ඌව පළාතේ දේව ඇදහිල්ල හා ශාන්තිකර්ම පද්ධතිය පිළිබඳ විමර්ශනාත්මක අධ්‍යයනයක්

Abstract

The politico-historical background of the Uva Province has played a significant role in shaping its religious ethos. The religious framework of Uva is complex and deeply rooted in Buddhist traditions. The residents of the province adhere to a belief system that integrates Buddhist deities and veneration of demons, reflecting a blend of spiritual devotion and pragmatic aspirations.With the advent of Buddhism in ancient Sri Lanka, it is plausible to assert that the indigenous demon-related beliefs—centered on raakshas and yakshas—were assimilated and transformed within a Buddhist cultural and spiritual framework. As a profoundly spiritual tradition, Buddhism influenced the integration of local religious practices, with rural communities adapting these syncretic belief systems to address their material desires and everyday concerns. This study aims to undertake an analytical exploration of the traditional belief systems and worship practices unique to Uva. Additionally, it seeks to examine the underlying motivations for these practices and evaluate whether these belief systems have yielded beneficial outcomes for the local population.