Pattini

In Sinhala Buddhist belief the Pattini is a guardian deity of Buddhism. She is the deification of Kannagi, who is the central character of the Tamil epic Silapadhikaram of Ilango Adigal. She is worshipped by both Buddhists and Hindus and is the patron goddess of fertility and health - particularly of smallpox, which is referred to as deviyange ledé ('the divine affliction') in the Sinhala language.