Seenigama Devalaya in Hikkaduwa, comprises two shrines dedicated to Devol Deviyo—one onshore and an older one offshore, visited for cursing rituals
Seenigama Devol Devalaya S eenigama 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). History 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). The Site Two deities, God Devol and Goddess Pattini are venerated in the shrine located on the Seenigama shore (Feddema, 1997). Peoples who expec…
