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Discover the lesser-known Minneriya Purana Game Devalaya, an ancient shrine tied to King Mahasen’s 3rd-century CE legacy and later rebuilt by King Rajasinghe II. Hidden near the great reservoir, it preserves rare artifacts, legends, and the enduring heritage of Minneriya Deviyo.
When thinking of the Minneriya Devalaya, most people picture the shrine on the Minneriya Reservoir embankment, the most famous devalaya dedicated to Minneriya Deviyo – the deified King Mahasen (276–303 CE), who built the great Minneriya Reservoir. However, on the opposite side of the main road lies a much older and historically more significant shrine.
The origins of the Minneriya Purana Devalaya trace back to the time of King Mahasen. According to tradition, the king temporarily resided here in a fortified residence while constructing the Minneriya Reservoir. The stone doorframe carved in the form of a Chandravanka and the scattered stone pillars in the devalaya are an endorsement for this belief.
The present devalaya was built by King Rajasinghe II (1635–1687 CE) of the Kandyan Kingdom. Historical accounts state that he vowed to construct a shrine at this location if he succeeded in repelling an attack by a Soli army that had landed in Trincomalee. After his victory, he fulfilled his vow by building the devalaya and placing within it weapons and items believed to have belonged to King Mahasen. These include an 8-foot (2.4-meter) sword said to have been used by the king, along with three additional swords, two pairs of salamba once worn on the ankles, a silver hawadiya, and a pair of earrings.
A statue crowned with seven cobra heads is believed to represent Mahasen Deviyo and is said to have been presented by King Rajasinghe II. Remarkably, this statue has never been repainted or restored and remains on display at the devalaya.
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Map of Minneriya Purana Game Devalaya
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Travel Directions to Minneriya Purana Game Devalaya
| Route from Habarana to Minneriya Purana Game Devalaya |
| Through : Habanarana – Minneriya Road Distance : 24 km Travel time : 30 mins Driving directions : see on Google Maps |
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