Tempita Vihara (Sinhala: ටැම්පිට විහාර) is a unique type of image house found in some Buddhist temples in Sri Lanka. With an inimitable architecture design, Tempita Viharas were a popular aspect of many Buddhist temples during the 17th to 19th centuries.[1] Construction of Tempita Viharas in or after the 20th century has been not recorded.[2] More than two hundred Tempita Viharas have been identified in Sri Lanka to date.[3] Most of the shrines are found in North Western, Sabaragamuwa, Central and Western provinces.
Medawala Tempita Vihara in Kandy is considered the first accounted Tempita Vihara in Sri Lanka.[2] According to the Medawala copper plaque, it was a two-storied shrine during the 14th century and was renovated as a Tempita Vihara by Kirti Sri Rajasinha (1747–1781) in 1755. Minuwangamuwa Tempita Vihara in Kegalle is believed to be the last Tempita Vihara in the island built on 2 May 1886.[2]
Beside the Buddhist temples, few Ambalamas and Devalayas have been identified in Sri Lanka as Tempita buildings. These structures are also built on raised stone pillars or rock boulders but have minor differences in its architecture design. Awariyawala Ambalama in Gampaha, Panawitiya Ambalama in Kurunegala and Halpe Pattini Devalaya in Ella are three examples of them.
- ^ "මැදවල ටැම්පිට විහාරය". ICT Branch, Ministry of Education, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ a b c "ජනප්රිය කලාවෙන් උපන් ටැම්පිට විහාර". Divaina. Upali Newspapers. 21 October 2009. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
- ^ "President directs tampita vihara conservation". President's Media Division. Presidential Secretariat of Sri Lanka. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 14 October 2017.