.....Kataragama  Sacred  Shrine.....

      🙏Kataragama is a sacred shrine in the Hambantota district of the southern province of Sri Lanka and is a historically important town located adjacent to the Menik Ganga and Yala National Park.

        The location of the main temple of this god known as Skanda Kumara has been the strongest reason for Kataragama to become famous.

         In addition to the Kataragama Great Temple, there are Kiri Vehera , Gana Temple, Ashta Phala Bodhi, Temple Kitchen and several other temples.

      Worshiped by Hindus as well as Buddhists, this god is shown in the style of riding a peacock holding a lance or weapon.

     Skanda or Kataragama deity is said to have six faces and twelve arms. Those six faces are considered to reflect the qualities of majesty, adventure, heroism, champion, dexterity and strength in him.

      While this prince was taking refuge in heaven with a princess named Tevani,  he heard about a beautiful woman named Valli who was a weedy girl in our country and knew that she loved him dearly. In the meantime, Queen Tevani came here to look for him because she did not come to heaven, so she thought to stay in this country and stay with the two queens.

      Then King Dutugemunu went to battle with Elara and after winning, he completed a gold temple to Kataragama Devidu. He also built a milk temple near the Ashta Phala Bo tree. Every year Esala ordered to hold a great parade. In this way, as said, the processions are held very festively.

 

      In addition to the Kataragama temple, the temple of Sella Kataragama Valli Amma, the temple for Tevani Amma and the temple of Gana Devidun, the daughter of Kataragama Devidu, are located here.

      Kavadi Pooja can be mentioned as another way of offering to please God. The instrument held on the shoulder while dancing Kavadi is called "Kavadi Kood". A type of wood such as jackfruit, cone, bo, suduhadun or puvagu is used for this. Iron nails are not used in making Kavadi cages. Only copper and brass nails are used. There are five types of Kavadi namely Paravi Kavadi, Bhakti Kavadi, Gini Kavadi, Kiri Kavadi and Matsya Kavadi.

      Kataragama sacred place is an extremely important place of worship not only for Buddhists but also for Christians, Tamils ​​and Muslims, which has historical and archeological value.

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R.A. Yauwani Ayesha.