Arankele

Text and pictures by Ganga Pradeepa

Kurunegala was the royal capital for over half a century. Today only a little is left of the Tooth relic temple. At present there are many ancient religious places in Kurunegala such as Arankele, Ridi Viharaya, Ath Kanda Viharaya etc.

Arankele which is half an hour’s drive from Kurunegala town, is a fascinating 6th Century Buddhist forest hermitage where the Arahat Maliyadeva and others lived. This impressive hermitage consists of moats, waterways, stone walls, a complete ancient hospital with a stone herbal bath, herb-grinder, room for the sick, together with meditating and preaching halls. Today it is preserved as a celebrated archaeological site.

Approaching the place through the Ibbagamuwa Madagalla Road we came across a signboard on our left indicating ‘Arankele Arannaya’. After a ten minutes drive from that signboard Arankele could be reached easily.

This is a calm place for meditation and solitude in bare cells and caves. Going along the long and ancient Sakman Maluwa (meditation walk) we saw a large and beautifully designed bath, a handsome circular shrine and a faultless drainage and a sanitary network.

There was a Sangawasa (dwelling) which was surrounded by a moat. “Arankele Sakman Maluwa is the longest one in Sri Lanka (250 feet) and was discovered during excavations by the Archaeological Department 28 years ago. Legend has it that in the 6th Century there was Arahant Maliyadewa staying at Arankele with 12,000 Arahants. Today there are only twenty five monks who have made it their abode,” said the Chief Priest of Arankele Arannaya, Kiripedde Piyadassi thera.

The entire area was dotted with huge trees and we felt a real sense of tranquillity and peace whilst enjoying the shade the trees there provided. But when somebody visits this place he should remember that this is not a pleasure park where we have ample freedom.

According to the Archaeological Department Arankele is a monastery in Padanagara style for the monks who devote themselves to meditation. According to the literary evidence the origin of this monastery belongs to the early Anuradhapura period. Remains of ancient buildings date back to 8-10th centuries A.D.

“This monastery was at its pristine glory during the Gampola period. Jantagara, Chankamanagaraya, ponds, Bodhigara, pathways flights of steps made of polished stones, urinal stones are found among a host of remains here. This site has been declared as an archaeological reserve by the authorities”.