Kataragama: The Holiest Place in Ceylon

adornment asura basket Basnayake big festivities Bo-tree bowl Buddha Buddhists built called camphor carried century ceremony Ceylon cheeks and tongue Colombo curtains dagoba devale devini-kapurala dressed Dutthagamini elephant is led Esala perahera fire walking front full-moon night gama Ganesha girl Gods highest priests hill Hindus holy place honour hooks Immediately Indra inside jungle Kalyangiri kapurala Kartikeya Katara Kataragama deity Kaveri Kiri-vehera kovil Lake House lance later legend lingam Maha Maha-devale Menik Ganga mentioned mosque Mount Kailas Mutulinga-swami origin Palni peacock penitent pierced pilgrims PLACE IN CEYLON place of pilgrimage placed on top relic representation road sanctuary sanctum seen shawm silver needles Sinhalese Sinhalese kings Siva Skanda small temple southern India Spittel stone supposed swami symbol Tamil Taraka temple area temple in Kataragama temple of Valli-amma temple to temple temple-yard temples and shrines Tissamaharama tradition trance Valli-amma temple Vasanamedai Veddas venerated visited white cloth wife yantra