Full Description
Adam's Peak in Sri Lanka is one of the five places where Gautama Buddha left the trace of his foot, but it is also an important place of pilgrimage for Muslims, Hindus and some Christians. The Hindus regard it as the footprint of Lord Shiva; the Muslims think that the first man, Adam, planted his foot on the summit of the mountain when he was thrown out of paradise, and some Christians consider the footprint to be made by the Apostle Thomas on one of his missionary voyages. This book examines the Sinhala pilgrimage tradition both from Sinhala and non-Sinhala sources, and explains the cult of Saman, the white elephant, and its relation to Adam's Peak. The author takes on a pilgrimage to the summit, with detailed descriptions left by ancient Arab and European travellers from earlier times. The book is intended for the traveller who wants in-depth information before undertaking the journey, as well as interested readers and scholars.
