Four Dévalas

Near the Maligawa are four ancient dévalas or temples dedicated to deities Natha, Visnu, Skanda and Pattini. Another dévdla devoted to the elephant-headed Hindu deity, Ganesha, is located at Katukele.

Pattini Devale in Kandy

The Pattini Devale is located to the west of Natha-dévala. There had been a street called Eth vidya (street of elephants) between Natha and Paitin: Devales.

Robert Knox refers to processions conducted in the Pattini Devale. Hence it can be considered that this dévdia existed at the tie of Rajasinha II (1636-1687 ). Wimaladharmasdriya II (1687 - 1707) has brought the figure of Pattini from the Malagammana Pattim-dévéla and installed it here. If this information is to be relied upon, the erection of the dévdla will date back to the 16th century. The figures of Pattini found in Malagammana and Kandy are similar in appearance.

Pattini worship was brought to the country in the second century AD by King Gajabahu I (171 ~ 195), who invaded the Chola Kingdom on account of an incident connected with Dodandeniya in Matale. A spy of the King heard the lamentation of a mother about the capture of her son by a Chola invader who had taken a total of 12,000 captives to Chola territory. King Gajababu retaliated by invading the Chola country and bringing back 24,000 to Lanka. Deity Pattini will be born as a male and attain Buddhahood later. Hence it can be concluded that

(Heritage of Kandurata by Dr. H.A.P. Abeyawardana P16)

: 1. The Pattini Temple Building situated in the Kandy Town within the Kandy Grama Niladhari Division in the Gangawata Korale Divisional Secretary’s Division in the Kandy District in the Central Province The site was designated as an Archaeological Protected Monument by Government Gazette notification. No: 1597 published on 8 April 2009.

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Pattini Devale in Kandy

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