The God Saturn

When we heard about the God Saturn, The Saturn Kovil in India comes to our mind. The reason is the most famous temple which is built for the God Saturn is located in India. The Saturnic kovil in Kuchchanur is always worshipped by the Sri Lankans too. But those who offer sacrifices for God Saturn do not aware that there is also a kovil in Sri Lanka built for God Saturn. That means there is no need to go to India to hold ritual sacrifices for the God Saturn. But where is this kovil located? We are about to find out this Saturn Kovil

Shanisharan Saturn kovil in Sri Lanka

There are only two Saturn kovils in the world. One of them is the Kuchchanur kovil in India as we mentioned and the other one is in Trincomalee. This kovil is found at the Marathadi junction on the Trincomalee station road. But it is not easy to find this kovil when we go to Marathadi junction. Because, there are about 5 kovils built for various Gods at Marathadi junction. Therefore the best way to find the kovil after going to Marathadi junction in Trincomalee is to ask someone where the Shanisharan kovil is.

The legend behind the Saturn kovil

We found two opinions on the history of the Shanisharan kovil or the Saturnic kovil in Trincomalee. According to one opinion this kovil has been built during the Kandyan period. The God Saturn is in a dream of a prophet who lived in the Kandyan period, has been ordered that a kovil should be built in a place where he will be ordered. When the prophet finding for the exact position of the God, he found a torso of a bear. This kovil was built in that land. Although the construction of the kovil belongs to the Kandyan period according to the legend, there is a wonderful story which is belong to the reign of king Dutugemunu. That was about the battle between the giant Gotaimbara amd Jayasena of Ritigala. A dispute between the giant Gotaimbara and Jayasena of Ritigala at the party held to celebrate the victory of king Dutugemunu has led to a dueling struggle. The giant Gotaimbara wins this battle as he strikes a deadly blow separating Jayasena’s head. At that moment, the God Saturn who comes to help him, attaches a head of a bear to the torso of Jayasena. As the head is attached conversed he is known as Jayasena Mahasona. However, the bear’s head for the fixation was found from this place. This is the place which is shown by the God Saturn, to the prophet who lived in Kandyan Period. This is the folk story about this kovil.

Founders of the Saturn kovil

However, the present sacred clergyman of Saturn kovil tells a different story about this kovil. According to him, the kovil has commenced 200 years ago. He represents the fourth generation of custodians of the kovil. This kovil has been started by a family who regularly venerated the kovil. A person who was met in India has given them the idea. That clergyman said that the kovil was erected by this family in a land owned by them. The clergyman who is in charge of several kovils including the well known Kali Amma kovil in Trincomalee , is in a sick condition. Therefore his sons are engaged in the activities of this kovil instead of their father. Every Saturday their is a feast in the Saturnic kovil , but the sacrifice on Saturday is quite different.

The annual feast in Saturn kovil

A lot of devotees attend the Saturday sacrifice, where there are many other sacrifices including, bathing the sacred statue of God Saturn, cleaning the shrining room. A large number of Sinhala and Hindu devotees who have lamps in their hands,  designed with black wicks filled with sesame and oil can be seen in here every Saturday. The annual feast of Saturn kovil helds in October. Not only the kovil but also the area around it is filled with the devotees who come to the annual feast. According to Hindu religious beliefs, God Saturn is very powerful. Even Lord Shiva, who is regarded as the main God of Hinduism, has worshipped the God Saturn one time. Hence, Hindus have great respect for the god Saturn. Because of this dignity, they perform many rituals for the annual feast of the God Saturn. They do not have their breakfast on Saturdays within 5 weeks of the feast. In the morning they go to the feast in fast and they have their meals when they returned home. The first part of the prepared meal is reserved for the ravens. It is because of the belief that the vehicle of the God Saturn is the raven.

Surrender or sacrifice God Saturn Easily

However, any nation or any religion who come to this kovil can do thier sacrifices as thier wish. Also, all the sacrifices that are held at the Saturn kovil in India are held at this kovil. Therefore, we don’t need to go to India to surrender or to sacrifice God Saturn. There is also a place in Sri Lanka to do it with less time and low cost.

Kudumbigala Monastery

Achieving Nibbana within our existence is such a complex thing. What a console it is, if we can quench our mind for a few minute. Today we are going to share with you about such a sacred place where thousands of Arihaths and devotees obtained console for many years. That is Kudumbigala. Kudumbigala is located in Panama divisional secretarial division in Ampara district.

No one is there to destroy your peace of mind.

A part of isolated Kudumbigala, which is a paradise of wild animals, margins to Kumana National Sanctuary. Also the area belongs to Kudumbigala temple is named as the Kudumbigala sanctuary. The paddy fields which surrounds the area give a delight to the visitors. The breeze blowing through the land gives relaxation to the body. All of these together brings the console in mind. Apart from the chirping of the birds flying above and the trumpet of elephants heard from far away, no one is there to destroy your peace of mind.

An amazing creation of the mother nature

Kudumbigala monastery is spread throughout thousands of acres. It includes 50 cave cauldrons. In addition we can see the ruins of eight stupa in the monastery grounds. The most special thing is the rock which naturally shaped as a statue of Lord Buddha in a lying manner. The best location to observe this statue like rock marked and can be found while climbing the rock. Indeed it’s an amazing creation of the mother nature

The splendour of the ancient kingdom

The epigraphs have proved that the Kudumbigala has been started in early Anuradhapura era. Ten out of them belong to the early period of AD. All of these epigraphs  are kept safe inside the cauldron caves. According to those epigraphs a few of the cave shrines are made by the Bikkus of the early days.

Apart from the cabe shrines and stupas, ruins of buildings which belongs the monastery complex and a few ponds are still existing demonstrating the splendour of the ancient kingdoms. After the Anuradhapura kingdom, Kudumbigala temple became weedy but the Bikkus and Arihaths have continued their meditation. However, recently it was discovered by a devotee named Maithri in 1954. It says that he had reconstructed some of the caves and began meditation. According to the rumors he was the one who had invited Thebugala Anandasiri thero. But after the murder of Anandasiri thero in 1989 , Kudumbigala again became weedy since 1990 , Kudumbigala was a colony of terrorist and later it was opened to devotees in 2002 during the ceasefire period.

Kudumbigala is waiting to welcome you warmly!

Even in today, there are Arihaths who are leading a meditative life getting prepared to get across the sansara (life achieving Nibbana). We cannot meet these Arihaths because they live their lives isolated from the human association. But still for those who are fed up of the nonstop competitive running of this busy life, Kudumbigala is waiting to welcome you warmly!

Magul Maha Vihara

When talking about history, we cannot forget about the legends. But some legends has been refused with the factors found by archaeological inventions. But yet there are some incidents where the legend became more powerful than the archaeological evidences. Today we are going to talk about a special Sacred place located in the Eastern province in Sri Lanka. That is the ‘Magul Maha Viharaya’. Travelling to Pottuwil from Monaragala passing Siyabalanduwa, we can find this Sacred place located in the Lahugala area.

The legend

The legend regarding Magul Maha Vihara is as follows. There is a rumour that the princess Vihara Maha Devi had been washed ashore near the Magul Maha Vihara in Pottuwil. Later she became the main consort of king Kavan Tissa. That is the story according to the legend. Ruins of some stone pranks which were considered to be the Wedding Plank (the Magul Poruwa) of their wedding is being considering as a proof.

Who is this Vihara Maha Devi

But the archaeologist who refuse this legends came up with a different story. According to them this place has a connection with the queen. But not the one who is considered to be the mother of the great king Dutugamunu. They refers to another queen who has the same name who lived in 14 th century AD. They have found an ancient epigraph from the temple ground including these information.

According to the archaeological evidences, this temple was built by king Dathusena – a ruler in Anuradhapura kingdom. Later, the temple has been reconstructed according to the commands of the queen Vihara Maha Devi who was the consort of both King Gampola Buwanekabahu and Dedigama Parackramabahu. According to the archaeologists, this is the reason for the involvement of the queen Vihara Maha Devi and King Kawan Tissa regarding with this place.

Ancient majesty

However, we can say that the ruined Magul Maha Vihara was a well-developed Sacred place in the past. An ancient Stupa (Dagaba), Guard stones to enter in to, four stone entrances with the moonstone and the staircase made from stone as well as the ruined painting and sculpture (bodhi ghara), statue house (pilimageya) , poya house (uposathagaraya) and the pond can be seen today also. Availability of carved and non-carved moonstone can be considered as a special feature of Magul Maha Vihara. The carved moonstone is regarded as a special one.

In that, elephants with the trunk bent upwards and the trunk bent downwards can be seen alternatively while the swans have been carved as if they were hanging something from their beak. Moreover the kraal which is located outside the vihara area is another fabulous example to proove the ancient majesty.