Sri Padha –samantha kuta
This hollowed mountain of Sri Padha, which is situated in Rathnapura district 16 kilo meters north east from Rahnapura city, it rises suddenly from the lower valley to an attitude of 2243 m (7,560feet) above sea level, and offers an uncovered view land and sea.
Buddhist pay homage to the secret mountain Samantha kuta which look like the top of hill of sri lanka and where the lord Buddha having gone from kalani 2580 years ago through the air put his left foot print adorned with the noble work of wheel and God saman was kindly requested to lord Buddha to visit his place, the summit of the mountain is a small broad level lit is 74 feet in length and 24 feet in breadth ,the total area being 1,776 square feet ,on the summit is a huge builder about 8 feet high ,a top which is found the sacred Buddha’s foot mark.
The foot mark is an ornamented with a margin of brass and studded with few gems. In the 13th century the increasing interested shown by the Buddhist to the worship and religious belief to the Adams peaks and god, number of ancient kings has visited the mountain from time to time.
According to the chronically and stone inscription the mountain has been climbed for at least 1000 years king vejayabahu (1065-1119 AD)in most places the path is narrow rugged and rocky and densely wooded this Rathnapura path via Gilimale route came in to prominence during the polonnaruwa period and first king who went on pilgrimage was vijayabahu built rest camps.
In 1198-1206AD king Nissankamala have visited to Sri Pahda with his four –fold army who had constructed a concrete slab to protect the foot print.In 1250-1284 AD kings parakkramabahu also continued the developments through his minister Devapathraja constructed rods and bridges leading to the mountain and installed iron chains on iron posts to make the climb-up easy and conducted great joy fullness in celebrating to worship of the foot print. In 1592-1603AD king vimaladarmasurya constructed silver umbrella over the foot print.
This peaks is without doubt the single most impotent geographic entity in sri lanka it is also has been the destination of many a notable wonderer since early history ,so there are description of it down the centuries that provide an excellent in sight in to the spiritual nature.
From December to April the session for the sri pada pilgrims full moon poya day of December until full moon poya day of May that period is good enough to climb as security and Accommodation facilities and less raining.In1747-1781AD king kerthi Sri Raja singe revoked the royal proclamation and appointed ven: welivwta Sri Saranankara maha thero to look after Buddhist interested of the holy mountain The pilgrims after performing their religious work and make a careful in spending respect and after observing pensile (Five precepts). And making curtsy showing respect to God saman and after offering “paduru” (coins to Donated for protection) beginning to climb the holy mountain to rich the summit passing popular rest place “indikatupahana” before dawn to view the the grand phenomenon of rising sun it is considered to mean the worship of the foot by the sun –God.
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When stating to the pilgrims session the god saman picture and his diving white Elephant and other sacred ones, belonging, bringing honestly from Galpothawela Rajamahavihraya at pallmadulla on cultural procession up to the summit, before the full moon poya day and after paying homage to the Buddha take a steps to remove the secret items to the summit Enroot the procession stop at the maha saman devalaya in Rathnapura.and the ritual is conducted by the kapurala of the Devala, aiming to blessing of God saman for without any inconvenience pilgrims.
One of the most interesting excursions to be made from Rathnapura is to the ancient maha saman devalya being to shrine dedicated to local deity God saman which is usually situated with a Buddhist temple this unique devala has located little distance from Rathnapura. There is the reason to believe that this spot has been site of Dalada from very ancient times but it was formally built by king parakkramabahu ll in the 13th century.
Annually Rathnapura maha saman devalaya is arranged cultural procession according to the ritual as customary; it is also colorful procession among other procession in Sri Lanka and major religious procession in sabaragamuva province.It is held on the month of Esala (July/August) the procession arrangement is belonged to the lay custodians (Basnayaka Nilame) at the Rathnapura maha saman devalya, Elephant bearing head men who carried large honorific umbrellas above precious objectives Devil dance with astounding head –mask going before the ark many kind of dreamers and dancers association of which provinces of island.