Sooriyapokuna Raja Maha Viharaya to be a Centre for Spiritual Education and Meditation

Text and pic by PRIYAN DE SILVA

The Sooriyapokuna Raja Maha Viharaya said to have been built in the era of King Dutugemunu, is being transformed into a Centre for Spiritual Education and Meditation.

Sooriyapokuna is a rural village half a kilometre from the Middeniya – Hungama main road. The turnoff to the village is in close proximity to the township of Debokkawa, which is almost midway between the Angunukolapelessa exit of the Southern Expressway and the Middeniya Town.

The village is said to have got its name because it was at the village pond that a provincial king named Suriya bathed.

According to folklore Sooriyapokuna in this area that King Dutugemunu assembled and trained his troops in preparation to wage war against king Elara, he built the temple as a mark of gratitude after war victory. It is also believed that Prince Saliya and his consort Asokamala lived in this area.

It is the vision of the present Chief Incumbent of the Sooriyapokuna Rajamaha Viharaya Ven Welipitiye Rathanasiri, who is also the Chief Incumbent of the Thisarana Buddhist Centre, Singapore, the Meththa Buddhist Centre at Werahena, Matara, and the founder of the Meththa Children’s Home in Thalpawila and the Methmal Children’s Home in Hambantota to establish a centre for Spiritual Education and Meditation for locals and foreign devotees on the 26-acre temple premises

Among the new additions to the complex nearing completion are a 100-foot tall stupa, a 600-square-foot meditation centre and residential facilities for bhikkus, bhikkunis and lay devotees.

Ven. Rathnasiri said that the traditional ceremony of enshrining relics within the new Chaithya would commence on Monday (23) and continue for one week.