Kataragama - The land of Khidr

Little is it known that Kataragama, the centre of the Skanda cult among Hindus and Buddhists, has a place in Muslim hearts as well. The sanctity attached to the place by local Muslims revolves round not on Skanda, but a mysterious being called al-Khidr or 'The Green One' whose presence is believed to pervade the sanctuary with which he is associated, namely, the Khalir Makam in the Muslim quarter of Kataragama not far from the Menik Ganga. Indeed, there are those who believe that it was this Khidr who gave his name to Kataragama.
That the area was formerly known as Kadaragama is borne out by the Dhatuvamsa of Kakusandha written in the 13th or 14th century. Be that as it may, the Muslim association with Kataragama goes back to hoary antiquity though we cannot say exactly when it all started.

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