Dedimunda deviyo  Dedimunda Deviyo (also known as Dedimunda Dewatha Bandara ) is a deity, worshiped by Sinhalese Buddhist people in Sri Lanka. He is considered as a guardian deity of Buddha Śāsana in the country. People believe that he has the power to heal mortal illnesses, epidemics, eradicate evil possessions and giving hopes of babies to married women. The cult of Dedimunda deity is believed to have come into prominence during the Kandyan era as he is portrayed in the attire of a Kandyan chief with a cane and a sceptre in his right hand, which symbolizes his suzerainty over the Kandy area. Deḍimuṇḍa Deviyo is identified in various names around the country. "Alutnuvara Devatā Baṇḍāra", "Meṇik Baṇḍāra", "Ūve Baṇḍāra", "Aluthnuwara Deviyo" and "Kīrti Baṇḍāra" are the some of the names that are being used. The British scholar Hugh Nevill (1847-1897) describes the Dedimunda in various names such as "Devata Bandara", "Veera Vikum", "Yahala Bandara" and "Yahal Deviyo". There are various stories and legends about deity Dedimunda. According to one story deity Dadimunda was born in the Talagiri mountain to a Yaksa (devil) chief called Pūrṇaka and his Naga queen Erandathi. He is also said to be a grandson of Vesamuni. Because of his lineage, he has well connected to both Yakṣa and Nāga clans. It is said that deity Dedimunda first landed at Dondra (Devinuvara) area in southern Sri Lanka from South India. After landed at Devinuwara, he went to Seenigama, and later to Aluth Nuwara area in the Kegalle District where he made his permanent abode. Another folklore says that there was a high cast superhuman called Devaka Bandara, who served at King Wickramasinghe as a chief commander. It is said that after his death he became the Dedimunda deity. According to another story, at the enlightenment of Gautama Buddha, Māra and his vast army came to defeat Prince Siddhartha and prevent him becoming the Buddha.