Galapatha Rajamaha                     Viharaya.

                           There is a Bentota Galapatha Viharaya in a village called "Arachchimulla" in our area called Bentota. This temple is very beautiful. It is also a historic temple. My family and i love to visit Galapatha Vihara. Because it is a quiet place. So as soon as we get a chance we go to the temple. A large number of people come to visit this temple. People come from all over our country to see this. Because this Galapatha Vihara is a very famous temple. Not only people in our country but also foreigners come to visit this temple. This Galapatha Vihara has become so famous. I have a lot to say when talking about this temple. So today i am going to tell you two facts about my research on Galapatha Viharaya. I think it is very important to you.

• Rare archaeological find               

                    Surpassing them all is a unique archaeological object Galperanaya ( stone water filter ), made out of some quality of stone having porous properties to absorb the water filled into it. It is oval in shape, like a basin, having its mouth at the top. Its depth is about 18 inches. There are tow small arm-like appendages attached on its left and right hand sides. There are also two oval stone pillars with circular rings lightly carved on them. The Galperanaya is kept under the two arm-like appendages serving as pedestals. The incumbent of the temple, ven. Bentota Assaji Himi demonstrated how this Galperanaya worked, when water was filled into it from is mouth. After about 15-20 minutes, i noticed the outer surface of this stone vessel gradually getting damp. Thereafter drops trickled down into the small basin kept under it. I examined the underside, but there were no incisions made for the water to filter down. Bentota Assaji disclosed that Dr. Roland de silva, as Director-General of the Department of Archaeology had visited this temple and been quite amazed to see this marvellous piece.  Assaji said that this Galperanaya was kept exclusively in the pilimage (image house) to be used for sprinkling 'pen' (water) on the flowers offered to the Buddha. He was of the opinion that its age cannot be determined, but it had been kept at this temple from time immemorial when arahats had lived in this monastery.

• Stone inscriptions 

                              Close to the stone gateway down on a rock outcrop is etched a line of inscriptions supposed to date back to the reign of Parakramabahu the Great of the 12th century A.D or that of the Dambadeniya period of king Parakramabahu i of the 13th century. These inscriptions have been enclosed with a protective metal fence by the Department of Archaeology. The gist of the inscriptions is as follows: in the 31st reign of Parakramabahu king, he had directed a Dravidian chieftain named Mahendra, with the assistance of Dravidians there to build the Galapatha Vihara for which labour, lands, gamvaran and other land donations have been decreed. This noble, a chieftain of high rank and prestige is named Kahambalkulu Mahinda, Dravidian chieftain, thus decreeing lands, gam vasam to the temple, the people and other relatives. ( This extract in brief is taken from the Sinhala book titled 'Bentota Paradisaya' by Albert Kannangara).

                              I think many of you have already come to visit this temple. So all my friends who could not come and enjoy the beauty, tranquility and historical things of "Bentota Galapatha Vihara".