Journey to Kebiliththa Dewalaya

Kebiliththa / Maha Siyambalawa Dewalaya (කැබිලිත්ත / මහ සියඹලා දේවාලය) (6.607546, 81.533610)

This is one of the sacred places sacrificed for God Katharagama (කතරගම දෙවියෝ) / Skandha Kumar. Katharagama Dewalaya is the more well-known abode of Katharagama Deviyo where crowds throng in thousands every day to pay their respects.  According to folklore present spiritual residence of Katharagama Deviyo lies in the jungles (exactly at Yala block 3) of south eastern Sri Lanka, where he is spending his time in meditation. It is known as Kebiliththa / Maha Siyambalawa Dewalaya.

Katharagama Deviyo has met his future wife Walli Amma (වල්ලි අම්මා) at this place near a tamarind tree (“Siyambalawa” tree in Sinhalese) from which it derives its name “Siyambalawa Dewalaya”.

“Kebiliththe Kapurala” (කැබිලිත්තේ කපුරාල) was handed over the jewelries of God Katharagama to hide during invasion of Dutch. He hide the treasure in this Tamarind tree and handed over to Katharagama Dewalaya. Kebiliththe Kapu Rala later died after fighting alone with Dutch. After the death he was appointed to look after Kebiliththa.

As Kebiliththa has great divine power, it is advised to visit it as a religious journey and not for fun. Devotees are advised to be vegetarians for at least two weeks and to be refrained from Alcohol as well. There is no permanent Dewalaya at Kebiliththa like Katharagama. Devotees usually spend the night on other side of Kumbukkan Oya and prepare “Muruthan Bath” (මුරුතැන් බත්) and Poojawa for God Katharagama.

There are four well known routes to reach Kebiliththa.

Routes of Kebiliththa

1. Katharagama-> Galge->Yala block 3. The distance from Yala-Galge entrance to Kebiliththa is about 30 km. As Kebiliththa is situated at Yala block 3 it doesn’t need to cross Kumbukkan Oya to reach the place. Currently this route is less used by devotees.
2. Kumana-> Kuda Kebiliththa->Kebiliththa. Distance from Kuda Kebiliththa to Kebiliththa is 34 km. Kumana entrance to Kuda Kebiliththa is 23 km.
3. Katharagama->Yala block 1 & 2-> Menik Ganga->Kumbukkan Oya->Kumana->Kuda Kebiliththa->Kebiliththa. The distance to Menik Ganga from Yala entrance is 18 km and to Kumbukkan Oya from Menik Ganga is 36 km.  Here the trail joins with Kumana route.

Above mentioned three routes are situated within Yala and Kumana national parks. Therefore it needs wild life permission and a ticket to visit Kebiliththa along these routes. And it is essential to have a four wheel drive jeep to reach Kebiliththa.

4. Moneragala->Kotiyagala->Kebiliththa. This route is situated at Kotiyagala forest reserve and doesn’t need wild life permission to enter through it. Therefore a lot of devotees use this route to reach Kebiliththa by tractors. This is the most common route among devotees. The distance is 32 km. At the end it joins with Kumana route just few kilometres before Kebiliththa.

All these routes need to cross Kumbukkan Oya to reach Kebiliththa Dewalaya except Galge route. These roads are so gravel and become extremely muddy after the rain. Therefore it needs four wheel vehicles with good technical skill to accomplish this hard journey.

 My journey to Kebiliththa

Journey to Kebiliththa / Maha Siyambalawa Dewalaya was one of my long awaited travel goals. Due to the difficulty of the routes and cost I had to delay the trip by year by year. This year I requested to go to Kebiliththa from Nipuna who is my friend annually visits Kebiliththa with his team. Nipuna and his team are well experienced with this journey and one of their drivers-Manju has been at Kebiliththa more than hundred times. Their choice of the route is along Kumana national park.

We were asked to be vegetarian and to be refrained from alcohol, smoking and sex for at least 2 weeks prior to the journey. Nipuna has prepared everything for the Poojawa as well as for rest of the days at Kumana.

We left Colombo on 10^th early morning by three vehicles and exit from Mattala gate. On our way to Moneragala we have stopped at Kumbukkana anicut (6.810943, 81.297796) for the breakfast. The rest station at Kumbukkana anicut is situated on side of Kumbukkan Oya and it’s free of charge to have your prepared meals. Other advantage is you can get the idea of water level of Kumbukkan Oya which would be crossed in Kebiliththa journey.

The team at Kumbukkana anicut on our way to Kumana. We had 11 members.

Breakfast at Kumbukkana

Vegetarian breakfast

Okanda Dewalaya comes across closer to Kumana National Park entrance. Okanda is believed as the place where Katharagama Deviyo has arrived in Sri Lanka from India. We have worshiped Okanda Dewalaya before enter Kumana National Park. I have been at Okanda several times including three times for Pada Yathra. The place is free of devotees on that day, might be due to a weekday.

Okanda Dewalaya

Poojawa at Okanda Dewalaya

Bells

At Okanda Dewalaya

Wild animals are used to get food from visitors.

After spending about 400 km we have reached Kumana National Park entrance. Kumana National park has two wild life bungalows and three camp sites for wild life lovers. We have reserved Kirigal Bay bungalow and Thummulla bungalow for spend the time at Kumana National Park and for Kebiliththa journey.

At Kumana entrance

At Kumana entrance

Distances

At Kumana entrance

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Kirigal Bay wild life bungalow is situated facing to Kirigal Bay (කිරිගල් බේ). Kirigal Bay turtle conservation center is also situated next to Kirigal Bay wildlife bungalow. The lunch was ready when we reached to the bungalow. We have prepared all the things we need for next day journey to Kebiliththa.

Kirigal Bay wild life bungalow.

Day 02
We started the journey from Kirigal Bay at 5.30 am and passed Bagure, Bagure Oya, Andarakala Kalapuwa, Itikala Kalapuwa and Kumana Willuwa before we reached Kuda Kebiliththa. Kuda Kebiliththa (කුඩා කැබිලිත්ත) is the junction of Yala-Kebiliththa route and Kumana route. Devotees of Pada Yathra cross Kumbukkan Oya at Kuda Kebiliththa and sometimes they spend the night here. We hold poojawa for Katharagama Deviyo at Kuda Kebiliththa. The distance from Kirigal Bay bungalow to Kuda Kebiliththa is about 17 km.

.	Distances of camp sites from Kuda Kebiliththa.

Jeeps at Kuda Kebiliththa.

Road to Kebiliththa.

At Kuda Kebiliththa.

At Kuda Kebiliththa

Kuda Kebiliththa Katharagama Dewalaya

At Kuda Kebiliththa.

Team at Kuda Kebiliththa.

Journey from Kuda Kebiliththa to Kebiliththa was really adventurous. Initially we have passed camp sites of Kumana: Eda Kumbuka-1, Eda Kumbuka-2 and Gal Amuna. After Gal Amuna camp (ගල් අමුණ) site we have stopped for breakfast. It was really a four wheel drive most of the time after Gal Amuna camp site. But the track was almost dry. In few instances we had to halt and remove some fallen trees to the track. According to Manju there are two difficult places at the path where streams cross the road, named as Alakola Ara (අලකොල ආර) (6.36316, 81.36216) and Gal Ara (ගල් ආර) (6.36499, 81.33336). Luckily we were able to cross these two places without any major incidence. When you look at the Google map most of the time the path goes parallel to Kumbukkan Oya in right side bank. It really needs good driving skill to drive along this track.

Dry Kumbukkan Oya

Breakfast at Kumbukkan Oya

Fallen trees to the path

Fallen trees to the path

.	One of our jeeps

The track

The track

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.	Another place where a tree has fallen on the track

After crossing Alakola Ara

Team at Alakola Ara. Our driver Manju is also there.

.	Road side ruins

Crossing Gal Ara

After few kilometres from Gal Ara, Kumana route joins with Kotiyagala road. Before that we left the border of Kumana NP and entered Kotiyagala Forest Reserve. Thereafter the road lies at Kotiyagala Forest Reserve till we reached Kumbukkan Oya where Kebiliththa camp site is situated.

Leaving Kumana Territory

Two roads join here

Pins of the route from Kuda Kebiliththa to Kebiliththa.

After about six hours journey we have reached Kebiliththa and it was not that much crowded as it was a weekday. Kebiliththa Dewalaya and Tamarind tree are situated other side of Kumbukkan Oya. First we had a bath at Kumbukkan Oya and changed into white dresses. We carried all necessary items for Poojawa and crossed the river. Kebiliththa is situated at Yala block 3. There was a designated place to prepare
“Muruthan Bath”. We followed rituals as much as possible in preparing Poojawa. (Covering head and mouth by a white cloth) I have observed some devotees make seven holes in the river bank to get water to prepare Muruthan Bath. First we have worshiped the Bo tree at Kebiliththa and then made Poojawa to Katharagama Deviyo. There are no third party between us and god like Katharagama Dewalaya. Historical Tamarind tree is situated few meters away from Kebiliththa Dewalaya. The wild elephant called “Maddu” (මද්දු) is used to eat fruits of Poojawa. We also fed him with fruits.

Crossing Kumbukkan Oya to other side. We were lucky to have less water level.

Preparing Muruthan Bath.

Preparing Muruthan Bath.

Preparing Pooja Watti.

What we prepared

For Katharagama Dewiyo

“Muruthan Bath”

Kebiliththa Bo tree.

Kebiliththa Bo tree.

The place where people hold Poojawa for Katharagama Dewiyo. There are no permanent constructions here. A small Tamarind tree can be seen at the center.

.	Here you have to cut fruits at Pooja Watti and present to God.

A lot of faith.

A lot of faith.

A statue of God Katharagama.

පොල් ගහන තැන

Historical Tamarind tree. This is the place where Katharagama Dewiyo has met Walli Amma. It is not allowed to light oil lamps here for the protection of tree.

Katharagama Dewiyo.

Maddu was the special guest here.

Posed with Maddu.

We were lucky to finish Poojawa without any problems. Usually devotees camp at Kebiliththa overnight and hold early morning Poojawa. This was another accomplishment of one of my travel goals and should thank to other team members for helping it. We were able to return to Kirigal Bay bungalow in four hours time with hope of another happening two days in Kumana National Park.

Devotees at Kumbukkan Oya bank in preparing “Muruthan Bath”

They usually dig seven holes on the bank to get water.

Getting back to Kebiliththa camp site.

In return journey.

කද සුරිදු පිහිටයි.