Although there are two Chapters of the Siamese Sect at present, in the past, there had been only one, the Maha Vihara. The monks of these viharas identified themselves as forest-dwellers and village dwellers. According to the Lankatilake inscriptions, they had lived together. Even granting higher ordination to these monks had been conducted at the same function in 1753 by Ven. Upali from Siam. Therefore, in the beginning, the names Asgiri and Malwatta were only nominal designations.

Asgiri Maha Viharaya Complex

This monastic complex consists of a collection of temples and residences described below :

Asgiri Gedige-vihara (Adahana Maluwa)

The Gedige-Vihara, situated in the Kandy city, is considered the second-oldest stone-built construction in Kandy. It is built according to a Hindu architectural design. Upulvan-dévala of Udunuwara and Natha-dévdala of Kandy are similar in design.

This site can be reached by travelling along the Gamini Dissanayake Mawata at the end of Yatinuwara Vidiya in Kandy. The name Addhana Maluwa had been given to this shrine as it became the cremation ground of royalty Queen Chandravatie, mother of King Wickramabahu III of Gampola (1326-1374). She was one of the earliest to be cremated here. Except for the two Kings, Wimaladharmasiriya I, who died in 1604 and Sri Wickrama Rajasinha, who died in Vellore later, all other Kandyan Kings had been cremated at this Adadhana maluwa.

Hayagiri Wijesundararamaya

Hayagiri Wijesundararamaya is situated on the northern slope of the Bahirawakanda. Travelling about a kilometre along Wariyapola Sumangala Mawata, across the Kandy-Matale railway crossroad, which commences at the end of Yatinuwara Vidiya, one could see a structure similar to a Sanchi gateway to its left. This provides the entrance to the Wijesundararamaya, which comprises the old ViharaVihara, ancient Poya Ge (premises set apart for ecclesiastical functions), the new Vihara and the two temples.

Old Vihara

The old ViharaVihara had been constructed by the Pilimatalawe Wijesundera Rajakaruna, the Disawa of the Satara Koralé, on the orders of King Kirti Sri Rajasinha in 1766. It had been donated to Ven. Urulewatte Sri Piyadassi Dhammasiddhi, the first Mahanayaka of the Asgiriya Chapter.

This ViharaVihara constructed on a platform 0.92 metres (3 ft.) above the ground level measures 8.31 metres (27 ft.) in length and 4.17 metres (13 ft. 7 inches) in breadth. It accommodated a Buddha statue placed beneath a Makara Torana. The figures of Ven. Dhammasiddhi Mahanayaka and Pilimatalawe Disdwa have been drawn on the walls.

Old Poya-Sima

The old Poya Sima is a building measuring 12.12 metres (39 ft. 9 inches) in length and 5.66 metres (18 ft. Sinches) in breadth. Admission to the Vihara is through an ancient three stone-made doorway.

New Vihara

Close by is the new and larger ViharaVihara constructed on an elevated platform 0.92 metres (3 ft.) high, the roof resting on 20 columns. Pilimatalawe Disdwa Adikdram, a son of Pilimataldwe Disdwa, had done this on the orders of Sri Wickrama R4jasinha. According to an inscription on the west wall, the land had been donated for the sustenance of this ViharaVihara in 1801. There is a reclining Buddha image measuring 11.08 metres (36 ft.) in the front section of the ViharaVihara. Figures of Sri Wickrama Rajasinha and Pilimatalawe Maha Adikaram have been drawn.

Two Lower Temples

The two temples called the Pansal Deka belong to the pupillary succession of Ven. Urulewatte Dhammasiddhi Mahandyaka and Galagedera Anunayaka Theros.

Centre Temple

The centre temple is situated below the Wijesundararamaya to its left. This Temple belongs to the pupillary succession of Ven. Induwalugoda Dharmapala. Munwatte Disawa is considered the original patron of the ViharaVihara.

Lower Temple

The lower Temple is located on the Mahavihadra Mawata, linked to the Gamini Dissanayake Mawata. During King Rajadhi Rajasinha (1779-1797), when some of the roads in the Kandy city were extended, several ancient buildings had to be demolished. The lower Temple or the Pahala pansala was established after the road widening. A large number of temples owned by the Asgiriya Chapter are located in this complex.

Maha-vihara

The 'Simamalaka', at which higher ordination ceremonies for the monks of the Asgiriya Chapter are Performed, is found in this Pahala Pansala. The present incumbent Mahandyaka Thero of the Asgiriya Chapter has his residential quarters in this Maha-vihara.

Rama-vihara

This ViharaVihara is situated within the Kandy city limits on a hillock above the Trinity College and is served by a footpath in Udawattakele. Another road leading to the site is available from Dalada Thapovanaya in Udawattakele Mawata, which passes through the road in front of the Kandy Municipal Council linked to a motorable gravel road.

Before the founding of the city of Senkadagala, a large number of forest monks had resided at this site. This ViharaVihara is called Rama-vihara as it has provided accommodation to a Buddhist monk named Rama, son of a Brahmin called Pattini, one of the Brahmins invited to the country by Buvanekabahu IV of Gampola.

(Heritage of Kandurata by Dr. H.A.P. Abeyawardana P29)

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Asgiri Maha Viharaya Complex

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