This temple belongs to Uda Bulatgama, one of the ancient rates of the Kandyan Kingdom. It is situated about three miles from Morape on the bank of the Kotmale Oya (now belongs to Nuwara Eliya district). The area is full of folk legends as it was the place where Dutugemunu, the hero king of the Sinhalese, spent his boyhood.

The origin of the Pusulpitiya Village and the Viharaya is related in a Sinhalese folk legend which has pusul gediya or as pumpkin as its central theme. The village as well as the Viharaya, is named after this ash pumpkin.

According to another legend, one of four valuable Buddha statues brought by an Arahant named Maliyadewa from India is now deposited in this Viharaya. The other three are housed at Vattarama, Diddeniya and Madanvela. The seated Buddha statue under a Makara Torana is a beautiful piece of sculpture. Pusulpitiya is also associated with Henakanda Biso Bandara. But the temple is historically linked with the Sacred Tooth Relic, given hidden security here during the times of political unrest in the country. During the Magha rule at Polonnaruwa in the 12th century, it is reported that the Tooth Relic was hidden here. King Vijayabahu 111 (1232-1236 A.D.) of Dambadeniya came to Kothmale and removed it to his capital. Again, when the British were about to enter the Kandyan Kingdom, the Tooth Relic was hidden in this temple. The British found it there and brought it back to Kandy immediately after the capture of the Kandyan Kingdom in 1815.

Pusulpitiya temple is situated on a hilltop surrounded by valleys. Apart from the fact that a valuable seated Buddha statue is resident there, the temple itself has no special architectural value.

Kandy - ANURADHA SENEVIRATNA 1983

(KANDY - ANURADHA SENEVIRATNA 1983. P: )

Unique Sri Lanka

Pusulpitiya Viharaya

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