{"id":88148,"date":"2022-03-12T13:08:24","date_gmt":"2022-03-12T13:08:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/?p=88148"},"modified":"2022-03-12T13:08:24","modified_gmt":"2022-03-12T13:08:24","slug":"rock-hewn-buddha-statue-of-dowa-cave-temple-by-arundathie-abeysinghe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/rock-hewn-buddha-statue-of-dowa-cave-temple-by-arundathie-abeysinghe\/","title":{"rendered":"Rock-hewn Buddha Statue of Dowa Cave Temple By Arundathie Abeysinghe"},"content":{"rendered":"

Rock-hewn Buddha Statue of Dowa Cave Temple By Arundathie Abeysinghe<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

\"Rock-hewn<\/p>\n

\"\"Situated a few kilometers away from the ancient hamlet of Dowa (or Dhowa) on *Badulla-Bandarawela Road, approximately seven kilometers from Bandarawela town, the location of the Temple is breathtaking as it is situated at the foot of a hillock on the banks of a charming hill stream. The Temple buildings are located downhill with steep steps that lead to the famed cave temple. The hamlet has gained the name of \u201cDowa\u201d as it is located within a ring of breathtaking mountains and a river which flows across the plateau.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Temple is well-known due to the large Buddha Statue in the temple premises, considered as an example of Mahayana (a collection of Buddhist traditions: Zen Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhism) sculpture.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to chronicles, the Temple has been constructed during the reign of King Walagamba (103 BC and c. 89\u201377 BC) in the 1st century BC. This is one of several temples built by the King while taking refuge in the *Uva Province following an Indian invasion. The Cave at Dowa Temple had been one of the many safe places King Walagamba had resided during his 12-years of hiding before reclaiming the throne from the *Chola invaders. According to legends, the location of the Temple (especially the Cave) had been ideal to the King as it made a proper place of cover up with a 11 kilometers long secret tunnel known as Rawana Guhawa<\/em> (cave of Rawana) guarded by a figure of a clay cobra statue.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Rock-hewn<\/p>\n

According to locals, their ancestors have informed them of a tunnel in the temple premises with cobra images and cobras have protected the tunnel. But at present, it is cemented to avoid visitors from entering the tunnel as it is prone to cave-in which may endanger them. According to folklore, in the past, there had been a network of tunnels in Uva built by the legendary demon king *Rawana to hide *Sita invisibly.<\/span><\/p>\n

According to legends, King Walagamba had used this tunnel to escape during enemy invasion and it had been connected to *Rawana Temple in Ella and *Bogoda Raja Maha Viharaya<\/em> during the past. King Walagamba had used this tunnel as a secret escape route from Uva Province to the southern *Mahaweli River area.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a gigantic standing Buddha Statue carved into the rock face located below the road and the large carving of the Buddha stands at 39 feet (approximately 11 meters) etched on to the rock. The features of the face are serene and exudes a sense of peace. The rock cave in the Temple premises is a major tourist attraction. There is also a quaint white stupa<\/em> (dagoba<\/em>) within the temple premises enshrined with relics of an *Arhat. There are ancient and exquisite paintings of Kandyan art (*Kandyan Period art) which adorn the walls of the Temple. The large ornamental gateway at the entrance and the Image House (Budu Ge<\/em>) of the temple is inside a rock cave and depicts Kandyan art and architecture. The construction of the Temple had commenced during the Anuradhapura period, but it had been completed during the Kandyan period. The *Bodhi Tree of the Temple is serenely located at mid-level, with the Budhu Gey<\/em> (Image Houser) located at the base. There is a sermon hall located towards the side of the Bodhi Tree overlooking the flowing river. The shrine room of the Temple has two-dimensional Kandyan paintings with *Jataka<\/em> stories built into rock which according to folklore were done during the Kandyan era by Kandyan Kings. The rock canopy of the Temple has floral paintings including lotus flowers as well as a rare painting called \u2018Ath-Gon Satana\u2019 <\/em>(fight between a tusker and a bull).<\/span><\/p>\n

A noteworthy feature of the Temple is the presence of images of cobras. There is a belief among locals that there is a cobra living in the Cave.<\/span><\/p>\n

In 1996, the Temple was declared a protected heritage site and an archaeologically protected monument.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Rock-hewn<\/p>\n

Location: <\/strong>Badulla \u2013 Bandarawela Road (about 7 kilometers from Bandarawela)<\/span><\/p>\n

Image courtesy \u2013 tripadvisor.com & visitellea.com<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n