Maha Saman Devalaya in Ratnapura, is a historic shrine dedicated to deity Saman, built in the 13th century and rebuilt after Portuguese destruction.
Maha Saman Devalaya (Ratnapura) M aha Saman Devalaya (Sinhala: රත්නපුර මහ සමන් දේවාලය) is a Devalaya Shrine dedicated to the god Saman and situated in Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka. The site can be reached by travelling along the Ratnapura - Panadura road about 3.5 km from Ratnapura town. The temple is also popular for its annual Perahera pageant held in July. History The history of Ratnapura Maha Saman Devalaya runs back to the Dambadeniya Period [(1220–1345 A.D.) Abeyawardana, 2002]. It is believed that this shrine was built by Aryakamadeva, the chief minister of King Parakramabahu II (1236-1270 A.D.). In the beginning, it was a Buddhist temple of the Theravada tradition called by the name of Saparagrama Viharaya (or Saparagamu Vehera). According to the account found in Saman Siritha (an old poetry work), a monk named Viharavasi Seelawansa who was on a pilgrimage to Sri Pada had a dream and found a statue of god Saman in a rock cave at Sri Pada mountain. He brought the statue to the Saparagamu Vehera during a ceremon…
