Not Grandoise – but GLORIOUS A group of six of us, after visiting Kirivehera, entered the historical Katharagama Devalaya from the northern entrance in the evening on 11th February 2019, after leaving our footwear with the caretaker. The most important in this temple complex is the main shrine dedicated to the guardian deity with six faces and twelwe arms sitting on a peacock, the “Katharagama Deviyo” also venerated by Hindus as “Murugan or Skanda”. This main shrine attracts Buddhist as well as Hindu pilgrims from all over Sri Lanka and from as far as South India. As we had adequate time before the pooja (offering) scheduled for 1900 hrs, we walked around the temple complex visiting the other subordinate shrines dedicated to deities Vishnu, Ganesha, Dedimunda, Paththini, Kali, Suniyam and Sumana Saman. The bo tree behind the main Katharagama shrine is said to be a sapling from the Anuradhapura bodhi tree planted in 3rd Century BCE. We could walk around leisurely and amongst the seated devotees since it was a weekday and not not so crowded. Weekends and full-moon days see throngs of people visiting the temple. Some of us, carrying our offerings of fruits in a tray, joined the queue with other devotees. The queue at the left was for those with tray offerings and the one on the right for others. Those with tray offerings keep clearly visible monetary offerings on top of the fruit tray demonstrating their piety and seeking divine intervention into or from whatever problems they may have. Others seek fulfilment of their wishes and aspirations. After the main official pooja, these trays are accepted by the priests chanting prayers interceding for devotees, part emptied and returned to the owners. At the exit, you may opt to have a dot placed on your forehead signifying obeisance and reverence. Unlike at other temples, the main shrine is a simple two roomed structure, not at all grand. The other surrounding shrines too are in simple one roomed buildings, some built from stone. I understand that they had not been altered since they were built as people are reluctant to carry out modifications. Furthermore, in all these shrine rooms, the deities are not represented by large statues, but by large drawings portraying their glory and power. Within the main shrine, in addition to the main drawing facing the entrance are few others on side walls too depicting the power of Katharagama deity. With the sounding of many bells at this sacred place, coupled with the chanting, the aura of the Katharagama guardian deity descended on me, overwhelming me, when within the shrine. The feelings each of us experience may of course vary depending on our beliefs and the environment. Almost as one enters through main entrance is the coconut breaking area situated right in front of the main Katharagama Devala. Devotees hold the coconut with both hands raised, make a prayer or a wish, and dash it on the stone basin, breaking it into pieces and spilling its water. They believe that this helps their wish and prayer to come true. Some do wish ill-will to their enemies when shattering the coconut. After exiting the temple through the main southern entrance around 8.00 pm, we walked along the road leading to and across the Menik river. We observed people bathing in the river even at this late hour. There is a saying among the locals that if you bathe in this river all your sins get washed away!!