Hanguranketha Pattini Devalaya

Hanguranketha Pattini Devalaya
Hanguranketha Pattini Devalaya (Photo credit: Google Street View) Hanguranketha Pattini Devalaya (Sinhala: හඟුරන්කෙත පත්තිනි දේවාලය) is a Devalaya Shrine situated about 100 m behind the Potgul Viharaya in Hanguranketha in Nuwara Eliya District, Sri Lanka. It has been dedicated to Goddess Pattini, the patron goddess of fertility and health. The shrine is considered unique and notable as it preserves several rituals and customs that are not found in other Pattini Devales in Kandy (Seneviratna, 1983). History Although the establishment date of this edifice is not known, there is evidence to prove that this Devalaya existed during the reign of King Rajasingha II (1635-1687 A.D.). However, according to some, this shrine was erected during the reign of King Sri Vira Parakrama Narendrasinha [(1707-1739 A.D.) Abeywardana, 2004; Seneviratna, 1983]. Later King Kirti Sri Rajasingha (1747-1782 A.D.) renovated the shrine. During the 1818 Uva–Wellassa uprising period, the shrine was minorly damaged by…