Seenigama Devol Devalaya

Seenigama Devol Devalaya (Sinhala: සීනිගම දේවාලය) is a Devalaya Shrine situated in Hikkaduwa in Galle District, Sri Lanka. It has been dedicated to Devol Deviyo, a local deity who serves the people by offering cursing punishments and other forms of cursing violence (Feddema, 1997).

The site consists of two shrines; one on the Seenigama shore and the other on a small island located about 500 m away from the shore of the first shrine. The shrine on the island is the oldest among the two and it is believed to be more than 1,300 years old (Abeyawardana, 2004). However, there is no proper evidence to prove that belief (Abeyawardana, 2004). The existing historical facts and other evidence indicate that it has a history of more than 300 years (Abeyawardana, 2004). The shrine on the shore is said to be a recent construction (Abeyawardana, 2004).

Two deities, God Devol and Goddess Pattini are venerated in the shrine located on the Seenigama shore (Feddema, 1997). Peoples who expect healing from their problems come to this shrine and perform the relevant religious rituals.

However, the shrine in the middle of the ocean which has been dedicated to Devol Devi is visited by the people with cursing appeals (Feddema, 1997). It has been built on a small island and can only be approached by a boat. It is said that this shrine was a part of the mainland when it was first constructed but now has isolated on an island created due to erosion (Abeyawardana, 2004).

1) Abeyawardana, H.A.P., 2004. Heritage of Ruhuna: Major natural, cultural and historic sites. Colombo: The Central Bank of Sri Lanka. ISBN: 955-575-073-4. pp.17-18.
2) Feddema, J.P., 1997. Cursing Practices in Sinhala Buddhism: The Case of Seenigama. Journal of Ritual Studies, pp.21-34.

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This page was last updated on 8 September 2022