Nawagamuwa Pattini Devalaya is a historic temple situated in Nawagamuwa in Colombo District, Sri Lanka. Considering its importance in historical, architectural and anthropological facets, the
Archaeological Department has declared the
Devalaya as an
protected monument in the country.
Nawagamuwa also inherits archeological sites that dates back to BC period as per archaeological research conducted in the area.
[ The Devalaya is popular among the masses for its miracles and to receive the blessings of the goddess ]Pattini
Pattini (, ,), is considered a guardian deity of Sri Lanka in Sri Lankan Buddhism and Sinhalese folklore. She is also worshipped by Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus by the name of ''Kannaki Amman''.
She is considered the patron goddess of fertility a ...
.[ Also many Sri Lankan pregnant mothers go there to get a blessing from the goddess Pattini to their unborn child.
]
Legends
The legend has it that King Gajabahu I (114−136) on his return from India victoriously with 12,000 men as prisoners, also brought with him the Pattini anklet.[ Another legend says that it has been started by Neelaperumal Pandaram who came down from Kerala.
]
History
Verifiable historical evidence about the Devalaya emerge during the Kotte period.[ The area was then known as Hewagam Korale, according to ]Rajaveliya
Rajavaliya (line of kings) is an ancient chronicle of Sri Lanka. It contains the history of King Vijaya to King Vimaladharmasuriya ΙΙ. It is the only chronicle which contains continuous history of Sri Lanka written in Sinhalese language.
Altho ...
.[ Excavations around the Devale from time-to-time unearthed building materials, wells, Dutch coins and iron implements of the ]Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire a ...
. North of the old Devalaya at what was known as the old landing place, coins used during the Dutch period in Ceylon, 1554–1765, have been found.[
Significant events took place during Kotte Period][
* Inauguration of Hewagam Korale by King Rajasinha I of Sitawaka as a gratitude to the soldiers of Hewagama who fought with him against the Portuguese in ]Battle of Mulleriyawa
The Battle of Mulleriyawa ( si, මුල්ලේරියාව සටන) in 1559 was part of the Sinhalese–Portuguese War. It was one of the most decisive battles in Sri Lankan history and considered as the worst defeat of Portuguese dur ...
.
* Godagama Sannasa mentions about the gift of oil presented to Nawagamuwa Pattini Perahera by the King Buwanekabahu V (1521–1580)
* King Mayadunne of Sitawaka
Mayadunne ( si, මායාදුන්නේ) (1501–1581) was the King of Sitawaka, ruled the kingdom between 1521 and 1581. Mayadunne was a fierce opponent of the Portuguese, who had arrived on the island in 1505. He devoted his early life t ...
(1521–1580) had stopped at the Nawagamuwa Pattini Devale to make a vow before he went to war with the Portuguese in the Colombo Fort.
* Portuguese records reveal that, in 1550, the king of Portugal sent 600 troops to help Bhuvanaikabahu VII of Kotte
Bhuvanaikabahu VII (1468 – 29 December 1550) was King of Kotte in the sixteenth century, who ruled from 1521 to 1551. He was the eldest son of Vijayabahu VII of Kotte, whom he succeeded, and his chief queen Anula Kahatuda. He was born in ...
. They clashed with King Mayadunne at Nawagamuwa.
* In 1576, the Portuguese records says that they made a military establishment on the place after destroying the Devalaya.
* King Mayadunne recaptured the lost land and rebuilt the Devalaya.
* The Captain of the Colombo Fort again destroyed the Devalaya and left a pile of ruins.
Festivals
The major festival of the Nawagamuwa Pattini devalaya is the ‘Gonpita Perahera’ held in August each year. This traditional ceremony has been conducted for the past 1500 years in honour of Goddess Pattini, to invoke blessings on the village. The villages rear white bulls exclusively to take part in the annual Perahera Festival.
Restorations
Archeological research has revealed that there are buildings in Nawagamuwa Devalaya premises belonging to both the Kotte Period and the 19th century. The 19th-century restorations and buildings were done by Katuwawala Sri Sumanatissa Thero, the chief priest of the temple during 1813–1928.[ After constructing the Galkanu devale, Sri Sumanatissa Himi constructed the monks' abode or Sanghavasaya and the Vihare or Pilimage in 1894.][
After the restoration of the Devalaya in the 1813–1928 period, the Devalaya has not had any restoration until the ]New Millennium
In contemporary history, the third millennium of the anno Domini or Common Era in the Gregorian calendar is the current millennium spanning the years 2001 to 3000 ( 21st to 30th centuries). Ongoing futures studies seek to understand what is l ...
.[ It was unveiled to the public ceremonially on 19 August 2016.]
Conservation
The Department has declared eight archeologically important sites as protected monuments to be conserved[
# Shrine Room (Pilimage)
# The Monks’ Abode (Sanghavasaya)
# Stone Pillar (Galkanu) Devalaya
# Maha Pattini Devalaya
# Vishnu Devalaya
# Kataragama Devalaya
# Dedimunda Devalaya
# The grove of ancient Na trees (which is over 100 years old).
]
References
{{Reflist
Anuradhapura period
Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Sri Lanka
Goddesses
Archaeological protected monuments in Colombo District