Oil anointing ceremony at historic Natha Devalaya

The national oil anointing ceremony (with Nanu and medicinal oils) for the National New Year was conducted with the participation of President Maithripala Sirisena as the Chief Guest on April 15 at the

time (auspicious time) of 11.04 a.m. at the Sri Natha Devalaya in Kandy. Central Province Governor Niluka Ekanayake received the President accompanied by the Minister of Health Dr. Rajitha Senaratne at the entrance to the Devalaya. Chief Minister, Central Province, Sarath Ekanayake, Diyawadana Nilame, Nilanga Dela, Basnayake Nilames and senior government officers from Kandy and Colombo were also present. The Department of Ayurveda organised the ceremony.

The anointing ceremony was conducted by the Asgiriya Maha Nayaka the Most Ven. Panditha Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera. The Most Ven Rajakiya Panditha Niyangoda Vijitha Siri Anunayaka Thera of the Malwatte Viharaya delivered a sermon.

A large number of devotees were present at the anointing ceremony where they too were anointed with the and medicinal oil at the auspicious time with leaves placed above their head and

leaves under their feet. The Natha Devalaya is believed to be the oldest building in Kandy built by King Wickramabahu III who reigned in Gampola. The Devalaya consists of a Hevisi Mandapaya for ceremonial drumming, the Diggeya and Gedige where devotees receive blessings of the deity after fulfilling their vows but are not permitted to go beyond to the inner sanctum. Buddhists believe that Natha Deiyo (deity) will be the next Maitri Buddha.

Many important events were conducted at the Natha Devalaya such as the coronation and naming of the kings in the hill country. Standard names were written on pieces of

(talipot leaves) and placed in front of the image of the deity. The person nominated as the king arrived on an auspicious day with his entourage and picked a name which was handed over to a Nilame, a chieftain who then repeated the name and announced that the Deity had given this particular name to the king. Even the Nayakkar kings who ruled Kandy followed this custom and changed their names.

At present many religious events are conducted at the Natha Devalaya. During the Sinhala New Year a mixture of Nanu and oil is distributed by the Natha Devalaya to many viharas and devalas in and around Kandy. On the first poya in November, oil received from the Sri Dalada Maligawa is again distributed by the Natha devalaya to the Vishnu, Kataragama, Pattini, devala in Kandy and outstation) devala and vihara, to light oil lamps on Il Full Moon Poya in November for the Karthika Mangalya. The Natha Devala perahera is given prominence at the Kandy Esala Perahera when it leads the other three devalas after the Sri Dalada Maligawa perahera.