Kataragama is a sacred city in Monaragala District in Uva Province. It’s around 250 kilometers from the city of Colombo and the journey took approximately four or four and a half hours along southern expressway.
The history of Kataragama
This has a history dating back to the sixth century BC (before Christ) in Sri Lanka. Previously, Sri Lanka was governed regionally. Ruhuna, Maaya and Pihiti were the three regions of Sri Lanka. As a result, Kataragama became the capital of Ruhuna also known as ‘Rohana’.
According
to the Dhathuwansha, a record that covers all the information from the centuries
in Sri Lanka, when the Lord Buddha arrived in Sri Lanka for the third and last time,
the Lord Buddha attended to Kihiriwanaya in Kataragama and then the
protection of the Region of Kataragama was dedicated to the King Mahaghosha by
the Lord Buddha.
Following that, the Ruhuna area was controlled by Regional King Mahaghosha, also known as Mahaseena. According to the mythology, King Mahaghosha erected Kiriwehera Stupa in the Kihiriwanaya area. The statue of King Mahaasena stands in front of Kiriwehera Stupa.
By
the 15th century CE, the town had become a popular pilgrimage site
for Hindus from India and Sri Lanka.
Some
pilgrims take bath from Manik Ganga, a 114 kilometers long river that
originates in Namunukula area which flows through the boundary of the sacred
ground, and then go for the pilgrimage activities. They believe that they must
first purify themselves before worshipping.
Stupa
in Kataragama
The Stupa was built by King Mahaghosha and it stands 99.5 feet tall and has a circular length of 278 feet. This is the only Stupa that was ever erected during the Lord Buddha’s lifetime. The hair relic and the Golden chair in which the Lord Buddha seated when the Lord Buddha arrived in Kihiriwanaya, a place near Kataragama during Mahaghosha’s era have been treasured within the Kiriwehera Stupa.
On the
other hand, Kiriwehera Stupa is distinct from the other stupas for another
reason. The Stupa contains three stages called Salapathala Maluwa stage, Weli
Maluwa stage and Gajan Maluwa stage around it.
Salapathala Maluwa
The
pilgrims are all worshipping at the Salapathala Maluwa stage which is the
closest to the Stupa.
Weli Maluwa
During the Procession
season, all of the dancers are seated on the Weli Maluwa stage and worshipped.
Gajan Maluwa
Gajan Maluwa Stage is where the elephants are positioned prior to the procession.
Story
of Naming the Stupa
When the
Lord Buddha arrived at Kataragama, the Lord Buddha preached in the Kihiriwanaya
area. When the Mahaghosha was the ruler, he was able to construct the Stupa in
that location. As a result, it was given the name kihiri vehera, which
translates as ‘vehera’ to the ‘Stupa’ in Sinhalese. kihiri vehera is
shortened to Kirivehera over time.
According to history Kirivehera is also known as Magul Maha Vehera and Maha Vehera by the locals.
Kataragama
Bodhiya
Mahawamsa
says that the persons known as ‘Epa’ who ruled Kataragama after the years of
erecting Kiriwehera Stupa, had been invited to the planting ceremony of the
Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in Anuradhapura.
One of the eight buds of Sri Maha Bodhiya was presented to the ‘Epa’ by King Dewanampiyathissa in the ceremony. This was planted in the 3rd century BC and the tree that grew from that bud may still be seen in Kataragama sacred ground. The God temple also known as Ruhunu Maha Kataragama Devalaya and the Bodhiya are in the same area beside, nearly 570 meters away from Kiriwehera Stupa.
The
God of Kataragama
As per the historical reveals, the King Mahaasena was able to become Sotapanna by hearing the sermon from the Lord Buddha. King Mahaasena was then regarded as the God of Kataragama, and he is still the guardian deity for Sinhala, Tamil and Hindu Buddhist People the same today.
There was a strong relationship between King Dutugemunu and Kataragama. Once King Dutugemunu went to Anuradhapura to wage war against ‘Elaara’, the King who was from South India, he received blessings from the God here. The King returned to Kataragama after winning the war and established a three story temple for the God.
The Peacock is the theme of this hallowed place since it was the vehicle of God Kataragama according to the legends. The deity and the site are linked by a number of legends and myths.
Folklore
about God Temple
After the King Dutugemunu returned to Kataragama, he journeyed to the peak known as ‘Wedasiti
Kanda’ where the then God had once resided. The God then handed a
bow and arrow to the King and told him to shoot it. The King built the God
temple on the spot where the arrow fell down.
Many
Sri Lankans esteem God Kataragama in high regard as they revere him as a god of
great strength and supplicated for supreme assistance in overcoming personal
difficulties or achieving goals success.
Kataragama
Esala Perahera
Kataragama procession is continuing within 15 days in July. The 2nd century Before Christianity, King Dutugemunu was the first person who led a procession in Kataragama complete with all related rituals. Some people continue to come from the Northern and Eastern in Sri Lanka to participate in the procession by foot. It is called ‘Paada Yathra’.
Current
Proprietorship
The proprietorship of the sacred ground including temples and the Stupa was handed to the Bhikkhus after 1960. The council bestowed custodianship of the Stupa to the Polommaruwe Piyarathana thero, Aluthwewa Medhankara thero, Polommaruwe Rewatha thero and Paraththe Sri Ananda thero.
The then chief incumbent of the Kiriwehera was Polommaruwe Rewatha thero led the reconstruction of the Stupa. The stupa was destructed from the years till the reconstruction. After that, Aluthwewa Soratha thero became the chief incumbent of Kirivehera and continued the procedure for 23 years without any difficulties after Polommaruwe Rewatha thero. The custodianship is now assigned to the Kobawaka Dhamminda thero.
Surrounding
Facilities
There are
hundreds of homes, villas, restaurants and hotels for pilgrims to choose from.
Other
locations for visitors to Kataragama include the temple and the Stupa of
Thissamaharama, temple of Sithulpawwa and Yala National Park.
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