Hello from Kataragama, Sri Lanka,
Today is Saturday, 29th October 2022. It's 3 o'clock in the morning and we are heading to Kataragama, Sri Lanka.
Kataragama is one of the few places in Sri Lanka which is worshiped by most of the popular religious people in Sri Lanka. According to the Buddhists, Kataragama is one of the 16 places visited by Buddha (solos maha stana) during his 3 visits to Sri Lanka.
Today we're gonna visit three sacred places called Sella Kataragama, Wedasiti Kanda, and Kiri Vehera in Kataragama. Thought of sharing the historical stories that are involved with these places with the TravelOround Fam.
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SELLA KATARAGAMA
Sella Kataragama is a small town lying on the banks of Menik Ganga about 4 kilometers northwest of Kataragama which has been weaved into the legends of the deity Kataragama ( Skanda Kumaraya) as much as Kataragama itself.
Valli had her heart and soul dedicated to Murugan and would always pray with fervent devotion and love, to be with him. Once, the tribal chief planned to develop a field for growing Thinai (foxtail millet) and assigned Valli in charge of its protection from pests. Moved by Valli's devotion, Murugan met her in the form of a handsome tribal hunter, who had lost his way on a hunting chase. This form of Murugan called the 'Veduvan Kolam' is worshipped at the Palaniappar temple at Belukurichi. Valli did not recognize the stranger and promptly asked him to leave the place. Seeing the chief arriving at the field with honey and fruits for Valli, Murugan turned himself into a tree. After the chief and his followers left, the god changed back into his hunter form and declared his love to Valli.
The chieftain's daughter, who had only Murugan in her heart, was infuriated at this declaration and lashed out at the hunter. When the chieftain and his followers returned to the place, Murugan disguised himself as an old man. The chieftain, on seeing the aged man, requested him to stay with Valli, till he and his hunting party returned.
The old man was hungry and asked Valli for food; she gave him a mixture of millet flour and honey. However, it made him thirsty, and he asked for water. She provided water from a nearby stream. He jokingly remarked that she had satisfied his thirst, and she could quench his thirst for a companion. Valli was angered again and started to leave the place. He requested assistance from his divine brother, Ganesha, who appeared as a wild elephant at that time. On seeing the wild elephant, Valli was scared and ran back to the old man, pleading with him to save her from the elephant. Murugan agreed to save her only if she agreed to marry him. In the heat of the moment, she agreed, and he revealed his true form. It was then that Valli realized that it was her beloved deity she had consented to wed.
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WEDASITI KANDA
Wedihiti Kanda is a small shrine dedicated to God Kataragama or Kataragama Deviyo situated on a 2500 feet high rocky mountain. On the top of a hill are a small stupa, bodhi tree, and newly built shrines provisioning panoramic views of the surroundings including Sithulpawwa and Yala.
Although not much of its history is known, this mountain is buried deep in folklore all connected to the deity of Kataragama.
It is said that the prince Dutugemunu made a vow to the Deity Kataragama to make a grandeur Devale once he wins over the invader Elara who was ruling from Anuradhapura. After the war, the king came to Kataragama and on his way met the Deity Kataragama at the top of the Wedasiti Kanda. The king inquired where he would like the new shrine to be built. He then took the bow and an arrow and asked that the shrine to built on the place the arrow falls and shot an arrow into the air. The arrow fell on the ground where the Kataragama Devalaya lies today where the first Devalaya was built by King Dutugemunu.
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KIRI VEHERA
Kiri Vehera is an ancient stupa situated in Kataragama, Sri Lanka. This stupa probably dates back to the 3rd century BC and is believed to have been built by King Mahasena, a regional ruler of the Kataragama area.
One of the most popular Buddhist pilgrimage sites in the country, Kiri Vehera is among the Solosmasthana, the 16 most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage sites of ancient Sri Lanka. This stupa which is 95 ft. in height with a circumference of 280 ft. is located 800 m North of the famous Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya.
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TravelOround
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