Peradeniya University Temple is located within the Peradeniya University premises. Since the day, the Most Ven. Rev. Ampitiye Sri Rahula Thero established this temple by converting the old University Telephone Exchange to a residential Aramaya for the Buddhist monks in 1983, it has become the center for Buddhist religious activities within the campus. Since the inception, social and religious services rendered by this temple amidst limited facilities to the University community and to those who live in the neighbor-hood is commendable.
The great religious and social services rendered so far under meager facilities to the University community and to the neighboring villagers by the present chief incumbent of the temple Venerable Rajakeeya Panditha Dr. Bamunugama Shanthawimala thero is invaluable. In addition to duties as the Head of the Department of Pali and Buddhist Studies in the Faculty of Arts, University Peradeniya at present the thero conducts many religious and social activities related to the temple. The most prominent among them are:
The temple serves as a residence for many foreign monks who come to Peradeniya University for Buddhist studies. Also monks from Aranya senasana of various parts of Sri Lanka come and reside in the temple for short periods. An important regular practice of the priests residing in the temple is to make the alms round (pindapatha) in the morning in neighboring villages.
The Sunday Dhamma School was commenced on the 8th of July 1990 with 25 students. It has completed 25 years of service by now. The student population at present is about 270. Many students who attended this dhamma school in the past are now holding high positions in the fields such as medicine, engineering, agriculture, dentistry, information technology and in many other fields. This dhamma school holds a prominent place among the other dhamma schools in the district since it performs well at the local and National events. However, the dhamma school of the university temple is conducted with great difficulties owing to limited building facilities available at present. Classes are conducted in the shrine room and under the trees. Therefore, there is an urgent need for improvement of the dhamma school to make the services rendered by the chief priest and the staff of the dhamma school more effective.
Classes conducted under trees
A building for Damma school under construction
Teachers of damma school
Meditation
Regular Meditation programs are held on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at the temple. A groups of Upasaka Upasika visit the temple on these days and participate in meditation programs under the instruction of the chief priest or visiting monks. On Wednesday evenings University students visit the temple and participate in meditation programs.
Ven Dr.Bamunugama Shanthawimala thero, the chief incumbent of the university temple regularly conducts a Pali language class for the interested individuals 4.00-5.00 pm on Thursdays. This is followed by a discussion of sutras from Sutra Pitaka from 5.00-6.00 pm.
In this temple it is a daily practice of the monks residing in the temple collectively to take part in the program of Buddha vandana and Pirith Desana which is scheduled from 6.00 pm to 7.00 pm. The dayaka & daikavo also take part in this event.
Every full moon poya day nearly 150 individuals including university staff and upasaka upasika from the neighboring villages join the seela- bhavana program conducted in the university temple. The program commence at 6.30 am and runs through till 5.00 pm. The upasaka upasika observe eight precepts or 10 precepts as they prefer. The whole day program includes Buddha vandana, Buddha pooja, Meditation, Dhamma desana and Dhamma Sakachcha.
A visiting monk commencing his discourse
It has been a common practice of the priests resident in this temple to participate on daily walkround of alms (Pindapatha) in the morning, giving laymen an opportunity to gain great merits.
The following societies also function under the patronage of the temple.
