Isuru A.
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The story of the historic Nath Temple site - the oldest sacred building in Kandy
Today it is about the oldest sacred building in Kandy. That means this post is about the Natha Temple in front of Dalada Palace. This Natha temple site is a very historical place. The previous kings considered this land as a victory land. Therefore, our kings were crowned in this Natha temple area.
When someone becomes a king, they use other names. So the names of those kings are also placed in the Natha temple grounds. Accordingly, this Natha temple site was used to name every king who reigned over the mountain. One of the names kept in a clay pot in the inner palace is followed by the rituals in the morning and after the king receives it, the king's name is given. There is also a separate mandapam in this temple grounds for crowning the king. The foundation of that pavilion can still be seen today. A special feature of this mandapa is that the Vahalkada is facing north, the pagoda and bodhi are facing east, and the temple is facing south. Accordingly, the previous kings ritually put on their crowns, leave the northern Vahalkadin and pick up the sword from the Vishnu temple. Because Lord Natha is a non-warrior deity, the place of the sword in the Vishnu temple is special.
Sengkandapura or Kandy was built along with the Natha Temple. It was during the reign of King Vikramabahu III who ruled Gampola in the fourteenth century. Lord Natha is considered to be the future Buddha, Maitri Bosatha. The Natha temple building built for Lord Natha is centuries old. Accordingly, this temple is the first and oldest building in the city of Kandy. This temple is completely made of stone as a gedi house in the South Indian Pallava tradition. According to this, the main temple built for Lord Nath is Sri Nath Temple in Kandy.
It is also mentioned that the name Senkada Pura of Mahnuwara was due to a monk named Senkada who lived in this temple area. The land belonging to this Natha temple, Senkanda Bamuna has been identified as a victory land. Bamuna saw a strange incident of a jackal chasing a rabbit and recognized this place as a place of victory. Because Senkanda Bamuna recognized that land of victory, that city and the whole kingdom were called Senkandagalapura. After this incident, King Wickramabahu III of Gampola had the Natha temple built there. Also, until the main temple was built, a small chamber was built in that place and the Natha Deva's daughter was buried there.
The book "Avalokitesvara Natha" mentions about Liu Holtme that the Natha Deva statue receiving the offerings of Natha Devala Gedi is older than the Natha Deva of Gedi.
Next to the Natha temple, the village temple is the small temple that can be seen even today. There are some other paintings on the wall paintings of this village temple. They were painted by the Dutch. You can still see those murals today. They painted these paintings during their stay at this place until they received a summons from the Dutch king who was coming to meet our kings. Most of those paintings are sailing ships. Later, it is said that the king brought his palace, city, etc. to this place with the construction of the Natha temple. The King has built the city of Kandy in the form of twelve cycles. You can see that when you look at the old streets. But the later English have changed it.
The main wahalkada entering the temple grounds is one of the oldest wahalkadas in Kandy city. Two watchtowers, a dragon pantheon on the top, and a tiled roof can be seen in this Vahalkade. Not only that, the pagoda where a relic of Patra, which Dalada took with him, was placed, the historical Valbodhi, the cave where iron was smelted to make weapons, the well where the water was taken for offering to Dalada, the bell tower, the reclining Buddha statue made of granite, Pinthalia made of black stone, There are many antiquities found in Sri Patula, Gal Uluwassa, etc. excavations in this Natha temple area. The place where the rice was taken for the offerings of Lord Natha was called the God's place.
