The Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue, also known as the Giant Buddha Statue of Bahirawakanda, rises from a hill that borders the revered city of Kandy.
The Bahirawakanda hill, popularly known as “Gnome Mountain,” is the subject of numerous stories. This hill is the subject of several stories, most of which are superstitions rather than historical accounts.
The earliest mythology holds that the old temple was built as a tribute to a prehistoric deity named Bahirawa who had taken up residence there during the rule of the Nayakkar Kings. According to legend, human sacrifices were never performed as part of Lord Bahirawa’s set means of worship during those times in India. Over time, though, the rituals at this temple evolved, and the priests in charge requested that human sacrifices be a component of devotion and that 100 virgin women be offered up at a time. The natives of that time were uneducated and unprepared to grasp the negative effects of this aspect of devotion, so they offered up a number of females as sacrifices.
The Chief of the Royal Mahouts Dunuwille Gajanayaka Nilame’s betrothed was abducted for sacrifice, ending the practice of sacrificing virgin girls. This infuriated Nilame to the point that he used all of his influence in the palace and his bravery to secure the girl’s release. The surrounding area became so chaotic as a result, and the tradition of sacrificing virgin females was put to an end. This also put an end to the superstitions that had been permeating the populace, and the temple was abandoned for a while.
The Sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic is next to the Bahirawakanda Vihara Buddha Statue. Kandy’s entire city can see the statue of the Lord Buddha, which has been exquisitely sculpted in a seated Nirvana position. One of the largest Buddha statues in Sri Lanka, the statue measures 88 feet tall. A refreshing air is flowing from all directions as you look out over Kandy and the mountain range from the top of the hill.
A well-liked place of worship is the Buddha Statue in Bahirawakanda Vihara. Before entering this hallowed space, devotees are supposed to abide by the laws of piety by taking off their hats and shoes. To obtain a better view of the expansive countryside, tourists can ascend the stairway that runs along the backside of the Buddha statue. The greatest time to visit Bahirawa Kandy, according to recommendations, is at night when the entire statue glows magnificently with lights fixed all around, and the scene projects a dotted region of colorful lights that twinkle in the calm of the night.
