Story Of Buddha at Kalutra Temple

Story of Buddha in Paintings at Kalutara Temple (Kalutara)

The Kalutara Chaitya is a Stupa (Buddhist shrine) situated just south of the Kalutara Bridge in the Kalutara District of Sri Lanka. It is unique as one of the few hollow Buddhist stupas in the world, featuring an interior adorned with 74 murals, each illustrating different aspects of the Buddha's life. Inside the larger hollow stupa are four smaller chaityas (stupas), and its walls are decorated with scenes from the Jataka tales. Visitors can enter the Kalutara Chaitya to worship and admire the statues and wall paintings depicting the stories of Buddha.

The stupa was commissioned by Sir Cyril de Zoysa, with the design created by Justin Samarasekera in collaboration with A. N. S. Kulasinghe. The construction was executed by the State Engineering Corporation of Sri Lanka, utilizing the country's first computer to perform the complex calculations required. The large concrete dome, with a diameter of 30.5 meters (100 feet) and a circumference of 91.5 meters (300 feet), features a thin shell structure with a thickness of 140 mm (5.5 inches). This was the first thin hemispherical shell built in Sri Lanka.

Historically, the site was occupied by the Gangatilaka Vihara, which was destroyed by the Portuguese during their invasion. They built a fort on the small hill, which was later expanded by the Dutch and surrendered to the British in 1796. The British converted the fort into the office and residence of the Government agent. During the British colonial period, Galle Road was constructed between the Uda Maluva and the Pahala Maluva, dividing the site into two sections. The Kalutara Bodhiya, one of 32 saplings of the sacred Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, was situated on the premises shared with the Government agent's residence and the local Kachcheri. Sir Cyril de Zoysa convinced the government to relocate the agent’s residence and offices to a site he owned in Nagoda, facilitating the development and restoration of the Bodhi premises.

The foundation of the stupa was laid in 1964, and the pinnacle was completed in January 1974. The pinnacle was officially unveiled, and relics were deposited in the inner chamber by President J. R. Jayewardene on 28 February 1980.

First Blessings from Deepankara Buddha

Future or To be Buddha finds water in the desert thru his wisdom

Budhisatva - Devidatta First Enmity

Preaching convinced devil to stop killings

The Hare offering himself as Dhane to Future Buddha

Future Buddha saving the drowning mother

An Ugly (Dark) Prince Kusa and the beautiful (Fair) Princess

Budhisatva settles the ownership of child between 2 women

Budhisatva Looks after his blind parents

Bodhisatva settles dispute over a wife

A Queen eloes with a legless person

Mother Maya sees a dream a white elephant coming

Birth of Goutam Sidarth Buddha in Lumbini Nepal

Gautam Sidarth presented to the chief Birhaman to make a fortune map of child

Prince Sidarth performing a miricle of cultivation

Prince Sidarth see the suffering, death

Sidarth looks at his wife before his great departure

Bodhisatva Leaves home life

Budhisatva leaving Palace in search of enlightenment

Budhisatva chops his hir to become an ascetic

Meditation under a Bo tree for 6 years (fasting)

For survival he takes Milk and rice

Sidarth becomes Buddha the enlightenment under the Bo tree

Buddha pays gratitude to the Bo tree under which he got enlightened

Buddha Gets forst meal the honney comb

Buddha performs miracles for his relatives

Buddha visits the former father the King Sudhodhana

Brahma Sachchaka Loses debate with Buddha

Nandapananda (Nangapananda) the king of cobras loses debate with Buddha

Religious leader Baka Brahama loses debate to Buddha

Buddha vists Mahiyangana

Buddha visits Kelaniya

Buddha visits Sri Pada

Buddha attends the final Dhane and becomes ill

Buddha returns to Kusinara

Buddha passes away (His last word were : Transient are all forms of being be aware all the times)

Cremation of the Buddha

Distribution of relics (Ashes) of Buddha