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Maha Loku Meni is regarded as the elder sister of the deity Saman, who is believed to reside atop Sri Pada. She is a regional guardian deity of the Mahiyangana area, and Gurulupotha Maha Loku Meniyange Devalaya is one of the very few shrines dedicated to her worship. Maha Loku Meni is venerated as a benevolent protector, particularly safeguarding pregnancies, infants, and agricultural communities.
Among the indigenous Vedda community, she is also known as Maha Loku Akka and Maha Lokuwan, and she remains one of the principal deities honored in their traditional belief system. The site of the shrine is sometimes referred to as Kandahena Bo Maluwa due to the nearby temple.
Maha Loku Maniyange Devalaya lies about 2 kilometers from Gurulupotha Bazaar, reached by taking the road to the right along the Kandy–Mahiyangana Road in the Minipe region. The location is traditionally believed to be the residence of Maha Loku Meni.
Local tradition further holds that during the Gautama Buddha’s first visit to Mahiyangana, when conflict arose with the Yakkha inhabitants, this deity intervened and helped bring about a peaceful settlement. Today, the site preserves an ancient Bo tree along with several scattered stone pillars, indicating the antiquity of the sacred location.
References
- Abeyawardhana, H. A. P. (2004) Heritage of Kandurata: Major Natural, Cultural, and Historic Sites. Kandy: Kandurata Development Bank, in association with the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
Also See
Map of Gurulupotha Maha Loku Maniyange Devalaya
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Travel Directions to Gurulupotha Maha Loku Maniyange Devalaya
| Route from Kandy up to Gurulupotha Maha Loku Maniyange Devalaya |
| Distance : 75 km Travel time : 2-2.30 hours Driving directions : see on google map |
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