iTASTE: கதிர்காமம் கோவில் பயணம் - வழியில் காட்டு யானைக்கு உணவு அளிதல்

Tuesday, October 31, 2023

கதிர்காமம் கோவில் பயணம் - வழியில் காட்டு யானைக்கு உணவு அளிதல் - Srilankan Series Part 5

#itaste #kathirgamamtemple #travelvlog கதிர்காமம் கோவில் பயணம் - வழியில் காட்டு யானைக்கு உணவு அளிதல் - Srilankan Series Part 5 Google Maps Location; https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ruhunu+Maha+Kataragama+Dewalaya/@6.4185124,81.3307028,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x3ae4260743d9eda7:0x2d26a7008f9f27a9!8m2!3d6.4185071!4d81.3332777!16zL20vMGNnMTJj?entry=ttu

As part of our planned journey, we embarked on a visit to the Kathirgamam Temple in the early hours, starting at 7 a.m. Along the way, we made a delightful stop at Ravana Falls, just past Ella town. The waterfall's grandeur was amplified by the ongoing rainy season.

As we approached Kathirgamam, we had to traverse a forested area, where elephants are known to stand on the road, awaiting travelers with the hope of being fed. What started as just one elephant soon turned into three, and at times, they even blocked the road, insisting on a treat. To be prepared, we stocked up on vegetables and sugarcane, just in case we encountered one of these gentle giants. Fortunately, we did encounter an elephant and had the opportunity to feed it.

Upon arriving at the Kathirgamam Temple, we located a barber to perform the 'tonsure' ritual on Keerthi's hair. Once the ritual was complete, we proceeded to bathe her in the river before making our way to meet Lord Murugan, the deity of the temple.

Despite being a Hindu temple, the Kathirgamam Temple attracts many Sinhala visitors who come here to offer their prayers. The temple's architecture and ambiance, quite different from the typical Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu, exude a more Buddhist aesthetic.

One unique aspect of this temple is the absence of a physical statue of the deity; instead, there is a sacred inscribed plate known as the 'enthiram,' placed inside a box. devotees are not permitted to view the box directly; it remains concealed behind a screen adorned with an image of Lord Muruga.

After completing our puja (worship) at Kathirgamam, we proceeded to Chella Kathirgamam, located a few kilometers away, where Lord Ganesha is venerated. Traditionally, visitors first offer their prayers to Lord Ganesha at Chella Kathirgamam before proceeding to Kathirgamam. However, due to our prior commitment to 'tonsure,' we reversed the order.