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From Kataragama to the land of Gods and legends-by MAHIL WIJESINGHE   Source:Sundayobserver In modern Sri Lanka, Tissamaharama and Kirinda carry far less importance to the average person than Kataragama. Author Paul Wirz called this jungle site on the Menik Ganga ‘the holiest place in Ceylon.’ Pilgrims from all religions flock to the shrines – about 21 kilometres from Tissamaharama – to worship and make offerings. The deity most often associated with Kataragama is Skanda, with six faces and 12 hands, known here simply as Kataragama Deviyo. Buddhists travel to Kataragama mainly to visit the Kirivehera, a great Dagaba one kilometre West of the main shrine where the Buddha is said to have sat in meditation on his third and final visit to Sri Lanka. The seven Hills of Kataragama rise four kilometres South of the holy shrines. ...