Introduction
In the year 1873 a virtuous Buddhist monk, Rev Aluthgama Sangharatne by name came
to the Village called Etanamadala in Kalutara North and was residing in a quiet
hermitage, a strip of jungle close to river Kalu Ganga. He wed to go begging for
food round the Village and the people happened to assemble at the hermitage to hear
his sermons.
A devout religious donor who was quite wealthy, Mr. Elliyas Fernando by name, a
residence of Kalutara North happened to listen to their sermons and so became a
dedicated benefactor of Rev. Sangharatne Thera. He arrange a small hall built in
the same land as the temple exist today and donated to the monk to conduct his sermons.
The hall was then called ‘Katti-paha’. Since then the monk conducted most of his
Buddhist sermons inside the hall and naturally the popularity of his sermons attracted
the Buddhist devotees in large numbers. With the donations of the growing number
of devotees the sermon hall was enlarged and this spot came to be known as ‘Dharma
Salava’, the preaching hall as we know it today.
Later, resident of Etanamadala Village caused to build a small Shrine room for the
devotees to do offerings. They also built another preaching hall while the former
hall was enlarged by Mr. Elliyas Fernando, adding ten rooms for the residential
monks. In the center of this large building is the Relic chamber around which there
are small halls and the drawing room.
He then started building a Mansion for the Buddha which is the present Shrine house.
The ‘Vihara Mandira’ with all its splendout. The stone inscription fixed on to the
front wall of the shrine says that this Temple Asokarama is offered to the Monks
by the devotee Elliyas Fernando in the year 2411 Buddhist era, that is 1867AD, in
the midst of the Maha Sangha the retinue of Monks headed by Ven. Siri Dhammarama
Thera of Matara.
After the demise of Ven. Aluthgama Sangharatne Thera, Ven. Kalutara Siri Sumanatissa
Thera was the head of the Temple from 1881 to 1920, during which period the present
Dageba or the Stupa the dome where relics are embedded was built. This Monk was
also the head of the Siri Dhamma Yuttika (Matara) sect of Buddhist Monks.
When he passed away in 1920, Ven. Kalutara Vimalajoti Tissa took over the Temple.
It was during his period the present preaching hall was built and also the Bo-tree
was planted and the tower for the Temple bell was built.
Next came the Ven. Kalutara Saddhatissa Thera’s period of administration from 1934
to 1959. His pupils were Rev. Parakaduwe Saranankara and Rev. Kirillavela Piyatissa
Students at Molligoda Pirivena at the time. As Ven. Saddhatissa was invalid the
administration of the Temple was handed over to Ven. Delgoda Pemananda Thera.
Rev Parakaduwe Saranankara Thero. The current chief incumbent of the Asokarama Buddhist
temple Kalutara, Chief monk of the Buddhist monetary council Kalutara, Chief Monk
of New Korale and Thotamune Buddhist monetary council in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Rev Parakaduwe Saranankara Is the head priest of the temple since 1976 to the present
date. He also the head priest and administer the Buddhist programs of five other
Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. These temples are as follows:
1. Vivekarama Buddhist temple, Kaduboda Delgoda Sri Lanka,
2. Vivekarama Buddhist Temple, Mahara, Sri Lanka
3. Vivekarama Buddhist Temple, Kalutara Beach, Kalutara North, Sri Lanka
4. Bodhirukkarama Vivekarama Buddhist Temple, Kalutara North, Sri Lanka
5. Dharmakeerthiyodyarama Vivekarama Buddhist Temple, Kalutara South, Sri Lanka
Rev Parakaduwe Saranankara is also the head of Buddhist monetary council of Kalutara,
and the Colombo districts. He is well known for his ability to chant Pirith in a
mesmerising voice and style in the well known Buddhist monk community Sri Lanka
and abroad.
What greeted us, when we entered the Asokaramaya is some of the finest wall murals
I have ever seen in Sri Lanka. The details, the colours, were exquisite to the minute
detail. The result is like nothing I have seen before, for it depicts Sri Lankans
as Buddhist, something outside the normal Buddhists which are often Thai, or Burmese,
or Tibetan or Chinese.
The Asokaramaya is truly a worthy destination to explore if you ever find yourself
in Sri Lanka. Print out this page and show it to a taxi driver!
|