Mediaeval Sinhalese Art c6.4

c6.4

Another reference to Laṅkā is found in the Skanda Purāṇa, the story of a malignant demon, for whose overthrow Skanda or Kārtikēya was incarnated as a god of war and wisdom. This Kārtikēya is still revered, particularly at his shrine at Kataragama in the feverish forests of the south-east of Ceylon, whence pilgrims resort from even the distant parts of India; Kataragam Dēviyō, as he is generally known, was the patron god of Elāḷa; and many dēvāles of his are found elsewhere, although the one just referred to is of peculiar sanctity.