Kandy Pattini Devalaya (Sinhala: මහනුවර පත්තිනි දේවාලය) is a Devalaya Shrine situated within the premises of the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy town in Sri Lanka. It has been dedicated to Goddess Pattini, the patron goddess of fertility and health.
History
Although the history of the Pattini Devalaya at Kandy is obscure, it is believed to be at least four centuries old (Seneviratna, 1983). Robert Knox (1641-1720 A.D.), an English sea captain who lived in Sri Lanka for 19 years as a captive of King Rajasinghe II (1635-1687 A.D.) makes references to the Perahera of Pattini Devalaya (Seneviratna, 1983). During the Kandyan Period, this shrine was one of the four Devalas (Hatara Devala) associated with the Maha Wasala (the Royal Palace) and the Dalada Maligawa (the Temple of the Tooth Relic).
The Shrine Building
The shrine is a small rectangular building erected over a usual stone platform. It consists of four compartments and is sheltered by a typical Kandyan-type roof (Seneviratna, 1983).
A Protected Site
The Pattini Temple building situated in Kandy Town within the Kandy Grama Niladhari Division in the Gangawata Korale Divisional Secretary’s Division is an archaeological protected monument, declared by a government notification published on 8 April 2009.
See Also
#) Natha Devalaya, Kandy
#) Katharagama Devalaya, Kandy
#) Visnu Devalaya, Kandy
References
1) Seneviratna, A, 1983. Kandy: An Illustrated Survey of Ancient Monuments, with Historical, Archaeological, and Literary Descriptions Including Maps of the City and Its Suburbs. Central Cultural Fund. Ministry of Cultural Affairs. p.97.
2) The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. No: 1597. 8 April 2009. p.445.
