Sabaragamu Maha Saman Devalaya or the Great Saman Temple (also called Sumana Saman Devalaya) is a shrine dedicated to deity Saman, situated at Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. This legendary place of worship is located in the Ratnapura district in Sabaragamuwa (Saparagamuwa) as the province is now known. The history of the Sabaragamu Maha Saman Dewalaya could be traced back to the Kingdom of Dambadeniya, to
the time of King Parakramabahu II (1236–70) whose rule is depicted in the annals of history as a golden era marked with much exuberance and opulence. The story goes that the dewalaya had originally been a temple named the Saparagrama Maha Viharaya, during the time when the Yaksha, Naga and Deva clans ruled the isle of Sri Lanka and Sabaragrama and its people, who belonged to the Deva clan, were presided over by a strong yet kind-hearted leader by the name of Sumana. At present, Sabaragamu Maha Saman Dewalaya is well known for its annual Esala Perahera (procession).
