**The Kingdom of Gampola**

This page shall be updated over time with photographs and more information as I again visit these places….

  In the mid 1340’s (AD) King Buvanekabalu  IV made Gampola his capital city. Gampola continued to be a Kingdom till 1415 AD.

  With the formation of large settlements on the banks of River Mahaweli and the migration of  the population The King shifted his kingdom from Kurunegala to Gampola.

   Kings Of Gampola

            1346-1354 A.D                                        King Buwanekabahu IV

1344-1360 A.D                                        King Parakramabahu V (from Dethigama)

1356-1375 AD                                         King Wikramabahu III

1371-1391 AD                                         King Buwanekabahu V

1391-1396 AD                                         King Weerabahu II

13-96-1408 AD                                        King Weera Alakeshwara

Anthologies Of Sandesa

          (equivalent to Kalidasa’s Meghaduta)

  Two anthologies, Thisara Sandesa and Mayara Sandesa, were written during this period. Sandesa Means message and these messages were sent to Gods invoking their blessings on the king or a dignatory through Thisara (swan) or a Mayara (peacock). These Sandesas describe in poetic detail  the route taken by either birds- that is the country side, the scenic beauty and the places of interest.

  Mayara Sandesaya

  The author, Pundith Kaweeshwara was a grandson of Gurulugomi- author of Buthsarana. It was written during the period of King Buwaneka Bahu V (1344-1360AD).

  Mayura Sandesa has 164 poems under five headings. It requests God Upulwan to protect ven Dharmakeerthi Maha Sanghanayakathera, Buddha Sasana, King Buwaneka Bahu V, his chief queen, sub-king and dignatories of the court. It relates in detail the beauties of Devinuwara, Kelanipura, Weligampatuna and God Upulwan

  Thisara Sandesaya

  Written to bless King Parakrama Bahu V by a Pandith (Galathurumula Maitriya Nayaka Thera?). It is the second of its kind and is composed of 184 poems invoking the blessings of God Upulwan of Devinuwara to protect the king and the throne. King Parakrama V reigned from Dethigama, surrounded by foes.

  In addition to the Sandesas the following books were written during the Gampola era:

          *Elu Attangalu Wamsa-1382- The story of King Sri Sanghabodhi of Anaradhapuda.

         *Nikaya Sangrahaya

         *Sadharmalankaraya-by ven. Jayahahu Dhammakitthi thera (1396-1410)

          * yoga Ratnakaraya

Rock Inscriptipons

  Lankatilaka

  Gadaladeniya

Temples and Devalas.....

  Lanka Tilika Temple

   Constructed by Senalankadhikara Senivirat (General of the defence Force). Two rock inscriptions can be seen here- one in Sinhala by King Buwaneka Bahu IV and one in Tamil by King Pararama Bahu III. The work was executed by architect Stapati Rayar.

  The temple is four storeys and the inner house is a Buddhist image house (Pilima Ge). This is enclosed on all four sides by another structure and the space used to house gods Upulvan, Saman, Wibhishana, Ganesha and Skanda. On either side of each entrance on the outer wall there are 16 figures of elephants –paintings belonging to the kandyana era.

   Gadaladeniya Temple

  This temple was built by Rev. Seelawansa Dharmakeerti Sangha Nayaka during the reign of King Buwaneka Bahu IV. The architect of this temple was Sri Ganeshwaracharaya and it was built in the style that prevailed in South India during this period.

  In the stereobate at the entrance are figures of musicians and dancers . Sat the foot of the main entrance there is a moonstone and two Gajashinha (Elephant-Lion figures). It is a three storied structure.

   Embekke Dewala

  This is believed to be the oldest known wooden structure of Sri Lanka. Though the local tradition holds that this was built in the 14^th Century AD it is difficult to believe that it is older than the 17^th Century AD.

  The pillars in the digge of the dewala and other architectural members are exquisitely carved. Of all the wooden structures of the Kandy period this is considered the most ornate and attractive. The upper story of the sanctum is fictitious without an upper floor. The four walls of this section are reared on four wooden beams. The timber of the roof are of massive proportions- some of them as big as 60 feet.

Article compiled by Rasika