This temple is as austere as it is grandiose. Much venerated throughout the year, it is dedicated to Saman who, in the Sinhalese pantheon, is the guardian deity of the west. Saman lived on Samantakuta Mountain (another name for Adam's Peak) and met the Buddha on his journey to Ceylon. He is sometimes depicted holding a bow and arrow, but more often as a benevolent king, accompanied by a white elephant and standing in front of his mountain.