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Discover Vellaveli’s hidden heritage, where a solitary tree beside an abandoned reservoir shelters shrines dedicated to the fierce deity Vairavar. Nearby, a rocky plateau with early Brahmi inscriptions reveals traces of an ancient Buddhist monastic past, blending spiritual traditions across centuries.
Vellaveli (also spelled Vellavely; Sinhala: වැලිවැල්ල) is a town in Sri Lanka’s Batticaloa District, located about 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) south of Batticaloa. From the town, this massive banyan tree covering an area of approximately 0.7 acres (2800 square meters) can be reached by a short ten-minute drive through cultivated fields, ending at the bund of a small abandoned reservoir. The tree stands just to the right of this point.
Beneath it are several structures dedicated to Hindu deities, with one of the principal gods worshipped here being Vairavar. Vairavar (Tamil: வைரவர்) is a fierce form of Lord Shiva associated with destruction, time, and protection and is traditionally depicted using a dog as his vehicle. His symbol is the trident (trishula), is used to mark his presence in the shrine and serves as his primary weapon.
Among the Sinhalese, this deity is commonly known as Bahirawa (or Bahiravaya). In Sinhalese tradition, the figure of Bahirawa evolved from the Hindu god into a powerful class of protective spirits believed to guard the earth and hidden treasures.
Kovils dedicated to Vairavar in the Northern and Eastern provinces conduct rituals that differ from those performed for more peaceful deities. Offerings often include garlands made of wade and lamps carved from ash gourds (Alu Puhul). Devotees of the Hindu faith frequently visit this site on Fridays to make pujas to God Vairavar.
North of the abandoned reservoir is a rocky plateau bearing several early Brahmi cave inscriptions, indicating that this area served as a Buddhist monastic site in earlier times.
Also See
Map of Thousand Root Banyan Tree in Vellaveli
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Travel Directions to Thousand Root Banyan Tree in Vellaveli
| Route from Batticaloa to Thousand Root Banyan Tree in Vellaveli |
| Distance : 35 km Travel time : 50 minutes Driving directions : see on Google Maps |
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