Dhowa Temple-Travel Guide
History
It is believed, the temple bears a history dating back to about 2,000 years.In the olden days the Dowa Temple was known as the Kumbaltissa Ariyagala Vehera. It had been named after its Chief Priest who had served as a sanctuary for King Walagamba and thus he turned the cave into a temple.
The work of the temple had not been completed during the reign of King Walagamba.But the work had been fully completed during the Kandyan Kingdom.
The 38 ft rock carved Buddha statue and the ornamental gateway are the main attractions of the temple.The statue is in the state of ruins due to fasy decaying.Folk tales hold that the half finished Buddha statue was carved by king Walagamba himself while hiding in this caves due to foreign invasions. The king is said to have left the area before he could finish carving the statue; thus leaving it half finished.
Paintings
The paintings of the shrine room had been decorated with the influence of the Kandyan era. These paintings depict various Jathaka stories. The canopy of the rock is decked with paintings of lotus and various other flowers. And Also among these paintings the Ath-Gon Satana (battle between a tusker and a bull) is featured. The priority had been given to the cobra image in the structure of the temple. The cobra had been featured in the paintings as well as on the jug used for serving water to Buddha.
#Photo Credit-Koshila
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