ADAM’S PEAK, SRI PADA aka SAMANALA KANDA, SIVAN ADIPADAM
One of the few mountains in the world, and certainly in Sri Lanka which looks enchantingly beautiful from any angle or distance is Adam’s Peak 7359 feet above sea level, located in the central province close to Maskeliya on one side and Ratnapura on the other.
Volumes can be written about this world famed mountain Sri Pada (Sacred foot) in Sinhala and Sivan Adipadam (Siva’s Foot) by Hindus. Both Christians and Muslims believe the mountain has the foot print of the first human being Adam. Hindus believe it has the footprint of Lord Siva while Buddhists strongly believe it has the footprint of Lord Buddha.
I must confess here that the footprint what I saw looked like an artificial structure which resembled a huge footprint made of cement, which did not give me any "Feeling of Holiness" (with apologies to all believers)!
Though all major faiths in Sri Lanka have their own versions, it is the Buddhist who visit the mountain every year as they believe the footprint mark is the left foot of Buddha, left behind when he visited Sri Lanka. The pilgrimage season begins in December each year and lasts till the Full Moon day four months later.
Interestingly, another Sinhala name for the mountain is “Samanala Kanda” refers to deity Saman who is said to have lived here. Also Samanala in Sinhala means butterflies, since butterflies frequent the mountain annually coinciding with the pilgrimage season, thus making it to be called Mountain of Butterflies!
Many Muslims and Christians believe Prophet Adam set foot on the mountain when he was exiled by God from the Garden of Eden. It is of interest to note, Arabs called Sri Lanka by the name Serendib.
I first climbed the mountain when I was a young school boy about sixty years ago. The climb was extremely difficult at that time as the steps were not properly made and it was worse in some places making the journey precarious. I noticed the old people especially the women folk climbed the mountain with much piety whereas the youngsters, both boys and girls made the even purely entertaining and romantic.
Today, numerous facilities have been provided with improved rest areas, eateries, drinking facilities and shops selling Buddhist religious items. In 1978 a Peace Pagoda was constructed halfway up the mountain, by some Japanese priests.
We can see many foreign tourists climbing the mountain, fascinated by the surrounding hills and most significantly witnessing SUNRISE from the top of Adam’s Peak is a most breathtaking sight for any human being. I was mesmerized by its beauty when I first climbed the Peak long ago, it was simply stunning.
My recent visit was to a close by Tea Plantation called Laxapana from where the view of the mountain was awesome.
The Buddhist pilgrims have a habit of ringing the huge bell on the top of the mountain according to the number of visits they made. So, I saw some kept ringing it more than ten times showing they had climbed so many times!