Pattini(Sinhala:පත්තිනි දෙවියෝ,lit. 'Pattiṉi Deviyō',Tamil:கண்ணகி அம்மன்,lit. 'Kaṇṇaki Am'man'), is considered a guardian deity of Sri Lanka inSri Lankan BuddhismandSinhalesefolklore. She is also worshipped bySri Lankan Tamil Hindusby the name ofKannaki Amman.
| Pattini | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Pattini Deviyo |
| Affiliation | Kannaki Amman |
| Symbol | Anklet,Neem leaves |
| Mount | Goat |
She is considered the patron goddess of fertility and health, particularly protection againstsmallpox,which is referred to asdeviyange ledé('the divine affliction') in theSinhala language.
History
editGoddess Pattini is the deification ofKannaki,who is the central character of theTamil epictheCilappatikaramofIlango Adigal,written inSouth Indiaafter the2nd century.After a short time, it was introduced intoSri Lankaand absorbed earlier deities such asKiri Amma('milk mother'). Historians attribute the introduction of goddess Pattini to the island toGajabahu I,a Sinhalese king who ruled Sri Lanka from 113-135. As per some historians, theCilappatikarammentions Gajabahu's presence at the consecration of a temple to Kannagi (identified as Pattini in this case) by theCherakingCenkuttuvan.[1]
Rituals
editPattini is honoured in annualfertility ritessuch as
- Gammaduwa(village rebirth) festivals, during which her myth is enacted.
- Ankeliya(horn games) in which, as in theBritishgame ofUppies and Downies,upper and lower teams compete.
- Porakeliya(fight games) during which two teams hurlcoconutsat each other.
Nursing mothers' alms-giving
editSinhalese people believe that diseases like chickenpox and measles are punishments by God for frailty. In such events as the goddess of healing, they pray to Pattini Devi. When a family member is infected, they holdDānas(alms-givings) for her, calledKiri-ammāwarungè dānaya(Nursing mothers' alms-giving).[2]Sri Lankan Sinhalese first invite to 7 or more than that ( 7 multiples ) good women by their behavior.Next, they made Kiriya ( A dish likewise Dodol made from pure coconut milk, jaggery and treacle and adding plums and Kaju ), Kavum ( Sri Lankan Oil Cake ), Milk Aluwa, Milk Rice.Especially, All these dishes are made from milk, a symbol of luck.They also add plantains too.At the alms giving day, they offer dishes for Lord Buddha and Goddess Pattini. After they offer the dishes for the invited good womans.Next, they read the ancient script of Pattini Halla and Some chants of goddess pattini.
Pattini temples in Sri Lanka
edit| Devalaya/Temple | Image | Location | District | Province | Description | Refs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Halpe Pattini Devalaya |  |
Halpe | Badulla | Uva Province | Archaeological protected monument | [3] |
| Kabulumulla Pattini Devalaya | One of the four major Pattini temples which the great 'Pattini Salamba' exists. This devale was built by King Rajasinghe I in 1582. | |||||
| Lindamulla Pattini Devalaya |  |
Lindamulla | Badulla | Uva Province | Archaeological protected monument | [4] |
| Maduwa Pattini Devalaya | The festival of the Pattini Devale is held annually during July–August season. | |||||
| Mahanuwara Pattini Devalaya | Kandy | Kandy | Central | Pattini Devale is located to the west of Natha Devale close toSri Dalada Maligawapremises. | [5] | |
| Nawagamuwa Pattini Devalaya | Nawagamuwa | Colombo | Western | As the legend unfolds KingGajabahu I of Anuradhapura(A.D. 114 - 136) came from India with 12,000 men as prisoners, bringing with him a Pattini anklet, he landed at a place close to devalaya. Devalaya was built to enshrine the anklet. | [6] | |
| Madulla Paththini Devalaya | Madulla | Nuwara Eliya | Central | Ancient Devala, Built by King Rajasinghe II |
- Gagula Sri Sudharshana Pattini Devalaya - * One of the oldest Pattini temples in the western coast of Sri Lanka.
- Mee Gaha Kovila Pattini Devalaya - Oldest Pattini temple located in Panadura city.The name recognizes the huge Mee tree in the temple and it also has huge tamarind trees too.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^"King Gajabahu I of Anuradhapura".Lanka Pradeepa.Retrieved23 July2023.
- ^"The Cult of Goddess Pattini at a time of Pandemic: Gammaduwa as a Strategy of Supernatural Protection".ari.nus.edu.sg.Retrieved29 August2023.
- ^"Ella Halpe Pattini Devalaya".Department of Archaeology.Retrieved11 March2018.
- ^"Gazette".The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.1401.8 July 2005.
- ^"Gazette".The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.1597.8 April 2009.
- ^"Nawagamuwa Devalaya - Dedicated to goddess Pattini".Sunday Observer.17 April 2011.Retrieved11 March2018.
Further reading
edit- Bastin, Rohan (December 2002).The Domain of Constant Excess: Plural Worship at the Munnesvaram Temples in Sri Lanka.Berghahn Books.ISBN1-57181-252-0.
- Obeyesekera, Gananath (1984).The Cult of the Goddess Pattini.University of Chicago Press.ISBN0-226-61602-9.
External links
edit- Website of Kubulumulla Pattini DevalayaArchived2 April 2012 at theWayback Machine