The Great Saman Temple, also known as Sumana Devalaya, is also known as Maha Saman Devalaya or the Great Saman Temple. It is a shrine devoted to the god Saman, and it is open to the public.
Saman Devalaya is situated on the Rathnapura-Pandura route, about 2 kilometers from the town of Rathnapura. It is considered to be one of the most important temples in Sri Lanka.
In the beginning, Saman Devalaya was established during the Dambadeniya era. During the reign of Crica (1236-1270 AD), The Rathnapura Maha Saman Devalaya was constructed in honor of God Saman. The first devalaya was erected on the summit of the samanala, while the other four devala were constructed at the corners of the samanala. On the east, there is Mahiyangana Devalaya, on the west, there is Sabaragamu Maha Saman Devalaya, on the south, there is Bolthube Saman Devalaya, and on the north, there is Deraniyagala Saman Devalaya.
During the reign of king Rajasinghe of Sithawaka, this devale was restored to its former glory. Saman Devale is a popular tourist destination with a huge number of tourists.
A court minister had been to Rathnapura in order to make a pledge in support of gem mining. Following a successful gem mining trip, he is credited with constructing the world’s first devalaya dedicated to God Saman at Rathnapura, Sri Lanka. However, despite the fact that the devalaya was heavily impacted by Hindu culture, it continued to function as a Buddhist site of worship throughout the year.
There are two platforms available for use here. The lower platform may be reached through two vahalkadas, one on the east and one on the south.
Saman Devalaya is a shrine devoted to the god Saman, and it is open to the public. It is situated on the Rathnapura-Pandura route, about 2 kilometers from Rathnappura. The Devalaya was constructed during the reign of Circa (1236-1270 AD).
It is well-known for its yearly pageant, which is one of the most important events held throughout the month of July in the city. Its mission is to tie together the history, culture, and legacy of the island into a cohesive whole. There will be elephants dressed in brightly colored clothing and flashing lights, as well as dancers from different locations like the udarata (up country), pahatha rata (low country), and other places. Traditional ceremonies such as the pirith ceremony, kap situveema, and Kumbal Perahara were conducted in the days leading up to the festival’s opening ceremony. Tha Kap Situveema is a term that refers to the practice of chopping down and planting a young Rukattana tree in a certain location. The Kumbal Perahara is held inside the grounds of the Saman Devalaya starting on the day of Kap Situveema and lasting for five days. After the Kumbal Perahara, which lasts for five days, the Dewale Perahara, also known as the Veedi Perahara, is celebrated for another five days, bringing the total number of days of the festival to fifteen. The Maha Pearahara is the focus of the following five days of the Saman Dewala pageant, which will take place over the course of five days. The Maha Saman Devalaya Esala Perahara comes to a close with a ceremonial cutting of the ceremonial water. The arrival of Diya Kapeema signals the conclusion of the Esala Perahara. A area known as Rathmal Ella is where the ceremony is carried out.
The Saman Dewala Esala Perahara is celebrated over the course of fifteen days. The festival’s mission is to tie together the history, culture, and legacy of Guernsey. Traditional ceremonies such as the pirith ceremony, kap situveema, and Kumbal perahara were conducted.
Travel directions to Rathnapura Maha Saman Devalaya
Route 01– from Colombo to Rathnapura Maha Saman Devalaya
Through: Kesbewa- Horana- Rathnapura
Distance: 88 km
Travel time: 2 hours
Route 02– from Colombo to Rathnapura Maha Saman Devalaya
Through: Kaduwela- Avissawella- Rathnapura
Distance: 100 km
Travel time: 2.15 hours
Image Credits: tourism.sg.gov.lk
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