Kataragama is, at once, a god and a place (gama means ‘village’) where the god resides. Kataragama, as a god, refers both to the Sinhalese version of the Hindu war god Skanda, second son of Siva.
KATARAGAMA
The Cult of Kataragama
The Cult of Kataragama By Maureen Seneviratne Studies in Comparative Religion, Vol. 4, No. 2. (Spring, 1970) www.studiesincomparativereligion.com From the mystic mountain of the gods: Kailāsa in southern Tibet, to the southern tip of the last landfall this side of Oceania,
From Kataragama to the Land of Gods and Legends
Author Paul Wirz called this jungle site on the Menik Ganga ‘the holiest place in Ceylon.’ While God Skanda was out hunting, he met this beautiful jungle belle – a Veddah girl named Valli. Though he fell head over heels in love with her, Valli did not acknowledge his amorous advances.
Kataragama and its Multiple Meanings
The Kataragama God in the folk belief system is also a protector. In modern times, no sooner do they buy or lease a motor vehicle, the owners drive down to Kataragama to obtain the god’s protection for it.