Sri Lanka: A wall painting of the last king of Ceylon, Sri Vikrama Rajasinha (1780 - January 30, 1832), Asgiriya Vihara (temple), Kandy

Sri Vikrama Rajasinha (Tamil:விக்கிரம ராச சிங்கன்)(1780 - January 30, 1832) was the last king of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and the last of four kings from the Tamil and Telugu origin of Nayakar dynasty. He was eventually deposed by the British under the terms of the Kandyan Convention.

Asgiriya Vihara, the ‘Monastery of the Horse Mountain’, was built by the family of Pilima Talauve in the early 19th century, on a plot adjoining the ancient royal cremation ground. The Asgiriya Vihara is a rather smallish, inconspicuous temple, but as one of the seats of Goyigama religious power, of great significance.

From the early 19th century onwards, during the Esala Perahera, the sacred Tooth Relic would be deposited for the last night of the festival at the Asgiriya Vihara. Together with the Malwatte Vihara, it is also one of the wealthiest temples in Sri Lanka.

Copyright:

CPA Media Co. Ltd.

Photographer:

Rainer Krack

Credit:

Pictures From Asia