கிழக்கிலங்கை வதனமார் சடங்கில் பரிவாரத் தெய்வங்கள்: வில்லைக்கட்டுப் பத்ததி முறையினை அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டது

Abstract

This study, titled Retinue Deities in the Vathanamar Ritual of Eastern Sri Lanka, aims to identify the pantheon of deities associated with the long-standing tradition of Vathanamar worship in Eastern Sri Lanka. Although these practices are generally referred to as the Vathanamar ritual, Vishnu occupies a prominent position as the principal deity, alongside Lakshmi, Swathi Amman, and several other subsidiary deities. Considering the historical context in which the inhabitants of the Mullai (pastoral) region worshipped Vishnu for the prosperity and protection of their livestock, it is significant that Vishnu remains central to the Vathanamar tradition, which itself narrates heroic acts related to the taming and management of cattle. The Oor-Sutru Kaaviyam (Epic of Village Migration) indicates that the Vathanamar deities arrived in Eelam (Sri Lanka) from India through Trincomalee and subsequently travelled across Batticaloa. The places associated with their journey are believed to have later developed into sacred sites of worship. Vathanamar worship is traditionally performed according to three ritual systems: Villaikattu Paththathi, Velimadai Paththathi and Thulimadai Paththathi. Among these, the Villaikattu Paththathi system is regarded as the most elaborate, involving rituals that extend over several days and require intense devotional participation. The grand sacrificial rituals (Velvi) conducted at the Thampalakamam–Kantale tank reservoir and the Kathiraveli Vathanamar Mother Temple are recognized as major centers where the Villaikattu Paththathi system continues to be practiced in its traditional form. These two locations, which remain important contemporary centers of Vathanamar worship, constitute the geographical scope of this study. The primary objective of this research is to systematically identify the retinue deities worshipped within the rituals conducted at these sites. To achieve this objective descriptive research methodology have been employed, together with a comparative approach to examine location-based variations in ritual practices.