Pattini

Pattini
Other names	Pattini Deviyo
Affiliation	Kannaki Amman
Symbol	Anklet, Neem leaves
Mount	Goat

Pattini (Sinhala: පත්තිනි දෙවියෝ, lit. 'Pattiṉi Deviyō', Tamil: கண்ணகி அம்மன், lit. 'Kaṇṇaki Am'man',Hindi: पत्तिनी, lit. 'Devi Kannaki'), is considered a guardian deity of Sri Lanka in Sri Lankan Buddhism and Sinhalese folklore. She is also worshipped by Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus by the name of Kannaki Amman.

She is considered the patron goddess of fertility and health, particularly protection against smallpox, which is referred to as deviyange ledé ('the divine affliction') in the Sinhala language.

History

Goddess Pattini is the deification of Kannagi, who is the central character of the Tamil epic Silapadhikaram of Ilango Adigal, written in India after the 2nd Century CE. After a short time, it was introduced into Sri Lanka and absorbed earlier deities such as Kiri Amma ('milk mother'). Historians attribute the introduction of goddess Pattini to the island to Gajabahu I, a Sinhalese king who ruled Sri Lanka from 113 - 135 CE. As per some historians, the Silapathikaram mentions Gajabahu's presence at the consecration of a temple to Kannagi (identified as Pattini in this case) by the Chera king Senguttuvan.^[1]

Rituals

Pattini is honoured in annual fertility rites such as

Gammaduwa (village rebirth) festivals, during which her myth is enacted.
Ankeliya (horn games) in which, as in the British game of Uppies and Downies, upper and lower teams compete.
Porakeliya (fight games) during which two teams hurl coconuts at each other.

Nursing mothers' alms-giving

Sinhalese people believe that diseases like chickenpox and measles are punishments by God for frailty. In such events as the goddess of healing, they pray to Pattini Devi. When a family member is infected, they hold Dānas (alms-givings) for her, called Kiri-ammāwarungè dānaya (Nursing mothers' alms-giving).^[2]

Pattini temples in Sri Lanka

Devalaya/Temple	Location	District	Province	Description	Refs
Halpe Pattini Devalaya	Halpe	Badulla	Uva Province	Archaeological protected monument	^[3]
Kabulumulla Pattini Devalaya				One of the four major Pattini temples which the great 'Pattini Salamba' exists. This devale was built by King Rajasinghe I in 1582.
Lindamulla Pattini Devalaya	Lindamulla	Badulla	Uva Province	Archaeological protected monument	^[4]
Maduwa Pattini Devalaya				The festival of the Pattini Devale is held annually during July–August season.
Mahanuwara Pattini Devalaya	Kandy	Kandy	Central	Pattini Devale is located to the west of Natha Devale close to Sri Dalada Maligawa premises.	^[5]
Nawagamuwa Pattini Devalaya	Nawagamuwa	Colombo	Western	As the legend unfolds King Gajabahu I of Anuradhapura (A.D. 114 - 136) came from India with 12,000 men as prisoners, bringing with him a Pattini anklet, he landed at a place close to devalaya. Devalaya was built to enshrine the anklet.	^[6]
Madulla Paththini Devalaya	Madulla	Nuwara Eliya	Central	Ancient Devala, Built by King Rajasinghe II