Significance of Kebellelena cave temple – By M. A. R. Manukulasooriya
The Kebellelena cave temple is an ancient Buddhist vihara at Dagama in the Polpithigama Divisional Secretariat division in the Kurunegala district.
To reach this sacred site, one has to travel 24 kilometres from Ibbagamuwa along the Ibbagamuwa-Madagalla road upto Dagama Primary School and turn right and travel about 400 metres along the gravel road.
It is believed that the temple was built by King Devanampiyatissa in the second century B. C. E
According to folklore, King Walagamba had come to this place for his protection and lived there for some time after flushing the pangolins (Kebella) that were inside the caves and thus the temple was named Kebellelena (Cave of the pangolins)
This sacred site was declared as an archaeological reservation by the Department of Archaeology in 1965. According to the Chief Incumbent of the temple, Ven. Pothuwila Wimalagnana Thera, this is the only temple in Sri Lanka where a Devale, a Dhamma Hall and a Shrine Room are housed in one cave.
Officers of the Archaeological Department had carried out an Archaeological survey on the site in 2008. The frescoes in the temple are perishing with the plaster peeling off. The main Buddha statue has been disfigured. The Makara Thorana (dragon arch) at the entrance to the shrine room is in a dilapidated condition.
The old Dagoba had been damaged by treasure hunters several times. According to Pura Vidya Chakrawarthi Ven. Ellawala Medhananda Thera, this Dagoba is a Kanchuka Stupa. The Thera said that this temple belongs to four eras. There are 18 drip ledged caves.
There are five cave inscriptions belonging to the 2nd century B.C.E The Brahmi letters of the inscriptions in the caves are fading.
The Chief Incumbent said that it has not been possible to carry out any renovation work due to lack of funds. There are nearly 200 dayakas of the temple. But they are not in a position to fund for renovations. Also the temple does not have any source of income. The Dhamma school is conducted in the partly built Dhamma Hall. The construction work on this building has come to a standstill due to non-availability of funds,” the Thera said. The shooting of a tele-drama called “Sindu” which was telecast on the ITN was centred on this sacred site.
Ven. Wimalagnana Thera said, “Many local and foreign tourists visit the temple almost every day. But we have not been able to provide them with at least basic facilities such as sanitary facilities and water. There is no resting hall for them too. If these shortcomings are met, this site will be a booming tourist destination.”
The Chief Incumbent appeals to philanthropists to contribute their donations to complete the construction work of the temple.
