The Sacred Footprint of Gautama Buddha (Sri Padaya)

Описание: The Sacred Footprint of Gautama Buddha
Sri Padaya
Sri Padaya is a 2,243 m (7,359 ft) tall conical mountain located in central province of Sri Lanka. It is well known for the Sri Pada, "sacred footprint", a 1.8 m (5 ft 11 in) rock formation near the summit which in Buddhist as well as in Sri Lankan tradition is held to be the Footprints of Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha in Hindu tradition in blend with that of Hanuman or Shiva. According to this it is termed “Sivanolipaathamalai”/ "Mountain of Shiva's Light" and in some Islamic and Christian traditions that of Adam or that of St. Thomas.
What does “Sri Pada” mean? It is said that when Lord Buddha visited Sri Lanka “The God of Saman” invited to place his footprints on the summit of this mountain.
Hence the name was derived “Sri Pada” (Sri - Sacred / Padaya - Foot) which is further translated as “The sacred footprint”. Sri Pada mountain region is considered to be looked over by the God of Saman and he is much revered by the locals.
For Buddhists, the footprint mark is the left foot of the Buddha left behind when Buddha visited Sri Lanka as a symbol of worship at the invitation of Buddhist God Saman.
Tamil Hindus consider it as the footprints of Lord Shiva. It is also fabled that the mountain is the legendary mount Trikuta which is the capital of Ravana during the Ramayana times from where he ruled Lanka.
Some Muslims and Christians in Sri Lanka ascribe it to Adam, the first Ancestor, as setting foot when he was exiled from the Garden of Eden. The legends of Adam are connected to the idea that Sri Lanka was the original Eden and in the Muslim tradition that Adam was 30 ft tall.
A shrine to Saman, a Buddhist "deity" (people who have spent spiritual lives during their life on earth and done pacificism service to regions are deified by Sri Lankan Buddhists) charged with protecting the mountain top can be found near the footprint.
Sri Pada was first mentioned as Samanthakuta in the Deepawamsa: The earliest Pali chronicle, 4th century and also in the 5th century chronicle Mahawamsa where it is stated that the Buddha visited the mountain peak. The chronicle Rajavaliya states that King Valagamba (1st century BCE) had taken refuge in the forests of Sri Pada (Sri Pada Wildnerness Sanctuary) invaders from India and later returned to Anuradhapura. The Mahawamsa again mentioned the visit of King Vijayabahu I (1058–1114) to the mountain. The famous Chinese pilgrim and Buddhist traveler Fa Hien stayed in Sri Lanka during 411–12 CE and mentioned Sri Pada, although it is not made clear whether he actually visited it or not.
Sri Pada Routes:
As with many mountains there are many trails that lead to the Sri Pada summit as well. There are 06 such known paths that have been documented. Many local hikers make a pact to themselves to complete all of these and to find new paths to the holy summit through the undiscovered wilderness.
Here is a summary of the trails for your reference. Reliable elevation gains data are not available for some trails.

TRAIL ELEVATION GAIN DISTANCE STARTING POINT NAME POPULARITY
Hatton - Nallatanniya 1000M 6km Nallatanniya 01
Rathnapura - Palabaddala 2000M 12Km Palabaddala 02
Kuruvita- Erathna 1850M 14Km Erathna Adavikanda 03
Dehenakanda - Mukkuwatta 1600M 15km Mukkuwatta 04
Deraniyagala - Udamalimboda 1700M 12Km Uda Malimboda 05
Rajamale - Sandagalatenna 1000M 6km Mulgama N/A

How did the Name changed from Sri Padaya to Adam’s peak:

Some Christians and early Islamic sources referred to a mountain in Paradise Island (Most of traders & travelers describe Sri Lanka as a Paradise) and it has a mountain of Matterhorn shape where at the summit it has Adam's Footprints (as of their beliefs that Adam’s Peak was the place Adam supposedly fell to earth). When ships enter to Sri Lankan Sea: People can see Sri Pada mountain and other ships’ workers are also narrated at the summit of that peak that has holy person's footprint based on that story. All travelers & traders come from middle East and European region. They believe that as the Adam's footprint.
Sri Lankans don’t believe that Sri Padaya has a story related to Christian or Islamic believers of Adam's Life. They Believe that Sri Padaya peak has Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha’s Footprints alongside with the footprints of Kakusandha Buddha, Konagamana Buddha, and Kassapa Buddha. Also, during that time Sri Lanka was called as “Oja Deepa, Wara Deepa, Manda Deepa & Hela Deepa.

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