Sri Dalada Maligawa- Octagon(pattirippuwa)

The visitors will now be able to visit the octagon (Pattirippuwa) through the door of the pallemale. Before doing so ,the pilgrims usually make it a point to worship at the small shrine situated to the left of the door .This shrine contains a medium sized image of the Buddha showing earth touching hand pose (Bhusparsa mudra),a beautiful product donated from Burma.

The octagon is a two-storeyed structure built by the last king of Kandy ,sri vikrama Rajasingha to serve a dual purpose. As the term indicates, the word pattirippuwa is coined by the two Tamil word pattu and irruppu meaning “to look; hile seated” it was while been seated on the upper level, that the king gave audience to the people gathered at the mahamaluwa below. The interior of the upper and lower level were used as a library, displaying very valuable religious and other palm-leaf manuscripts.