The Tämpiṭavihras of Sri Lanka: Elevated Image-Houses in Buddhist Architecture

By Kapila D. Silva, Dhammika P. Chandrasekara and Amos Rapoport

The Ṭämpiṭavihāras of Sri Lanka focuses on one distinctive Buddhist architectural practice from pre-modern Sri Lanka – the construction of Buddha image-houses on elevated wooden platforms supported by stone pillars. As a centre of Buddhism, Sri Lanka has a rich tradition of erecting Buddha image-houses, the origin of which dates to the fifth century. Yet, the ṭämpiṭavihāra tradition only existed from the thirteenth to the nineteenth centuries. The ṭämpiṭavihāra is an exceptional type of image-house, not only for its specific timeframe and unique construction technology, but also for its complex architectural conception of the Buddhist worldview and soteriology. This book examines the significant aspects of ṭämpiṭavihāra architecture and documents some of the distinctive examples of ṭämpiṭavihāra with an analysis of their architectural design and symbolic content.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anthem Press
• Release date: Jul 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781785277511

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THE ṬÄMPIṬAVIHĀRAS OF SRI LANKA

Elevated Image-Houses in Buddhist Architecture

Dhammika P. Chandrasekara and Kapila D. Silva

THE ṬÄMPIṬAVIHĀRAS OF SRI LANKA

Elevated Image-Houses in Buddhist Architecture

Dhammika P. Chandrasekara and Kapila D. Silva

Anthem Press

An imprint of Wimbledon Publishing Company

www.anthempress.com

This edition first published in UK and USA 2021

by ANTHEM PRESS

75–76 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8HA, UK

or PO Box 9779, London SW19 7ZG, UK

and

244 Madison Ave #116, New York, NY 10016, USA

Copyright © Dhammika P. Chandrasekara and Kapila D. Silva 2021

The authors assert the moral right to be identified as the authors of this work.

All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

ISBN-13: 978-1-78527-749-8 (Hbk)

ISBN-10: 1-78527-749-9 (Hbk)

Cover image: Kapila D. Silva

This title is also available as an e-book.

CONTENTS

Illustrations

Acknowledgements

Foreword by Amos Rapoport

Introduction

Part I The Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra Tradition

Chapter 1

The Tradition of Buddha Image-Houses in Sri Lanka

Chapter 2

The Ṭämpiṭavihāra Design

Chapter 3

The Evolution of Ṭämpiṭavihāras and Their Variations

Conclusion

Part II Illustrations of Selected Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra s

Introduction

Central Province

•Dӓmbāva Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Mātalē District

•Dūnkumbura Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kandy District

•Kalo ṭ uvāva Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kandy District

•Mī ṇ īgomuva Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kandy District

•Murudde ṇ iya Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kandy District

•Sūriyago ḍ a Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kandy District

•U ḍ asgiriya Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Mātalē District

•Va ḷ ala Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kandy District

North Central Province

•A ḷ utdivulvӓva Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Anurādhapura District

•Ambaräli Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Anurādhapura District

•Habara ṇ a Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Anurādhapura District

North Western (Vayamba) Province

•Baladora Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

•Bihalpola Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

•Bi ṅ giriya Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

•Dӓtava Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

•Ha ḷ ambe Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

•Hiňdagahavӓva Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

•Hiruvalpola Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

•Hu ḷ ugalla Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

•Ītanawatta-Mӓddēgo ḍ a Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

•Ka ṇ ugala Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

•Kōňduruvāpola Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

•Kōngahagedara Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

•Mahamitava Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

•Nāvinna Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

•U ḍ ubaddāva Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kuru ṇ ǟgala District

Sabaragamuva Province

•Ambu ḷ ugala Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kǟgalle District

•Ka ḍ igamuva Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra (Lower Terrace), Kǟgalle District

•Ka ḍ igamuva Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra (Upper Terrace), Kǟgalle District

•Kempi ṭ ikanda Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kǟgalle District

•Levangama Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kǟgalle District

•Lewke Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kǟgalle District

•Ma ḍ uvanwela Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Ratnapura District

•Māliyӓdda Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kǟgalle District

•Muwapi ṭ iya Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kǟgalle District

•Ōmalpē Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Ratnapura District

•Pӓlma ḍ ulla Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Ratnapura District

•Va ḷ algo ḍ a Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Ratnapura District

Southern Province

•Hatāgala Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Hambanto ṭ a District

•Mābo ṭ uwana Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Gālle District

•Sīgala Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Hambanto ṭ a District

•Va ṭ agedara Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Mātara District

•Vilayāya Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Mātara District

Ūva Province

•Ko ṭ asara Piya ṅ gala Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Monarāgala District

Western Province

•A ṭ upotde ṇ iya Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Gampaha District

•Kӓkulanda ḷ a Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Kalutara District

•Mӓ ṭ iko ṭ amulla Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Gampaha District

•Mo ṭ ṭ unna Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Gampaha District

•Varapalāna Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Gampaha District

•Vidyāravindra Pirivena Ya ṭ awatta Ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra, Gampaha District

Bibliography

Appendix: A List of Ṭämpiṭavihāras in Sri Lanka

Index

ILLUSTRATIONS

Table

1. Dimensions of the cella of several ṭ ämpi ṭ avihāra s

Figures

1.Map of Sri Lanka, showing the territory of the Kandyan Kingdom in 1815 and the historical capitals of different periods of Sri Lankan history

2.Sacred footprints of the Buddha, Anurādhapura, as a commemorative shrine

3.A Vajrāsana, the Diamond Seat of Victory, Anurādhapura, as a commemorative shrine

4.A prototype of a paṭimāghara in the Abhayagiri Vihāra, Anurādhapura

5.A gandhakuṭi paṭimāghara from Punkuliya, Anurādhapura

6.The geḍigē paṭimāghara at Avukana, Kalāväva (fifth century)

7.The Thūpārāma paṭimāghara in Polonnaruva

8.The paṭimāghara/dhātughara at Dambadeṇiya, Kuruṇǟgala District

9.Lamkātilaka Paṭimāghara, Gampola

10.The geḍigē paṭimāghara at Gaḍalādeṇiya, Gampola

11.The cave temple at Bambaragala, Kandy District; a plan, a section and the front elevation

12.The plinth-type paṭimāghara at Suduhumpola, Kandy

13.The triad of ritualistic structures in the premises of Danḍagamuwa Temple, Kuruṇǟgala District

14.The side-by-side arrangement of ṭämpiṭavihāra and bōdhi tree in the temple at Nakkāwatta, Kuruṇǟgala District

15.The typical arrangement of beams and pillars in ṭämpiṭavihāra

16.The substructure of the ṭämpiṭavihāra at Deekirikǟva, viewed from the rear, showing the typical beam/pillar arrangement, with additional beams at the centre along both the shorter and longer axes of the structure as well as along the perimeter

17.Bissa, a paddy grain storage structure, Kuruṇǟgala District

18.Karagahagedara Ambalama, Kuruṇǟgala District

19.The monks’ residence, Gevilpiṭiya Temple, Moragammana, Aranāyake, Kǟgalle District

20.A damaged portion of the wall of cella of the ṭämpiṭavihāra at Moṭṭunna, Gampaha District, revealing the wattle-and-daub construction

21.The ambulatory of the ṭämpiṭavihāra at Moṭṭunna, Gampaha District

22.A pēkaḍa from the paṭimāghara at Dambadeṇiya, Kuruṇǟgala District

23.Timber construction of roof, beams, and balustrades and decorative valance board tiles of the ṭämpiṭavihāra at Moṭṭunna, Gampaha District

24.The entry threshold of the ṭämpiṭavihāra at Kalundǟva, Kuruṇǟgala District

25.The traditional entry design of religious buildings in Sri Lanka, with moonstone, guardstones, and wingstones

26.The frontispiece of the tämpitavihāra at Nakkāwatta, Kuruṇǟgala District

27.The massing and solid/void pattern of typical ṭämpiṭavihāra design

28.The hierarchical spatial progression and movement patterns in typical ṭämpiṭavihāra design

29.The ṭämpiṭavihāra at Palugamuwa, Kuruṇǟgala District, with upper and lower verandahs for circumambulation

30.The symmetry and balance in façade treatment and plan form of typical ṭämpiṭavihāra design

31.Analysis of Kandyan period vernacular architecture into ‘chamber’ and ‘pavilion’ modules

32.Inner chamber of the ṭämpiṭavihāra at Varapalāna, Gampaha District, with two standing Buddha images on either side of the central seated Buddha image

33.Inner chamber of the ṭämpiṭavihāra at Moṭṭunna, Gampaha District

34.Murals in the inner chamber of the ṭämpiṭavihāra at Moṭṭunna, Gampaha District, depicting the sūvisivivaraṇaya

35.Murals on the outer walls of the ṭämpiṭavihāra at Bihalpola, Kuruṇǟgala District

36.The ceiling from the sanctum of the ṭämpiṭavihāra at Bihalpola, Kuruṇǟgala District

37.The ṭämpiṭavihāra at Budumuttāva, Kuruṇǟgala District

38.Transverse sections of ṭämpiṭavihāras at (a) Ambulugala, Kǟgalle District; and (b) Biṅgiriya, Kuruṇǟgala District

39.A typology of ṭämpiṭavihāras

40.Cella-cum-ambulatory āvāsagē at Bihalpola, Kuruṇǟgala District

41.Ṭӓmpiṭa-dēvāla at Keṭēwatta, Gampaha District

42.God Nātha, with both hands depicting abhayamudrā (the gesture of dispelling fears), Tämpiṭavihāra at Bihalpola

43.Map of Sri Lanka showing the key towns near the selected ṭämpiṭavihāras

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book has been in the making for two decades, and many have helped us in numerous ways in its preparation. We thus extend our gratitude to the following friends, mentors, students, and institutions. Without their unwavering support, this publication could not have been completed.

The project began as an exercise to document historic buildings for first-year students of the Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, during the 1997–99 academic years, which we co-taught. Since then, multiple cohorts of first-year architecture students prepared measured drawings of the ṭämpiṭavihāras that are featured in this book. We thank all of them for undertaking this strenuous task. Their effort and names are recognized in the book next to the illustrations they prepared. Contributions by our colleagues in the Department of Architecture: Archt. Roshini Wickremanayake; Archt. Niroshan Gunawardena; Archt. Damith de Silva; Dr Indrika Rajapaksha; Dr Nishantha Wijetunga; Dr Gamini Weerasinghe; and Prof. Samitha Manawadu – in guiding students in the preparation of drawings are invaluable and thus are profoundly cherished. Ms Melanie Dissanayake provided us with vital information on the temple mural traditions in Sri Lanka.

We would also like to thank late Dr Roland Silva and late Archt. Chris de Saram, as well as Prof. Nimal de Silva and Prof. Nisha Fernando, for their critical feedback on the initial and final manuscripts. The staff at the Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa, assisted us in numerous ways. Thanks are due to R. A. J. Kithsiri, Samanmali Perera, Rajitha Katugaha, S. S. Alahakoon, Varuna Dikmadugoda, Gihan Shanaka de Silva, and Thushari Munwaththa for various technical assistance in the preparation of the drawings for publication and photo-documentation of the image-houses. Thanks are also due to Archt. Prasanna Ratnayaka, additional director general of the Department of Archaeology of Sri Lanka, for his generous assistance.

We are indebted to Dr Marie Alice L’Heureux, professor of architecture at the University of Kansas, USA, for her meticulous editing of the book and valuable feedback. We also appreciate the assistance given by Benjamin Naudet and Dylan Baile, students of architecture at the University of Kansas, USA, in creating several illustrations. Ben Naudet also designed the layout of the book.

We are most grateful to Amos Rapoport, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Architecture of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA, for his kind gesture in writing a foreword to the volume. Thanks are due to Megan Greiving and Lydia Stevens at the Anthem Press for their great advice, support, and patience during the preparation of this volume.

The initial phase of this study on ṭämpiṭavihāra received the Michael Ventris Memorial Fund – 1997 Award for Architecture. The award was extremely useful in completing the documentation of 17 ṭämpiṭavihāras and the publication of the first edition of the book in 2002. We deeply appreciate the encouragement given to us by the Memorial Fund Committee. Thanks are due to our home institutions for support and encouragement given: A 2016 sabbatical leave from the University of Kansas and a research travel grant from the university’s Office of International Affairs were helpful for Dr Silva to work on the expanded revision of the initial manuscript. The Department of Architecture at the University of Moratuwa granted permission to include students’ measured drawings in the book. Finally, we are immensely indebted to the monks and lay patrons of the temples in which the documented ṭämpiṭavihāras are located for their kind hospitality and all the support extended to us and our students in our fieldwork. We also appreciate the assistance given by the parents and relatives of some of our students in conducting the fieldwork. We hope that this publication is useful to those who have an interest in studying and preserving the vernacular architectural traditions of Sri Lanka.

We dedicate this book with affection and gratitude to the memory of our colleague, teacher, and mentor Archt. Christopher J. de Saram. He set high standards for architectural scholarship as well as for ethical living in his own conduct of life, which are equally inspiring and challenging for us. His lifelong passion for teaching and the study of sociocultural production of vernacular environments continue to motivate us. We are ever grateful to the generosity and benevolence he extended to us. We cherish his presence in our lives forever.

Dhammika P. Chandrasekara and Kapila D. Silva

November 2020

FOREWORD

The title of this book might suggest that it is a specialized monograph on a specific building type – the ṭämpiṭavihāra (image-house) – in a particular place (Sri Lanka). It is, of course, that. However, by approaching the topic in an extremely thorough and multifaceted way, it manages to transcend the genre, which leads to three rather more general outcomes. One of these bears indirectly a method, not explicitly but by providing an example of good research. The other more general outcomes are conceptual and provide both suggestions and material for further research.

The study as a whole provides a good example of the importance of thorough research, showing that it may take time. It emphasizes the importance of a thorough understanding of built environments rather than the superficial, personal, purely visual judgements common in mainstream architecture and architectural criticism, typically illustrated with just photographs. In this case, there is a good use of photographs, drawings, and conceptual diagrams, the importance of which I have long emphasized. These greatly clarify many of the findings.

The research involves detailed historical, spatial (site and buildings), symbolic, iconographic, materials, construction, and behavioural aspects. It thereby encompasses the organization of space, time, meaning, and communication, a useful way of conceptualizing the built environment.

The thorough analysis of a small, apparently simple building type, the image-house in Sri Lanka and its rather unique construction shows how it is able to embody important aspects of Buddhism and can communicate many aspects of the Buddhist worldview. The communication of complex meanings such as the distinction between the sacred and the profane, and among degrees of sanctity, is achieved in a number of ways, using a variety of means, including raising the building on stone pillars, the location of the building on the site, iconography, and circulation. This re-emphasizes the important role of meaning in the built environment.

Conceptually this is the first (in fact only) study of which I know of the operation of the ‘model with variations’ in all aspects of a single building type. It provides evidence, documentation, and data (including the students’ very useful measured drawings in Part II). The ‘model with variations’ is shown to apply to the site arrangement, through the various ways in which the image-house related to the other