Depiction of Lord Skandha Kumara’s Myths in Sinhala Lyrical Literature

Lord Skanda Kumara, revered and commonly known as the Hindu God of War, is also one of the central deities from the Sandesha Period (14th – 16th century) in Sri Lanka, with many myths surrounding him embedded in Sri Lankan culture. This paper aims to explore how these myths have influenced the reconstruction of modern Sinhala lyrics in Sri Lanka during the 1970-1990 era. Through a textual analysis of nine purposively selected Sinhala songs, the research examined the ways in which the mythology of Lord Skanda Kumara is woven into contemporary lyrics. Songs are the result of the collaborative efforts of the singer, musician, and lyrist. While the music intensifies the meaning of the lyrics, it is the singer's role to bring the composition to life for the listener. This study focuses on the collective effort that shapes the final song. The findings suggest that by incorporating myths of Lord Skanda Kumara into modern Sinhala lyrics, lyricists have successfully made these traditional myths more accessible and relevant to a wider audience. This research contributes to our understanding of the function of mythology in cultural communication and highlights the significance of lord Skandha kumara's myths in Sinhala lyrical literature.