Can you see that giant Buddha statue from here? That’s the highlight of Sambodhi Viharaya. This temple offers a serene escape and a visual spectacle.
Welcome to Sambodhi Viharaya in Kandy. It is a Theravada Buddhist temple. The temple is approximately 2 kilometers from the city center.
In the early 1970s, the Minister of Lands donated the land to Ven. Ampitiye Dammarama Thero. He was a monk from the Amarapura Nikaya. Dammarama initially lived in a makeshift dwelling. He needed to solicit funds for the temple’s construction. Senior monks from the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic opposed the temple. They claimed it would overshadow their center. But in the 1980s, Hinatiyana Dhammaloka intervened. He was a chief monk of the Amarapura Nikaya. He successfully petitioned President Ranasinghe Premadasa. The President legally granted the land to Dammarama.
Dammarama began building the Buddha statue in the late 1980s. Construction finished in 1992. President Ranasinghe Premadasa officially opened it on January 1, 1993.
The Buddha statue stands at 26.83 meters high. That’s about 88 feet. It is one of the tallest Buddha statues in Sri Lanka. The statue is in the Dhyana Mudra position. This is the posture of meditation. It is associated with Buddha’s first Enlightenment.
Since 2002, the Sri Sambodhi Temple has aimed to build a better society. They want citizens to obey the five and eight precepts of Buddha. The citizens should have hearts filled with Meththa, Karuna, Mudhitha, and Upekkha. The temple has about 350 benefactor families. The Anagarika Dharmapala Dhamma School and Youth Buddhist Society guide young people. They teach religion, culture, and values.
The weekly meditation program helps devotees develop mental satisfaction. Sermons based on the Thripitaka help elders and youth. They grasp the virtuous words of Buddha. All these efforts aim to improve society today and in the future.
Sambodhi Viharaya is now a popular tourist attraction. Its giant Buddha statue is visible from almost everywhere in Kandy. Take a moment to appreciate the peace and artistry. Think about the journey of faith and dedication that created this sacred place.