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The Deva people (Deva being Sinhala for God or Deity) were mythical inhabitants of Sri Lanka who lived around 2370 BCE. They were god worshippers. According to the Mahavamsa and Ramayana they lived among the Naga, Yakkha and Raskha. They ousted their arch enemies the Raskha from Sri Lanka, with the help of Lord Vishnu. They were then subsequently conquered by King Ravana of the Raskha. After the Yakkhas had left to live in the mountains and remote dense forests, they met Gautama Buddha who converted them to Buddhism.

European scholars consider the story of the Raksha and Deva in the Ramayana to have been made in historic times, due to the knowledge of Sri Lankan locations mentioned in the stories, and therefore the story is considered not to be based on fact. The Mahavansa also makes no mention of a great Deva civilization and there is no archaeological evidence suggesting a civilization ruled by King Ravana existed.

Encounter with Buddha

According to the Mahavamsa, Gautama Buddha meet the Deva at Mahiyangana. Buddha gave Sumana Saman (A leader of the Deva) a few hairs from his head, which were placed in a golden urn and enshrined in a sapphire stupa. A buddhist monk called Sarabhu is then said to have deposited Buddha's ashes in this Stupa. This stupa is now called the "Mahiyangana Stupa" and can be found in Anuradhapura museum.

Sumana Saman

Sumana Saman was a leader of the Deva who came from the central hills of Sri Lanka. Some Sri Lankan Buddhists worship him as deity. He is said to be the guardian of Adam's peak.

See also

• Sinhalese people
• Sri Lankan Tamil people
• Balangoda Man

References

1. ^ H. Parker (1909). Ancient Ceylon. New Dehli: Asian Educational Services. 7.
2. R.K. Ramakrishnan (2003). Ravana and Lanka. Dehli: Global Vision Publishing House. 31.
3. ^ W. L. Wijayawansa . (2009). Curbing the tribesmen . Available: http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/12/31/fea25.asp. Last accessed 17 March 2010.
4. John M. Senaveratna (1997). The Story of the Sinhalese. Colombo: Asian Educational Services.
5. H.R Perera. (1988). Buddhism in Sri Lanka - A short history. Available: http://www.buddhanet.net/pdf_file/bud-srilanka.pdf. Last accessed 02 10 10.
6. ^ Duruthu Poya - The Buddha’s first visit to Lanka. (2009). Gamini Jayasinghe. Available: http://www.amarasara.info/hotnews/20091231-02.htm. Last accessed 17 March 2010.
7. Ven. S. Dhammika & BuddhaNet/Buddha Dharma Education Association Inc. (2007). Mahiyangana. Available: http://www.buddhanet.net/sacred-island/mahiyangana.html. Last accessed 17 March 2010.
8. A.G.S. Kariyawasam . (1995). The Gods & Deity Worship in Sri Lanka. Available: http://www.lankalibrary.com/myths/gods.htm. Last accessed 17 March 2010.

External links

v t e Sri Lankans
Demographics of Sri Lanka Sri Lankan diaspora
Indigenous	Vedda
Traditional	Sinhalese Sri Lankan Tamils Chinese Indians Bharatha Chetty Tamil Telugu Jews Malays Javanese Moors Pathans
Multiracial	Burgher people Dutch Burghers Portuguese Burghers Kaffirs
Immigrants	Japanese Koreans Maldivians Memons

• History of Sri Lanka
• Ethnic groups in Sri Lanka
• Sri Lankan people