Devinuwara Raja Maha Viharaya in Dondra

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comments 5

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  Muditha Manaram

  :: 14 April 2018 18:26:21

  The little town of Devinuwara or the “City of Gods” is located at the most southern edge of the country, about 6.5kms south-east of Matara. Devinuwara is also known as Dondra in English. At the height of its splendour, in the 13th-15th centuries, Devinuwara has been a busy seaport and a most renowned place of pilgrimage and worship. It had been a landmark with its magnificent temple with a roof of gilded copper flashing far into the sea, and undoubtedly must have been an aid to those who sailed the vast Indian Ocean. The many stone pillars variously sculptured in designs and shapes are evidence of the magnificent shrines and temples in this town that overlooked the ocean up to the latter half of the 16th century. According to legend Devinuwara was a flourishing city in the time is King Rawana and is connected to the Indian Epic of Ramayana. The 15th century “Paravi Sandeshaya”, a poetical work describes the deity at Devinuwara as a destroyer of Asura. Thus it can believed that this same deity is also “Rama” of the Ramayana. Mahavansa, The great chronicle of Sri Lanka, tells how the “Upulvan Deiyo” thus Vishnu was selected as the guardian to protect the land of Sri Lanka and Buddhism within it at the time of Buddha’s passing away. “When the Guide of the World, having accomplished the salvation of the whole world and having reached the utmost stage of blissful rest, was lying on the bed of his nibbana; in the midst of the great assembly of gods, he, the great sage, the greatest of those who have speech, spoke to Sakka’ who stood there near him: `Vijaya, son of king Sihabahu, is come to Lanka from the country of Lala, together with seven hundred followers. In Lanka, O lord of gods, will my religion be established, therefore carefully protect him with his followers and Lanka. When the lord of gods heard the words of the Buddha he from respect handed over the guardianship of Lanka to the god who is in colour like the lotus (Upulvan). “ — From Mahavansa

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  Praveen Sirimanne

  :: 14 April 2018 17:49:21

  a Peaceful and a blessed place in Southern Sri Lanka

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  josef Charls Nanayakkara

  :: 14 February 2018 05:16:35

  One of the most popular viharaya in srilanka you are welcome to visit and get the blessings.

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  Subashi Jayawickrama

  :: 26 December 2017 07:55:20

  An ancient Temple with a" Vishnu Devalaya". Believed to have lots of miracles. Yearly pageant which falls in July-August is a very popular event in Dondra.

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  Jodie Courtney

  :: 19 November 2017 13:37:05

  Our driver stopped to show us this place and I asked to leave as there are 2 elephants chained up and rocking from side to side which is a common sign of captive elephants showing distress and upset. They are chained behind each other to!! Elephants should not be kept like this! Don't even want to rate it 1 star! Didn't want to even go in to see the temple after this!!! Not good !!