spirit of saman

spirit of saman

Saman or Sumana or Samantha or Sumana Saman (Sumana Saman deviyo-සුමන සමන් ‍දෙවි in Sinhala) is a deity, subject to local and indigenous belief and worship in Sri Lanka. Saman means "the rising morning sun". His character is of historical significance for the Sinhala people and veneration especially to all the Buddhists. He is considered one of the guardian deities of the island (Sri Lanka) and the Buddha Sasana (Natha, Upulvan, Vibhishana and Katharagama are the others. Nayakkar dynasty from South India introduced the Goddess Pattini replacing God Saman [1]). Sumana Saman is the guardian (patron deity) or the presiding deity of Saparagamuva and the Sri Pada mountain (Adam's Peak). Accordingly his main shrine or Devale is at Ratnapura, where an annual festival is held in his honor. [2]

According to common belief, he may have been a King or a provincial ruler (Mahasumana) of Saparagamuva from the Deva clan, one of the four founding tribes of the Hela people (others are yak, na, rakus, aryan). And according to the tradition of Sammuthi Deva (considered a deity by common acceptance) he is revered as a deity.

He is also thought to have been a real Deva (god). There is much debate regarding his origin. By a few, he is also related to God of Katharagama and Vibhishana. Either way, Sumana Saman deviyo invited Lord Buddha to the Samanalakanda and on request Lord Gautama Buddha left his foot print on the rock at top of the mountain as a token of symbolic worship, in the absence of the Buddha. Some also relate him to the Mahayana tradition of Samanthabhadra. God Maha Sumana Saman is depicted crowned & bejeweled & holding a lotus flower in his right hand & accompanied by a white elephant

spirit of samman