Sri Bhodirukkarama Temple

Gazing up at the towering white figure, wouldn’t you agree there’s an aura of serenity around Sri Bhodirukkarama Temple? This temple, also known as Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya, isn’t just a place of worship. It’s a beacon of peace overlooking the bustling city of Kandy. The temple grounds, a gift from Hector Kobbekaduwa, Minister of Lands, to Ven. Ampitiye Dammarama Thero, tell a tale of both devotion and political maneuvering. Imagine the scene in the early 1970s. Ven. Dammarama, a monk of the Amarapura Nikaya, resided in a simple dwelling, tirelessly gathering funds to build his dream. However, not everyone welcomed this ambitious project. The senior monks of the prestigious Sri Dalada Maligawa, the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, saw the burgeoning Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya as a potential rival, fearing it might overshadow their own Siyam Nikaya center. This clash of Buddhist orders created a fascinating political drama. Enter Hinatiyana Dhammaloka, a chief monk of the Amarapura Nikaya, who stepped in to mediate the conflict. He successfully petitioned President Ranasinghe Premadasa, securing the legal grant of the land to Ven. Dammarama. With this hurdle overcome, construction began on the defining feature of Sri Maha Bodhi Viharaya, the magnificent Buddha statue. Rising to an impressive 88 feet, the statue, depicted in the Dhyana Mudra, the symbolic gesture of meditation and enlightenment, is one of the tallest in Sri Lanka. Its serene presence can be seen from almost every corner of Kandy. Completed in 1992, the statue, along with the temple, was officially inaugurated on January 1, 1993, by President Premadasa himself. Sri Bhodirukkarama Temple stands today as a testament to the vision of one monk, a symbol of peace and meditation, and a stunning landmark in the heart of Kandy.