Sella Kataragama
Sella Kataragama is a sacred place after Kataragama Devalaya. Sella Kataragama area has been developed as another multi-cultural area attracting all walks of life from Buddhists, Hindus and the indigenous Veddas. There are many boutiques. There are too crowded here and quite beautiful. You must go there after worship at Kataragama Devalaya.
Sella Kataragama Ganesh Temple
This is a Kovil of “Gana Devi” or “god Ganesh.” He is an Indian Hindu god. Because of historical reasons, it is also well-known in Sri Lanka. Some Sri Lankans believe this is the god of knowledge, particularly in mathematics. However, this Ganesh temple was the most well-known in Sellakataragama. This is near the Manik River
Sella Kataragama history
The history of Kataragama goes back to pre Christian era and both Buddhist and Hindu literature have identified this place in various ways. According to chronicles some of the people who accompanied Vijaya from India in 543 BC established a village called Kajara-Gama which is thought to be the current Kataragama.
Sella Kataragama is a small town lying on the banks of Menik Ganga about 4 kilometers northwest of Kataragama which has been weaved into the legends of the deity Kataragama ( Skanda Kumaraya) as much as Kataragama itself.
According to Hindu beliefs god Skanda is also known as Murugan, Arumugam, Kandasami (Skanda Swami), Subrahmanya, etc. Many legends describe the birth of this deity and according to Hindu legends, God Skanda came to Sri Lanka after a row with his wife Shivani and landed in the southern part of the island. He made Wedihiti Kanda near Kataragama his adobe. One day he saw a beautiful 16-year-old local girl called Valli who was adopted by the Vedda chieftain of the tribe who lived in the area.
Skanda unable to win her love consulted his brother god Ganesh to help him. Finding out that Valli feared elephants, a plan was devised for Ganesh to appear as an Elephant and for Skanda to come to her rescue. Before turning into the elephant, Ganesh gave a pot of water to Skanda and asked him to pore the water onto him after the planned attack so he would turn back to his Human form. When Skanda approached Valli in form of an old man at Sella Kataragama, she was choking on some food, and in the eagerness to help her, he dropped all the water. At the same time, Ganesh appears in form of an elephant and scares her. Skanda offered to help with the condition of marrying him. Valli having no choice consents to marry him and then he appears in his true form. But unfortunately, Ganesh has to stay with an elephant head since Skanda has dropped the water.
And later it is believed that the newly wedded couple lived at Sella Kataragama.
Now a day Sella Kataraga
Sella Kataragama area has been developed as another multi-cultural area attracting all walks of life from Buddhists, Hindus, and the indigenous Veddas.
To enter the sacred area you need to cross the Menik Ganga river. The walk from the car park to the river is lined with shops selling sweetmeat toys to memorabilia. On the other side of the river lies a plethora of Kovil including a Ganapathi Kovil, a Siva Kovil, a Kataragama Kovil, a Valliamma Kovil, a Lakshmi Kovil, and Saman Devalaya and a temple dedicated to king Mahasen called Mahasen Viharaya.
For those on pilgrimage to Kataragama, a visit to Sella Kataragama is generally a permanent item in the itinerary. Newly married couples make it a point to visit the Valli Amma to obtain blessings for the new life.