Road to Sri Pada is lit up

Imagine pilgrims to Sri Pada – also referred to as Samanala Kanda, the abode of God Saman, and Adam's Peak – climbing Sri Lanka's fifth highest mountain (2243 metres) using hand made fire torches. The climb was pretty strenuous, so much so that most devotees used to treat it as their final journey. Often before they embarked on the journey, they indicated how their wealth should be distributed if they failed to return!

Exactly one month after the country gained Independence, electricity was provided to light up the road to Sri Pada. An estimated 70,000 were present to witness the Minister of Public Works Sir John Kotelawala inaugurate the lights. It was a momentous occasion which made the pilgrimage to Sri Pada so convenient.

Sri Pada can be described as the most venerated mountain in the world. It is unique because of it being treated as a sacred place by people of different faiths. As mentioned in the Encyclopedia of Sri Lanka, the name Adam's Peak is derived from the belief by the Muslims that Adam, the first man and prophet landed on one foot on this peak when he was banished from Paradise. To the Hindus the footprint on the peak is that of God Shiva. Certain Christians believe that it was left by Saint Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, who is said to have brought the Christian message to the subcontinent.

The peak, however, is worshipped most by the Buddhists who believe that the Buddha visited Sri Pada at the invitation of God Saman, following the visit to Nagadipa and Kelaniya in the eighth year after Enlightenment. He left his footprint on a slab of rock on the peak and for centuries Buddhists have trudged to worship it. Even ancient kings regularly visited Sri Pada.

Sri Pada is one of the sixteen most sacred places of worship (Solosmasthana) to the Buddhists and is ranked number four in the stanza describing the places visited by the Buddha.

On the arduous journey the pilgrims were expected to be on their best behaviour during the trip. They went as a group (nade) with a leader (nade gura) guiding them. His word was law and everyone had to obey him to the letter. Certain words and actions were taboo and everyone was warned to guard their tongue. In order to lessen the exhaustion of the climb, the devotees sang verses extolling the virtues of the Triple Gem and those written about the Samanala Kanda. (Incidentally, hordes of butterflies can be seen moving towards the peak during a particular season giving it the name 'peak of the butterflies').

December to May is the pilgrim season. Full moon poya in March is the peak of the season. Pilgrims have a choice of two routes – one through Maskeliya when they have to walk about seven kilometres and the other via Ratnapura involving a ten kilometre walk.

Sunrise (íra sevaya) at Sri Pada is a beautiful sight. Most devotees prefer to climb in the night to reach the summit at dawn to watch the spectacle.