The ancient Muruthawa cave temple in the Ibbagamuwa Divisional Secretariat Division is in dire need of restoration and will be lost forever unless swift action is taken to preserve it. There are a large number of antiquities including rare wall paintings at the temple.
Among the wall paintings, the one that depicts “Mara Parajaya (Defeat of death) is unique as there is a Maraya with a gun in his hand. The painting is a creation of an artiste called Hiriyale Naide. “Mara Parajaya” is depicted in other temples with Marayas holding “Panchayuda” (Five arms) in their hands.
It is believed that the temple was built during the reign of King Devanampiyatissa. Chronicles such as Saddhammalankaraya and Rasavahini say that the history of the temple goes back to the period of arhant Mahinda Thera.
According to Mahawamsa, craftsmen belonging to 18 castes had come to Sri Lanka when Theri Sangamitta brought the sacred Bo sapling from India to Sri Lanka. One group had been deployed for the protection of Bodhiya. The head of the group was known as Prince Bodhiraja.
The daughter of Prince Bodhiraja had gone to the nearby village called Muruthawa Chief Incumbent of the temple Ven. Nahalle Chandrajothi Thera said that Bodhiraja’s daughter had built the temple with a dagoba.
A rock inscription belonging to the Anuradhapura era was found in the temple premises. According to the inscription, the daughter of a regional leader called Sangabodhi had performed Poojas at the temple.
Legends say that there had been a tank near the temple.
Most frescoes in the temple are perishing with the plaster peeling off. Some Buddha statues too faded. The frescoes belong to the Kandyan era.
D.A.Kumarathunge, a lecturer in History of the University of Kelaniya had conducted a research on this historical place and submitted a report to the Department of Archaeology.
The Chief Incumbent and the Dayaka Sabha call upon the Ministry of Buddha Sasana and the Department of Archaeology to take action to preserve these antiquities for the benefit of the future generation.
