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Kataragama is a town located in the south of the island nation of Sri Lanka that is a noteworthy pilgrimage destination for Hindus, Buddhists and the indigenous Veddah people alike. Even devotees from southern India come to this venerated site to pay their respects at the sacred shrines gracing the locale. The site of veneration is the Kataragama temple, known in the Sinhalese language as the Kataragama devalaya; it stands in honour of God Skanda-Murugan or Kataragamadeviyo as the locals call the deity.

Tamil followers of the Hindu faith, both in Sri Lanka and southern India, call the location Katirkamam. The deity is variously known as Skanda-Murugan, Katiradeva, Subramanya, Kandasamy, Tarakajith and other names by the Hindu community. The god is depicted as having twelve hands and six faces or alternatively as featuring four hands and a single face. To demonstrate their devotion and loyalty to God Murugan, and to cultivate good karma, devotees pierce their tongues and cheeks with metal implements, and pull heavy chariots while attached to them with hooks.

On the other hand, Buddhists consider the presiding divinity to be a special guardian of the Buddhist faith and the Sri Lankan nation. Kataragama is believed to be one of the sixteen sites of Buddhist veneration in the island. The revered Bo tree to be seen behind the temple is thought to be a descendant of the Sri Maha Bodhiya of Anuradhapura, in Sri Lanka. Not to be missed is the Kiri Vehera stupa, which is located in the vicinity. This edifice is thought to have been originally constructed by King Mahasena many centuries ago.

There is no doubt that Kataragama is a site of veneration for devotees of many faiths; even a Muslim mosque may be seen within the temple compound. Although the many people who revere the deity are of different castes and creeds, they are united in their faith in the god and his ability to provide divine assistance in times of personal troubles, or for success in various endeavours. Well-informed visitors desiring Sri Lanka car rental or who are interested in exploring options for airport transfers Sri Lanka will be pleased by Malkey Rent A Car, a reputed provider of reliable transport solutions in the island.

Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday.

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