Kataragama - Wikipedia
Kataragama - Wikipedia
Kataragama - Wikipedia
Etymology
The first reference to this village by this name is in the 6th
century AD Pali chronicle Mahavamsa, referring to the place
as Kājaragāma.[3] It is mentioned in Mahavamsa that the
nobles of Kajaragama were among those took part in the Kataragama
festival of the Bodhi Tree when it was brought over by
Sangamitta Theri.[2] Some scholars derive Kataragama from
Karthikeya Grama, literally meaning Village of Kartikeya,
which was shortened in Pali as Kājaragāma and later evolved Coordinates: 6°25′00″N 81°20′00″E
to Kataragama.[4][5] However, not all scholars accept this
Country Sri Lanka
explanation.[6]
Province Uva Province
The literal Sinhalese meaning of Kataragama is the "village District Monaragala
in the desert", due to its location in a dry area, stemmed from Time zone UTC+5:30 (Sri
the words Katara meaning Desert and gama meaning Lanka Standard
village.[7][8][9] According to a folk etymology, the Tamil name Time Zone)
Kathirkāmam is said to be evolved from the combination of
two words Kathir (meaning glory of light) and kāmam is • Summer (DST) UTC+6 (Summer
driver from kamam (farming). In ancient times the deforested time)
new land Tamils thrived in was called kamam(கமம் ) which
means farming in Tamil . Later on the word kamam evolved in to kaamam. That’s why even today
most places in Sri Lanka has the suffix Kaamam(Tamil)/Gama(Sinhala). Gama in Sinhala is derived
from the word grama in sanskrit.
The aboriginal Vedda community used to refer to this deity as O' Vedda or Oya Vedda, meaning "river
hunter".[10] The Sri Lankan Moors visiting this place pay homage to a Muslim saint known as al-
Khidir, who according to them gave his name to the Islamic shrine at this place, and therefore
attributing to the place etymology.[11]
History
Early history
The general vicinity of Kataragama has yielded evidence of human habitation at least 125,000 years
ago. It has also yielded evidence of Mesolithic and Neolithic habitations.[12]
Historic period
During the historic period, the general area was characterised by small reservoirs for water
conservation and associated paddy cultivation. Kataragama village is first mentioned in the historical
annals known as Mahavamsa written in the 5th century CE. It mentions a town named Kajjaragama
from which important dignitaries came to receive the sacred Bo sapling sent from Ashoka’s Mauryan
Empire in 288 BCE.
It functioned as the capital of number of kings of the Ruhuna kingdom. It provided refuge to many
kings from the north when the north was invaded by South Indian kingdoms. It is believed that the
area was abandoned around the 13th century.[12]
Based on archeological evidence found, it is believed that the Kiri Vehera was either renovated or built
during the first century BCE. There are number of others inscriptions and ruins. By the 16th century
the Kataragamadevio shrine at Kataragama had become synonymous with Skanda-Kumara who was a
guardian deity of Sinhala Buddhism.[13] The town was popular as a place of pilgrimage for Hindus
from India and Sri Lanka by the 15th century. The popularity of the deity at the Kataragama temple
was recorded by the Pali chronicles of Thailand such as Jinkalmali in the 16th century. There are
Buddhist and Hindu legends that attribute supernatural events to the locality.[13] Scholars such as
Paul Younger and Heinz Bechert speculate that rituals practiced by the native priests of Kataragama
temple betray Vedda ideals of propitiation. Hence they believe the area was of Vedda veneration that
was taken over by the Buddhist and Hindus in the medieval period.[14]
Kataragama temple
Temple of Syncretism
Kataragama is a multi-religious sacred town. In spite of the differences of caste and creed, many Sri
Lankans show great reverence to God Kataragama. They honor him as a very powerful deity and beg
divine help to overcome their personal problems or for success in business enterprises, etc., with the
fervent hope that their requests will be granted. They believe that God Kataragama exists and is vested
with extraordinary power to assist those who appeal to him with faith and devotion in times of
distress or calamity.
Hindu Katirkamam
Tamil Hindus of Sri Lanka and South India refer to the place as
Katirkamam. Katirkaman is associated with Skanda-Murukan.
Saivite Hindus of South India call him Subrahmanya as well. He is
known as Kandasamy, Katiradeva, Katiravel, Kartikeya, and
Tarakajith. Some of these names are derived from the root katir
from Katirkamam. "Katir" means formless light. The Deity is
depicted with six faces and twelve hands or one face and four
hands. Out of love for Murugan and to mitigate bad karma,
bhaktars pierce their cheeks and tongues with vels, pull large Interior of the Maha Devale, the
chariots carrying murthi of Murugan with large hooks pierced Yantra is kept behind a curtain that
through the skin of their backs. This practice is known as kavadi. figures Murukan with his two wives
Murugan's vahana or vehicle is Mayil, the peacock.
There is a related shrine called Sella Katirkamam dedicated to the beloved elephant-faced God
Ganesha nearby, who is known as Murugan's elder brother. The local Manik Ganga or Manika Gangai
(River of Gems) is a place of ablution where a sacred bath is taken to purify oneself. Local residents
declare that one can be healed of ailments by bathing in it from its high gem content and the
medicinal properties of the roots of trees that line the river through the jungle.
Buddhist Kataragama
Many Sinhala Buddhists of Sri Lanka believe that Kataragama deviyo is a guardian deity of Buddhism
and he is the presiding deity of Kataragama temple. Kataragama is one of the 16 principal places of
Buddhist pilgrimage to be visited in Sri Lanka. According to the chronicle of Sri Lankan history, the
Mahawamsa, when the Bo sapling of Bodhi Tree, under which Gotama Buddha attained
enlightenment in North India was brought to the city of Anuradhapura 2,300 years ago, the warriors
or Kshatriyas from Kataragama were present on the occasion to pay homage and respect.
The deity at Kataragama is indigenous and long-celebrated in Sri Lankan lore and legend, and
originally resides on the top of mountain called Wædahiti Kanda (or hill of the indigenous Vedda
people) just outside the Kataragama town. Since ancient times an inseparable connection between the
Kataragama God and his domain has existed. At one time the local deity was identified with God
Saman, a guardian deity of Buddhism and Sri Lanka.
As was the Sinhalese tradition, local ancestors, rulers and kings, who did a great service to the country
or community were ordained as deities. According to the legendary history, God Saman was an
ancient ruler of the Deva people in the Sabaragamuwa area of Sri Lanka. Therefore, some believe that
King Mahasena, who built Kiri Vehera in Kataragama later came to be worshiped as God Kataragama.
Till today the indigenous Vedda people come to venerate at the temple complex from their forest
abodes. As a link to the Vedda past, the temple holds its annual festival that celebrates the God's
courtship and marriage to a Vedda princess in July to August.
Education
There are local government schools that provide education to primary, secondary and higher
secondary students in the Sinhala medium.
Population
Since its abandonment, during the 1800s the population of the village did not exceed over a few
dozen. Since the 1950s the town has experienced and increase in population. Most of the residents are
Sinhalese apart from residents of nearby Tanjanagaram who are Sri Lankan Tamils. During July and
August the population swells to a few hundred thousand due to the annual festival held in the honor
of the deity.
Transport
Most of the many thousands who visit Kataragama travel by
vehicles. Even today, despite the lure of modern transport,
hundreds of dedicated pilgrims stick to the ancient practice of
journeying to Kataragama on foot.[17]
See also
Kataragama Peak
Hinduism in Sri Lanka
Buddhism in Sri Lanka
References
1. Amarasekara, Janani (13 January 2008). "Blessed Kataragama" (http://archives.sundayobserver.l
k/2008/01/13/jun03.asp). Sunday Observer. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
2. "Kacaragama, aka: Kajaragama, Kataragama; 1 Definition(s)" (https://www.wisdomlib.org/definitio
n/kacaragama). Wisdom Library. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
3. Gombrich, Richard Francis; Gombrich, Richard; Obeyesekere, Gananath (1988). Buddhism
Transformed: Religious Change in Sri Lanka (https://books.google.com/books?id=rpN9atSFua0C
&q=kajaragama&pg=PA437). Motilal Banarsidass. p. 437. ISBN 9788120807020.
4. Arunachalam, Sir Ponnambalam (1937). Studies and Translations, Philosophical and Religious (ht
tps://books.google.com/books?id=T8AcAAAAMAAJ&q=karthikeya+grama). Department of Hindu
Affairs, Ministry of Regional Development. p. 110.
5. Wirz, Paul (1966). Kataragama: The Holiest Place in Ceylon (https://books.google.com/books?id=
gtMXAAAAIAAJ&q=kataragama+karthikeya+grama). University of California: Lake House
Investments. p. 7.
6. Rasanayagam, Mudaliyar C. (1984). Ancient Jaffna. New Delhi: Asian Educational Services.
p. 60. "The village, which was below the hill and on the banks of the Menik Ganga, was, in
Sinhalese times, called Kataragama, the Pali form of which was Kajaragama. Its derivation from
Kartigeya grama, as some scholars have attempted to derive it, has neither phonetic similarity nor
linguistic authority"
7. Clough, B. (December 1997). Sinhalese English Dictionary (https://books.google.com/books?id=C
mrJwQoPcsgC&q=kataragama+desert&pg=PA101). Asian Educational Services. p. 101.
ISBN 9788120601055.
8. Raj, Selva J.; Harman, William P. (February 2012). Dealing with Deities: The Ritual Vow in South
Asia (https://books.google.com/books?id=h80yOTwlAUcC). New York: SUNY Press. p. 111.
ISBN 9780791482001.
9. Chandani Kirinde and Ravi Shankar (October 2, 2016). "Thirsty for water and justice" (http://www.
sundaytimes.lk/161002/news/thirsty-for-water-and-justice-211094.html). The Sunday Times.
10. Ancient Ceylon (https://books.google.com/books?id=fAdDAAAAYAAJ&q=kataragama+name+deri
ve). Department of Archaeology, Sri Lanka. 1971. p. 158.
11. Jazeel, Tariq (2013). Sacred Modernity: Nature, Environment and the Postcolonial Geographies of
Sri Lankan Nationhood (https://books.google.com/books?id=SUAiCwAAQBAJ&q=kataragama+na
me&pg=PA84). Oxford University Press. p. 84. ISBN 9781846318863.
12. Jayaratne, D.K. (May 5, 2009). "Rescue Archeology of Ruhuna, Veheralgala project" (http://ceylon
archaeologya.blogspot.com/2009_05_01_archive.html). Peradeniya University. Retrieved
5 October 2010.
13. Pathmanathan, S (September 1999). "The guardian deities of Sri Lanka: Skanda-Murgan and
Kataragama" (http://kataragama.org/research/pathmanathan.htm). The Journal of the Institute of
Asian Studies. Institute of Asian Studies.
14. Bechert, Heinz (1970). "Skandakumara and Kataragama: An Aspect of the Relation of Hinduism
and Buddhism in Sri Lanka" (http://kataragama.org/research/bechert.htm). Proceedings of the
Third International Tamil Conference Seminar. Paris: International Association of Tamil Research.
15. "Kataragama" (http://www.angelfire.com/in4/visitsl/cities/kataragama/kataragama.htm). Travel Sri
Lanka. Retrieved June 11, 2010.
16. "Kataragama Divisional Secretariat" (http://www.ds.gov.lk/ds/katharagama/english/index.php?p=st
atistical_information). Government of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 6 October 2010.
17. "On Foot by Faith to Kataragama" (http://padayatra.org/clip5.htm). The Sunday Leader.
External links
Kataragama.org The Kataragama-Skanda website (http://kataragama.org/gateway.htm)