Festival at Taniwella Devalaya

Kalakeerthi Edwin Ariyadasa

At 62 km on the Colombo-Puttalam road, travellers come upon a prestigious shrine. An impressive figure of a horse attracts the attention of the passers-by.

The shrine, is the monument to an intrepid and popular ruler of the Kotte period who was known as Prince Thaniya Wallaba, son of King Weeraparakramabahu VIII. This ruler was a person of high historical significance. The masses of his day adored and admired him for his military prowess.

He was the viceroy with his seat at Katupitya Madampe. The prince saved the coastal belt from the military threat posed by South Indian invader called Adi Rasa Rayan. The Prince with the able support provided by his brother Sakalakala Wallaba decimated the invading foreign cohorts.

The victory was so outstanding that the people deitified Prince Thaniya Wallaba as Thaniwelle Deity. The masses still narrate how the prince, clad in white, would ride his white horse, at lightning speed, through forests and fields seeking out his enemies.

Over an above his military conquests, the prince was a far-sighted ruler who made his territory self-sufficient in food by constructing tanks and irrigation canals. His favourite tank was ‘Maha Wewa’ on the banks of which he built his own palace.

The shrine built in his name has continued to be venerated by succeeding generations. Devotees throng to the premises of the shrine to receive blessings of the Deity of Thaniwella, who according to folk-lore, possessed such miraculous powers that enabled him even to fly through the air.

The shrine dating back to the Jayawardhanapura Kotte era has a Bodhi tree in its premises. This sacred Bodhi tree is considered to be 250 years old. The rites and rituals centering on the cult of Thaniwella Deity flourish even today.

Mr. Keerthi Senanayaka is the current custodian of this Dewalaya (Shrine). The annual anointing ritual (Nanumura Mangallaya) is held in August. This year, the age-old ceremony took place on August 25.

Although this ceremony in August every year, is the highlight of the rituals associated with this shrine, devotees flock to this sacred spot right round the year. This picturesque shrine is an adornment to this region.