa in 1979 are can be cited.

Continuing the services of late Rev. Mamdāwela Soratha Nāyaka Thero his religious admonitions to the society in the area are highly venerated. Rendering much services to the Buddhist Dispensation, developing the Vidyachandra Pirivena and Jayanthi Vidyalaya, he ordained 27 children. But unfortunately remained only 02 monks while the others were disrobed. The remains are the chief incumbent of Sri Suwisuddhārāmaya named Rev. Dedugala Kassapa Nāyaka thero of Liyanwila and the chief incumbent of Arukwatta Moragahathenna Sri Maha Vihāraya Rev. Berannawe Wimala thero can be cited. Thus he was able to render his services to the progress of the temple for nearly 04 decades. Ven. Mamdāwela Soratha Nāyaka Thero passed away on 08th of April 1996.

FOURTH CHIEF INCOMBANT

Rev. Berannawe Wimala Thero (from 1996 up to date)

He was born on 22.09.1961, at Nāngala gedara of Forth Colony, at Berannawa.His parents were Mr.K.R.Punci Banda and Mrs. I.M. Punci mahathmiya. His lay name was K.R.Karunasena. He was the fifth of the one sister and seven brothers of the family. He studied up to grade 06 C Forth School and came to the Sri Maha Vihāraya and entered the Order on 21.04.1974 as Bhikkhu Berannawe Wimala. He obtained his Higher Ordination at Kotte Sri Kalyani Dharma Mahā Sangha Sabhā in 17.07.1982.

He got his basic education at Sri Vidyachandra Pirivena from 1974 to 1977.His secondary education completed at Subhadrārāmaya Pirivena at Nugegoda from 1977 to 1986.Having entered the Vidyodaya University in 1987 and obtained a degree and worked as a deputy principal of the Udumulla Sri Wimalajothi Pirivena from 1992 to 2013.

It should be mentioned that the Golden Era of the was started from 1996. The eldest pupil of Mandāwela Soratha named Dedugala Kassapa Nayaka Thero became the Chief incumbent of Liyanwila Sri Suvisuddhārāmaya while Rev. Berannawe Wimala Thero became the Chief incumbent of Moragahathenna Sri maha Viharaya Padukka.

A word should be added about Rev. Bearnnawe Wimala Thero. He is an energetic and industrious monk who dedicated himself for the development of the temple utilizing all the resources. His line of action should be highly appreciated.

HOW HE DEVELOP THE TEMPLE RESOURCES

CONSTRUCTION OF THE PAGODA OR CETHIYA

Foundation laid for the cethiya by then deputy Sanghanayaka Rev.Ittepane DhamalankaraThero. The festival of the enshrine of relics took place on 12.07. 2000.The declared open ceremony took place on 22.11.2001 by the Mahanayaka Ven. Bellana Sri Ñānawimala Thero.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PREACHINHG HALL

To commemorate the late Sri Soratha Nayaka Thero a commemoration hall including the stage was started on 19.09.1993. It was completed in 1996. The declared open ceremony took place on the day of three months alms giving ceremony to transfer merit to late Rev. Mandawela Sri Soratha Nayaka Thero amids of the Maha sangha and the lay followers in the area on 30.12.1996.

THE MONKS RESIDENT(SANGHAVASA)
Foundation was laid for the construction of the monks resident on 04.02.2009 and declared open on 04.04.2010 by Prof. Kotapitiye Rahula Anunayaka Thero and the secretary of the Kotte Sri Kalyani Dharma Mahā Sangha Sabhā. The expenditure is Rs.13, 500,000.00 one million and 35 lakhs of rupees. To complete the work had taken only one year and two months’ time.

THREE STORIED DHAMMA SCHOOL BUILDING

A three storied dhamma school building funded by Rev. Uduwe Dhammaloka completed by current Chief incumbent and the dāyaka sabhā on 15.06.2006.

6.THE GOLDEN FENCE RIGHT ROUND THE SACRED BODHI TREE AND THE SHRINE ROOM

A golden fence erected with a shrine room on 13.05.2011 and open to the public by Rev. Berannawe Wimala Thero on 24.08.2012.

IRRECTION OF DRAGON PANDAL AND THE PARAPAT WALL

A Foundation stone laid by Rev. Berannawe Wimala Thero on 29.07.2019 for the construction of pandal and the parapet wall are still in progress.

CONSTRUCTION OF THE OFFICE OF THE DHAMMA SCHOOL AND THE KICHEN.

To facilitate the school work an office of the dhamma school had erected. For the lay follower’s utilization, a kitchen too erected annexed to it.

CREATION OF A BEAUTIFUL TEMPLE PREMISES

Renovation of the shrine room, preaching hall, four gods palaces and a seemā mālakaya.
Thus, he is able to complete the temple as a well-constructed complete temple for the veneration to the public.

SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

Followings are the activities conducted by Rev.Berannawe wimala Thero for the spiritual and material welfare of the people.

Started a Dhamma School with 17 children in 1979 and increased the children over 1500 and the start the staff up to 40 teachers.
Started a sill campaign with the 400 lay followers to observe eight precepts. Now it increased over thousand lay followers.

Their requisites are provided by dāyaka sabhāwa and the Sanghamittā kulangana samitiya with the help of welwishes.

Meditation program. Every First and third Saturdays.
Exhibition of Poson Lanton free of charge from 2006.
Blood donation campaign from 2011 to provide blood to the Apeksha Hospital. Over 300 people participate.
Alms giving program to the pregnant women at the Padukka M.O.H. office.
“Pansalen gamata sevā” movement.

Built 40 new houses and awarded.
Many half renovation houses and awarded.

iii. Sanitary facilities.

Helping disable people by providing wheel chairs and crutches.
dry rations for the poorest of the poor on Poya Days.
Bursary for the needy children on very Poya Days.

vii. Health care services.

viii. Eye care campaign and donation of spectacles.

Monetary facilities for the above five members of families.
Road Construction having spent Rs.20 lakhs built a two 2km road of the native village of Rev. Beranna Wimala Thero and built a C-forth village’s Sri Bodhirajarama temple.
Used the temple as a disaster victims’ center.

The above-mentioned activities organized by Rev. Berannawe Wimala Thero patronized by devotees and well-wishers.

For Rev. Berannawe Wimala Thero following dignitaries’ assistance should be cited. They are Mr. Dhanapala Amarathunga Justice of peace, Saratha Gunasekara, Amal Gamlath Justice of peace and Gamini Dias. Thus they

hyustarted the Sanghamitta Kulangana Samithiya and Buddhist Society.