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| FOUR DEVALE SHRINES |
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| The existence of one Buddhist and three Hindu shrines closely connected with the functioning of the activities of the sacred Tooth Relic, perhaps baffles the uninitiated as the curious combination of Hindu and Buddhist faiths. These shrines are the Natha Devale shrine with its presiding divinity the Mahayana Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara, the Maha Devale or the shrine of Visnu, one of the Brahmanical Triad, the shrine of Kataragama or Skauda, son of Siva of the Hindu Triad and the shrine of the female Divinity Pattini, well known for curing infectious diseases. All four devales are provided with small scale Buddhist monasteries, indicating the syncretistic nature of the respective shrines. |
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| All four Devales have their own lay custodians (Basnayaka Nilame) who play a significant role in the activities of the sacred Tooth Relic shrine, especially in the annual Dalada procession. The divinities of these shrines are considered as protectors of the sacred Tooth Relic. This syncretistic ideal of joint worship apparently have come to be practiced from about the 14th century onwards. The service rituals are conducted by the serviceman known as Kapurala, who also plays an important role in the annual pageant, especially in the Water-Cutting ceremony. The devotees who assemble at the four Devales almost daily seek refuge in the respective divinities by obtaining their blessings through the chanting made by the Kapurala of the Devale |
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