Malwathu Maha Viharaya (also called Malwatta Temple) is a Buddhist monastery located in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is the headquarters of the Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya and one of the two Buddhist monasteries that holds the custodianship of sacred tooth relic of Buddha kept in Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy. The Chief Incumbent of the Malwathu Maha Viharaya is the Mahanayaka Thera of Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya, a leading Buddhist monastic fraternity in Sri Lanka. The present Chief Incumbent of Malwathu Maha Viharaya is Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera.
History This temple is believed to be built by Senasammatha Vikramabahu (1473–1511) along with a stupa and a double storey ordination hall (Uposhathagaraya) in the late 15th century or early 16th century. It was originally built as the residence of three monks but today it houses many Buddhist monks including the monks of Karaka Sangha Sabha (Executive Council) of Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya. The building known as ‘poya ge’ is used as the assembly hall for the important meetings of the monastic fraternity. This building was built during the reign of King of Kandy Kirti Sri Rajasinha.
The monastery Malwathu Maha Viharaya consists of two sections, the Uposatha Viharaya which is also known as Poyamalu Viharaya and the other Pushparama Viharaya popularly known as Malwathu Viharaya. Poyamalu Viharaya is the oldest section of the Vihara complex which is today recognised as an archaeologically protected monument.
Chief Incumbents The following is a list of Chief Incumbents of Malwathu Maha Viharaya, Kandy who are also the Mahanayaka Theras of Malwatta Chapter of Siyam Nikaya. Appointment of senior Buddhist monks to the Mahanayaka position in Sri Lanka began with the re-establishment of Upasampada in 1753 on the initiatives taken by Sangharaja Weliwita Sri Saranankara Thera during the reign of King of Kandy Kirti Sri Rajasinha.
List of Chief Incumbents
Name Period Tibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Buddharakkitha Thera 1753–1773 Medawala Sri Rathanajothi Thera 1773–1774 Daramitipola Sri Dhammarakkitha Thera 1774–1787 Morathota Rajaguru Sri Dhammakkhanda Thera 1787–1811 Kobekaduwe Rajaguru Siriniwasa Thera 1811–1819 Welivita Sri Saranakara Thera 1819–1822 Gammulle Sri Sumana Thera 1822–1825 Kotikapola Sri Rathanajothi Thera 1825–1826 Kandegedara Sri Rewatha Thera 1826–1829 Galgiriyawe Sri Sumangala Thera 1829–1850 Parakumbure Sri Vipassi Thera 1850–1862 Medagama Sri Dewamitta Thera 1862–1877 Hippola Sri Sobhitha Thera 1877–1893 Thibbatuwawe Sri Sumangala Thera 1893–1913 Galgiriyawe Sri Buddharakkitha Thera 1913–1919 Amunugama Sri Piyadassi Thera 1919–1924 Abanwelle Sri Sumangala Thera 1924–1927 Pahamune Sri Sumangala Thera 1927–1945 Rambukwelle Sri Sobhitha Thera 1946–1955 Welivita Sri Saranankara Thera 1955–1956 Purijjala Sri Saranankara Thera 1956–1963 Amunugama Sri Wipassi Thera 1964–1969 Madugalle Sri Dhamma Siddhi Thera 1969–1973 Sirimalwatte Sri Ananda Thera 1973–1989 Rambukwelle Sri Vipassi Thera 1989–2004 Thibbatuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera 2004–present
See also Asgiri Maha Viharaya
References
Works cited
External links Sri Dalada Maligawa (official website)