Did Princess
Devi land at Kirinde or
Arugam Bay ?
by Florence
Wickramage
- Daily News Sat June 22 2002
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The day was bright
and the sea a glittering turquoise blue with a strong wind sweeping over it.
Some people standing on a beach saw an object shining with the rays of the sun
being tossed to and fro by the ocean waves. They waited till the object advanced
towards the shore and was surprised to see that it was a gold-gilded canoe
carrying a beautiful damsel in it.
They ran towards
the palace and informed the King that a golden-canoe was coming ashore with a
beautiful princess in it. The King hastened towards the beach but found the boat
gone. "Ko Kumari" inquired the King? The boat had been swept away by
strong winds towards the village Komarigama (coined with the words Ko kumari) in
Arugam Bay. (The canoe had not been able to anchor at Kirinde due to its rocky
environment). On inquiries made King Kavantissa was informed that the damsel in
the canoe was Princess Devi, daughter of King Kelanitissa of Maya Rata, who was
offered as a sacrifice to appease the wrath of the sea-gods as the sea waters
threatened to drown villages.
King Kavantissa
then hastened to meet the Princess and married her in keeping with traditional
customs, and she became Queen Vihara Maha Devi. " The Magul Poruwa"
said to be of the Royal couple could be seen amongst ancient ruins in a temple
called "Magul Maha Viharaya" in Lahugala. Princess Devi's canoe had
been washed ashore at Arugam Bay ( coined from the words "ara -gama")
and not Kirinde. This is folklore -- as related to us by the Chief Priest of the
ancient Lahugala Temple Ven. Hulanduwe Ratanasara Thera.
We visited Magul
Maha Viharaya which is in ruins today. Ven. Hulanduwe Ratanasara Thera the 5th
generation descendent of the Uva-Wellassa lineage which administered the Magul
Maha Vihare is the present Chief Priest. Lahugala belonged to the Ruhunu Kingdom
of ancient Lanka. The entire Vihara complex had covered an extent of around
10,000 acres where ruins of a palace, moonstone, monastery, bo-maluwa, stupas,
ponds etc. were found scattered all over. A headless white marble Buddha statue
was seen lying horizontally in one part of the ruins, which sometimes people
step on, Ven. Ratanasara said, taking us round the complex.
The moonstone found
in the complex was of special significance. The Chief Priest explained that
among other unusual features, the row of elephants in the moonstone with their
mahouts was exceptional. This moonstone is said to be the only one of its kind
in the country. The Ven. Thera showing us round the ruins of the vihara complex
observed that there were several villages round the temple and people had fled
due to unrest. With the ongoing peace process many were returning to their
original places. A perahera has been planned along with other religious
ceremonies to be observed during Poson the Ven. Thera said.
We then visited
Muhudu Maha Viharaya at Arugam Bay. The wide white beach was endless, stretching
for miles and miles. There were excavated ruins and stone pillars which provided
evidence of an ancient kingdom which had flourished. The Chief Priest of Muhudu
Maha Viharaya, Ven. Kataragama Siriratana Thera supporting Queen Vihara Maha
Devi's story as related to us by the Lahugala Viharaya Chief Priest, showed us
partly ruined stone statues two of which were believed to be of King Kavantissa
and Viharamahadevi. The moonstone which had been in existence near a ruined
"Buduge" had been removed by treasure hunters and the "Mura-gal"had
been replaced awkwardly.
Ven. Siriratana
Thera showed us ruins and stone pillars of an ancient structure excavated on the
vast stretch of the beach, where, he said, a stupa had been erected to mark the
spot where Princess Devi had landed. The monk living by himself protecting the
ruined temple,is supported by about 12 families living in the vicinity who
provide him with the "dana".
There were sand
dunes forming part of the endless beach bordering a tranquil turquoise sea and
at one end was the Arugam Bay and the "Ula" with a natural harbour.
Several fishing huts were seen dotting the area. Both Chief Priests at Lahugala
and Arugam Bay said that the ruins found in these places supported the existence
of a royal kingdom of ancient Ruhunu Rata, and believed if chronicled had not
sufficiently surfaced. The Ven. Theras said that these places were historically
and culturally important and their conservation was of utmost importance to
preserve the country's rich heritage.
(The media tour was
organised The media tour was organised on the instructions of Environment and
Natural Resources Minister Rukman Senanayaake. ).