Aloka Pooja at Thanthirimale courtesy Wijeya Newspapers

• There is mention about Thanthirimale in the episode on Saliya and Asokamala
• After the invasion of Magha from Kalinga the Capital of Polonnaruwa was almost the devastated. Most of the places of worship including Thanthirimale suffered tremendously. It was in 1960 that Thanthirimale was renovated

The historical Thantirimale Raja Maha Viharaya, which associates itself with a civilization running back to the period before the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka, is situated in the picturesque valley of Malwathuoya, about thirty miles away from Anuradhapura.

The old glory and the scenery of Tantirimale are revived when the whole temple area is illuminated annually by Wijeya Newspapers PVT Ltd during the Poson season. The whole of the sacred area is thronged by devotees from every corner of the country during the Poson season.

The premises will be illuminated on the 13th and 14th of this month courtesy Wijeya Newspapers. For the record this is the 19th occasion that this media institute is conducting this event.   

According to learned persons like Hokart there had been developed civilization in Thanthirimale as far from the pre historic period. Among the very important ruins recovered, not only from Thanthirimale, but also from rocks in the surrounding areas, such as Biilewa and Arndiyagala, there are some paintings by prehistoric inhabitants in the area. Paintings relating to the day to day lives of the people including the pictures of tigers, peacocks and buffaloes are found in the caves.

Recorded history of Thanthirimale 

The recorded history of Thanthirimale begins from the time when Buddhism was introduced to Sri Lanka, which was during the Third century B.C. King Devanampiyatissa mentioned in the chronicle Mahavamsa as ‘Puthuwiswara’- the lord of the earth- was a revivalist who provided probably the best royal patronage in religious activities.  Under the direction of Arahant Mahinda Maha Thera the king identified Thanthirimale as one of the places touched upon by the Enlightened One during His three visits to the island.

Various views have been expressed regarding the derivation of the name of the place. In Tamil Than Thirimalai means the devotees’ sojourn. There is a belief that the name of ‘Thanthirimale’ had been derived by those two Tamil words. 

There is mention about Tantirimale in the episode on Saliya and Asokamala. The latter had prepared a curry of Thampala Amaranth and sent to king Dutugemunu who was her father-in-law. The king who was pleased with his daughter–in-law’s gesture had sent her a golden necklace which was in the shape of a Thanthriya. ‘Thanthriya’ is a string. ‘Maale’ is a necklace. Two words Thanthriya and Maale had presumably joined to sound as Tantirimale. This necklace and some of the jewellry are believed to have been enshrined at Tantirimale Dagaba.
The sacred Bo tree, planted at Tantirimale, is rich with foliage and is providing both sacredness and serenity to the area. The premises, although entirely covered with a rock surface, offers a better site for the Bo tree than being a land with rich soil. 

This Bo tree is distinguished from other Asathu Bo trees worshipped by Buddhists. The foliage of this Bo tree is bright in colour.  Hence it is believed that it belongs to a particular species of Asathu Bo trees.  In any event its glory and sacredness remain intact.

Jayasiri Maha Bodhi 

With the royal patronage provided by “Pruthviswara” King Devanam Piyatissa Sri Maha Bodhi was the cause for Arahant Sanghamitta Maha Theri to proceed to Sri Lanka. According to Mahawamsa Thantirimalai is one of the most important stopovers of devotees proceeding to Sri Maha Bodhi from Dambakolapatuna to the capital ofAnuradhapura.

This place, which is in the village of Brahmin Tivakka, was prepared to receive the procession. The whole area was covered with a layer of white sand. The village of Brahmin Tivakka was an extremely pleasant place similar to ‘Isipatana’. 

The rock inscription recovered from a place close to Thanthirimale provides more information about the historical importance of the place. An image of a Naga –cobra with the hood-a Buddha statue and some rock inscriptions in the shape of foot prints were among the ruins recovered from the area. These ruins provide sufficient evidence to decide the historical importance of the Bo Tree at Thanthirimale.

According to Mahavamsa this is one of the Attaphala of the Sacred Jayasiri Maha Bodhi. By virtue of the devotion paid by the king and his followers eight saplings had emerged from the fruits of the Sacred Bodhi. One of them was later presented by the king to be planted at Thanthirimale. The Bo tree thus planted is standing at Raja Maha Viharaya.  

By the time of the Polonnaruwa period Tantirimale had been one of the most famous places of worship. The main Buddha statue at Tantirimale is the one in Samadhi or meditation posture. This statue is about eight feet in height. There is a Makara Thorana (Pandol) in front of the statue. 

According to Bell Makara Thorana or Makara portico with two Makaras or sea monsters with a head and forelegs of an antelope and body and tail of a fish resembles MakaraThorana in Polonnaruwa Galvihare.

Buddha statue in sleeping posture

Buddha statue in the reposing or sleeping posture is about forty feet long. It is believed that this statue had been carved to depict “Detis Maha Purusha Lakshana”- the thirty two characteristics of the Enlightened One who is said to have been eighteen cubits high; including the flame of glory which rose from His head to the height of six cubits.
The Northern region of Sri Lanka was under the domination of Chola rulers during a period of nearly half a century until King Vijayabahu- who shifted the capital to Polonnaruwa- saved the country from foreign domination. King Vijayabahu contributed substantially to the religion by renovating Buddhist places of worship which had been destroyed by the Cholas. This king had to render religious service amidst serious hardships. He had to fight against foreigners who invaded the country. He had to spend most of his time not in his palace, but in the forest, in caves and in disguise. Thus his task was more difficult than the tasks of great kings like Dutugemunu and Parakramabahu the Great. 

Restoration of Tantirimale Viharaya

King Parakramabahu the great who not only unified the country, but also invaded other countries such as Burma and the Chola State in India, contributed to the  the Buddhist Order  by constructing various places of Buddhist worship including Demala Maha seya, Thuparamaya, Lankatilakaya and Rupawathie Cheitiya among many others. Thanthirimale Rajamaha viharaya was fully renovated by him. 

After the invasion of Magha from Kalinga the Capital of Polonnaruwa was almost the devastated. Most of the places of worship including Thanthirimale suffered tremendously. It was in 1960 that Tantirimale was renovated. The place was also at one time under the threat of terrorism, but no serious damage had been caused.