The Rangiri Dambulu Rajamaha Viharaya
From the Anuradhapura period to the Kandyan period, the Viharaya received the attention of the rulers. There are many differences of opinion among historians as to when Dambulla came to be used. Prof. Senarath Paranavithana points out that "Vishwagira", Yawakola and later it was Dambulla as Jabakola, Jabola and Dambulla. However, Ven. Wimalakitta Thero says that the name Dambulla was derived from the abundance of dambagas. Dambulu Viharaya “Jambu Kola Lena” was first mentioned in historical sources during the reign of King Vijayabahu I of the Polonnaruwa era. King Nissankamalla also used this name in his inscriptions.
Before the construction of a temple there is a clear fact about the caves. Thirty-four Brahmi inscriptions have been found throughout the temple premises. This means that the Buddhist monks have been living here since the introduction of Buddhism. During the time of the Aryan settlement, this area was inhabited. Similar articles have been found from Embulbee, Kandalama and Pidurangala around Dambulla. Although the earliest historical records of this cave temple are not mentioned, inscriptions and oral traditions suggest that it was built by King Walagamba (103 & 89 - 77 BC). According to the ritual, King Walagamba had carved out caves in this cave that gave him shelter and protection during the 12 years of the Tamil invasions. It is this king who has built three shrines known as Pasthima Vihara, Maharaja Vihara and Deviraja Vihara. It is believed that King Walagamba had a stupa which had been carved to the left of the north entrance of the largest cave temple called the Maharaja Vihara. It is believed that King Valagamba had built the stupas of Nissankamalla and Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe at the southern end of the temple.
The temple was built in the BCE first century and during the Polonnaruwa period it was re-awakened. After the fall of the kingdom of Anuradhapura in 1017 AD, the Tamils turned their attention to Pollonnaruwa. At that time Prince Keerthi founded Vijayabahu I under various constraints after a period of three years in Anuradhapura between 1055 and 1110 AD. Since then, the Buddha Sasana that was destroyed in the country has been rebuilt and the temples built in the area have been renovated. Accordingly, the Jambukola Lena or Dambulu Viharaya was renovated at that time. The nature of the restoration work done by King Vijayabahu in the Dambulla Temple is not clear. However, it is believed that it was a monastery where the monks resided.
The golden era of the Dambulla Viharaya was established during the reign of King Keerthi Sri Nissankamalla. The inscription of this king carved from below the cave to the right of the Wahalkada of this Vihara is the longest inscription in this temple area. The last few lines refer to the sasanic service which the king had done after the reconciliation of the three sect. The king had renovated the temples in Anuradhapura, Devinuwara, Kelaniya and Mahiyanganaya. The temple had suffered a setback due to Nissankamalla's reign and was not noticed by the kings.
Thereafter, the temple was revived during the Gampola and Kandy periods. Buwanekabahu V (1372 - 1408 AD), Wickramabahu III (1360 - 1374 AD), King Wimaladharmasooriya I (1592 - 1604 AD) and King Senarath (1604 - 1635 AD) They have contributed to the development. King Senarath has assigned the restoration work of the Dambulla Vihara to Abeysinghe Mudiyanse of Welpitiye who ruled the Kandy Zone. It is during this period that King Nissankamalla is revived. Sixty-three Buddha statues have been restored.
The Dambulla Vihara was revived during the era of Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe of the Nayakkara clan. All the temples of the Vihara were renovated and painted and restored. It is mentioned in the documents that he made the king's footprint in the new temple called the Fourth Temple. Sri Wickramarajasinghe, the last king of the Kandyan period, went to this temple in a procession and went about the duties of the temple.
We should investigate the historical monuments found in this temple. The first cave is known as the Devaraja Viharaya. There is a huge statue of Lord Buddha in the statue of Lord Buddha. Next to it is the statue of Ananda. The statue of Lord Vishnu and several statues stand close to the statue. These seven statues are believed to have been built during the reign of Walagamba.
The second cave is called Maharaja's cave because of the statues of King Walagamba and Nissankamalla. This is the most beautiful temple in the Dambulla Temple. The walls are decorated with beautiful frescoes. There are about 60 statues in the cave and in addition to the Buddha statues there are statues like Natha, Maithri, Upulwan, Saman Deva and many Buddha statues made of Samadhi, Vitarka, Dharma and Abhaya. Maitreya and Natha Mahayana Bodhisattva statues are placed on either side of the statue. Behind these statues are two large deities traditionally recognized as Saman and Upulwan. They are worshiped gods among the Buddhists. In addition to the statues, all the statues are Buddha statues of various sizes and gestures. In the cave there is a painted stupa surrounded by eleven statues. The walls and canopy of the temple have numerous frescoes. Buddhist Jataka Stories and various art forms are depicted.
The other cave temple is the Great Aluth Viharaya. This cave has been named as 'Maha Aluth Viharaya' due to the recent construction of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe during the Kandyan Kingdom. It is 90 feet long and 81 feet wide. The Makara Thorana is a special creation. There are 57 statues of Buddha in various postures. The statue of King Keerthi Sri Rajasinghe is also in the royal attire. It is known as the Lena Pastima Vihara where the jewelery of King Walagamba's wife was placed. The second new Viharaya is known as the Viharaya. There are 11 statues.
There are religious and secular sculptures in the observation of the statues in the temple. There are also frescoes related to the Anuradhapura and Kandy periods. Neelagama Sithara Generation has contributed to the art and sculpture of the temple. During this period, the Dambulla Viharaya was conferred by the kings, local rulers, chiefs and others on the subject of the Fourth Sangha. Sannas and Thuda also testify that a large number of villages were offered at the same time. The temple also hosts a number of annual festivals. They are the New Rice Festival, New Year's Eve, Nanamura Festival and Karthika Mangalya. In this sense, the Rangiri Dambulu Vihara is one of the oldest and most revered living monuments among the thousands of Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka.
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