Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman Temple, Srilanka

Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman Temple, Srilanka

Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman Temple is an ancient and historic Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Sakthi and Lord Shiva, located amidst the Palk Strait on the island of Nainativu in Sri Lanka. Presiding Deity is called as Rakshaseshwar / Nayinar and Mother is called as Nagapooshani or Bhuvaneswari. The name of the island alludes to the folklore inhabitants, the Naga people.

This Temple is considered as one of the prominent 64 Shakti Peethas. Being one of the Shakti Peethas of Hindu Mythology, this temple is one of the holiest sites for devotees of the Shakti sect of Hinduism. The temple is a significant symbol for the Tamil people, and has been mentioned since antiquity in Tamil literature, such as Manimekalai, Silapathikaram and Kundalakesi.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/12/nainativu-nagapooshani-amman-temple-legends.html

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/12/nainativu-nagapooshani-amman-temple-history.html

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/12/nainativu-nagapooshani-amman-temple-temple.html

Temple Opening Time

The Temple remains open from 06.00 AM in the mornings till 06.00 PM in the evenings.

Worship Practices & Festivals

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/12/nainativu-nagapooshani-amman-temple-worship-practices-festivals.html

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/12/nainativu-nagapooshani-amman-temple-connectivity.html

Location

Naguleswaram Temple, Keerimalai, Jaffna, Srilanka

Naguleswaram Temple, Keerimalai, Jaffna, Srilanka

Naguleswaram Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Keerimalai Town, in the suburb of Kankesanthurai in Jaffna District in the Northern province of Srilanka. The Temple is also known as Thirutambaleswaram Kovil of Keerimalai. It is one of the oldest shrines of the region, it is the northernmost of the island's Pancha Ishwarams of Lord Siva, venerated by Hindus across the world from classical antiquity. The temple is situated adjacent to the mineral water springs.  Hindus flock in large numbers on Aadi Amaavaasai day which falls during the Tamil month of Aadi, to carry out rituals for their forefathers and bathe in the natural springs. Saint Arunagirinathar of Tamil Nadu had sung his 15^th Century Thirupugazh Hymns on Lord Murugan of this Temple.

Etymology

Keeri in Tamil and Nagula in Sanskrit mean "mongoose". Keeri-Malai in Tamil means "Mongoose-Hill".

Legends

The legendary sage Nagula Muni, shrunk by age and austerity while meditating at a cave in Keerimalai was likened to mongooses that frequented the area. The sage bathed in the springs and was cured of his mongoose face. In gratitude, Nagula Muni constructed a small shrine and worshipped the Lingam enshrined there. This became known as the Thirutambaleswaram Kovil of Keerimalai and also the Naguleswaram Kovil of Keerimalai alluding to the sage.

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/04/naguleswaram-temple-keerimalai-history.html

The Temple

The Temple is facing east with an entrance arch and followed by a 9-tiered Rajagopuram. The sanctum houses the presiding deity in the form of huge Shiva Lingam. It is said that the Sivalingam is made out of a very rare material. The Keerimalai natural spring ponds, which is said to have medicinal properties is just a short distance away from the temple. 

Festivals

Maasi Magam and Aadi Amaavaasai festival days, the latter falling during the Tamil month of Aadi (mid July – mid August) brings Hindu pilgrims to the town to carry out rituals for their forefathers and take a divine dip in the natural springs. These rituals are usually carried out by men. Keerimalai is particularly famous for this festival. The new moon or Amaavaasai is a significant day, and according to Tamil astrologers, in the month of Aadi, the moon is in the ascendant in Kataka rasi, which is occupied by the Sun; this concurrence is reminiscent of Siva and Sakthi in Hinduism.

Hence, there is special significance of Aadi Amaavaasai as a day when children remember their departed parents, notably their late fathers. It is customary for them to perform ablutions, offer prayers to the departed souls with the help of a priest (Darpana) and attend a temple of Siva. In Sri Lanka, Keerimalai Naguleswaram temple continues as the foremost shrine for Aadi Amaavaasai.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 300 meters from Keerimalai Bus Stand, 4 Kms from Kankesanthurai, 4 Kms from Kankesanthurai Railway Station, 12 Kms from Palaly Airport, 19 Kms from Jaffna Bus Stand, 20 Kms from Jaffna, 20 Kms from Jaffna Railway Station, 350 Kms from Colombo Airport and 378 Kms from Colombo. The Temple is well connected to Kankesanthurai and Jaffna.

Location | Photos

Kataragama Murugan Temple, Kandy, Srilanka

Kataragama Murugan Temple, Kandy, Srilanka

Kataragama Murugan Temple is a Hindu Temple Complex dedicated to Lord Murugan, located in Kataragama Town near Kandy City in Monaragala District in Uva province of Srilanka. The Temple Complex is dedicated to Hindu War God Murugan and Buddhist guardian deity Kataragama Deviyo. It is one of the few religious sites in Sri Lanka that is venerated by the Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and the Vedda people. For most of the past millennia, it was a jungle shrine very difficult to access; today it is accessible by an all-weather road. The shrines and the nearby Kiri Vehera are managed by Buddhists, the shrines dedicated to Deivanai and Shiva are managed by Hindus and the mosque by Muslims.

Up until the 1940s a majority of the pilgrims were Tamil Hindus from Sri Lanka and South India who undertook an arduous padayatra or "pilgrimage on foot". Since then most pilgrims tend to be Sinhala Buddhists and the cult of Kataragama deviyo has become the most popular amongst the Sinhalese people. With the change in devotees, the mode of worship and festivals has changed from that of Hindu orientation to one that accommodates Buddhist rituals and theology.

It is difficult to reconstruct the factual history of the place and the reason for its popularity amongst Sri Lankans and Indians based on legends and available archeological and literary evidence alone, although the place seems to have a venerable history. The lack of clear historic records and resultant legends and myths fuel the conflict between Buddhists and Hindus as to the ownership and the mode of worship at Kataragama. The priests of the temple are known as Kapuralas and are believed to be descended from Vedda people. Veddas, too, have a claim on the temple, a nearby mountain peak and locality through a number of legends.

There is a mosque and a few tombs of Muslim pious men buried nearby. The temple complex is also connected to other similar temples in Eastern Province dedicated to Murugan which are along the path of pilgrimage from Jaffna in the north to Kataragama in the south of the island; Arunagirinathar traversed this pilgrimage route in the 15th century. The vicinity of the temple complex is used for secretive practices of sorcery and cursing peculiar to Sri Lanka. The entire temple complex was declared a holy place by the government of Sri Lanka in the 1950s; since then political leaders have contributed for its maintenance and upkeep.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/04/kataragama-murugan-temple-srilanka-legends.html

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/04/kataragama-murugan-temple-srilanka-history.html

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/04/kataragama-murugan-temple-srilanka-temple.html

Festivals

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/04/kataragama-murugan-temple-srilanka-festivals.html

Religious Significance

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/04/kataragama-murugan-temple-srilanka-religious-significance.html

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 500 meters from Maligawa Bus Stop, 750 meters from Torrington Bus Station, 1 Km from Kandy, 1 Km from Kandy Railway Station, 1 Km from Kandy-Colombo Intercity Bus Station, 5 Kms from Kandy Airport, 81 Kms from Nuwara Eliya, 103 Kms from Colombo Airport and 116 Kms from Colombo. Kandy is well connected to Colombo and other parts of Srilanka by all means of Transport.

Location

Ketheeswaram Temple, Mannar, Srilanka

Ketheeswaram Temple, Mannar, Srilanka

Ketheeswaram Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Mannar, Northern Province Sri Lanka. Thirukketisvaram is one of the Pancha Iswarams dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva and is venerated by Shaivas throughout the continent. It is located in Manthota, an old port town of Mannar District and which is a few Kms North from Mannar town. Presiding Deity is called as Thiruketheeswarar and Mother is called as Gowri Ambal.

Literary and inscriptional evidence of the post classical period (300BC-1500AD) attests to the upkeep of the temple during the ancient period by kings of the Pallava, Pandyan Dynasty and Chola dynasties who contributed to its development up to the late 16^th century. In 1575, Thirukketisvaram was largely destroyed by Portuguese colonials, with Pujas terminating at the shrine in 1589. Following an appeal by Arumuga Naavalar in 1872, the temple was rebuilt at its original site in 1903.

Throughout its history, the temple has been administered and frequented by Sri Lankan Hindu Tamils. Its famous tank, the Palavi tank, is of ancient antiquity and was restored from the ruins. Thirukketisvaram is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams of Shiva glorified in the poems of the Thevaram. This is the 274^th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 2^nd Shiva Sthalam in Eezha Nadu, the present Sri Lanka. Tirugnanasambandar and Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2018/10/ketheeswaram-temple-mannar-legends.html

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2018/10/ketheeswaram-temple-mannar-history.html

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2018/10/ketheeswaram-temple-mannar-temple.html

Literary Mention

Ketisvaram Temple and the waters of the Palavi tank by its side are heralded in the Saiva work Thevaram in the 6^th century CE by Sambandar. Along with Koneswaram temple on Swami Rock, Trincomalee, Ketisvaram Temple and its deity are praised in the same literature canon by the 8^th century CE Nayanmar, Sundarar. Thirukketisvaram henceforth is glorified as one of 275 Shiva Sthalams of the continent, part of the Paadal Petra Sthalam group. The only other Sthalam from Eelam is Koneswaram. 

Saint Tirugnana Sambandhar and later Saint Sundarar each offered a Patikam of Thevaram verses to the Lord of Thiruketheeswaram. This is the 274^th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 2^nd Shiva Sthalam in Eezha Nadu, the present Sri Lanka. Tirugnanasambandar and Sundarar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple. For this temple’s Devara Thirupathikam meanings are written by Sri Ponnambalam Pillai, the son in law of Sri la Sri Arumuga Naavalar.

Prayers

Thiruketheeswaram, near Mannar, is the Sthalam where thousands gather on Shivaratri night for veneration of Lord Shiva. They perform their sin dispelling ablutionary Theertham baths in the sacred waters of Pal Theertham, the following morning. Theertha Kavadi is a special ritual here. To be permitted to perform Linga abishekam is the greatest aspiration of any pious Hindu. This is possible only in Kasi and Thiruketheeswaram.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 1.5 Kms from Manthai Junction Bus Stop, 1.5 Kms from Thiruketheeswaram Junction Bus Stop, 10 Kms from Mannar CTB Bus Station, 12 Kms from Mannar Railway Station, 75 Kms from Vavuniya, 113 Kms from Anuradhapura, 170 Kms from Trincomalee, 235 Kms from Kandy, 307 Kms from Colombo and 278 Kms from Colombo Airport.

By Road:

Tourists can board the bus traveling to Mannar at the Colombo Fort Bus Station or Colombo Central Bus Stand in Pettah. The Temple is located at about 1.5 Kms from Thiruketheeswaram Junction Bus Stop and 10 Kms from Mannar CTB Bus Station.

By Train:

Tourists can take Trains 5452 (08.50 AM) and 5067 (07.40 PM) from Colombo Fort Railway Station to reach Mannar. These Trains are daily trains. The Temple is accessible from Mannar Railway Station by means of local Buses, Taxis and Autos.

By Air:

Nearest Airport is Colombo International Airport (278 Kms).

Location | Photos

Koneswaram Temple, Trincomalee, Srilanka

Koneswaram Temple, Trincomalee, Srilanka

Koneswaram Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located at Trincomalee in Eastern Srilanka. Koneswaram Temple is also called as Dakshina Kailasa.  Presiding Deity is called as Thirukoneswarar and Mother is called as Mathumayal. The temple is situated atop Konesar Malai, a promontory that overlooks the Indian Ocean, the nearby eastern coast (the Trincomalee District), as well as Trincomalee Harbour or Gokarna Bay. Koneswaram is revered as one the Pancha Iswarams, of Sri Lanka for long time. Being a major place for Hindu pilgrimage, it was labelled "Rome of the Gentiles / Pagans of the Orient" in some records. Koneswaram holds a significant role in the religious and cultural history of Sri Lanka, as it was likely built during the reign of the early Cholas and the Five Dravidians of the Early Pandyan Kingdom.

Pallava, Chola, Pandyan and Jaffna designs here reflect a continuous Tamil Saivite influence in the Vannimai region beginning during the classical period. The river Mahavali is believed to be risen at Sivanoli Patha Malai, Mount of Shiva's glowing feet, and meets the sea near Koneswaram Rock. This formation is the basis of the myth that it is comparable to Ganges, in that it symbolically crowns the flowing of river from Shiva's head to his feet. Developed from 205 B.C., the original temple combined key features to form its basic Dravidian temple plan, such as its thousand pillared hall – "Aayiram Kaal Mandapam" – and the Jagati expanded by King Ellalan Manu Needhi Cholan. Regarded as the greatest building of its age for its architecture, elaborate sculptural bas-relief ornamentation adorned a black granite megalith.

In the medieval period, its multiple gold plated gopuram towers were expanded. The Koneswaram Temple is one of three major Hindu shrines on the promontory with a colossal gopuram tower, but it stands distinctly on the cape's highest eminence. The complex was destroyed by the Portuguese Empire in colonial religious attacks between 1622 and 1624, and Fort Fredrick was built at the site from its debris. In 1632 Ati Konanayakar Temple was built, and housed some of its original idols, but was located away from the city.

Worldwide interest was renewed following the discovery of its underwater and land ruins, sculptures and Chola bronzes by archaeologists and Arthur C. Clarke. They were preserved through restorations, most recently in the 1950s. The modern temple has been a source of conflict between the majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils due to its position in a geostrategically important area. Revenue from the temple provides services and food to local residents. Dr. Paul E. Pieris declared in 1917, at a meeting of the Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch), there was in Lanka five recognized 'Eeswararns' of Siva, which claimed and received adoration of all India. These were Thiruketheeswaram near Mahathitha, Munneswaram, Thondeswaram, Naguleswaram and Tirukoneswaram.

Koneswaram has many strong historical associations. The shrine is described in the Vayu Purana, the Konesar Kalvettu and Thevaram hymns by Sambandhar and Sundarar as a Paadal Petra Sthalam along with its west coast counterpart Ketheeswaram temple, Mannar, it is the birthplace of Patanjali, the compiler of the Yoga Sutras and was praised for its tradition by Arunagirinathar upon his visit. The Dakshina Kailasa Puranam and Manmiam works note it as Dakshina / Then Kailasam (Mount Kailash of the South) for its longitudinal position and pre-eminence, it lies directly east of Kudiramalai west coast Hindu port town, while it is the easternmost shrine of the five ancient Iswarams of Shiva on the island.

Mentioned as a widely popular bay temple of the island in the Mahabharata, Ramayana and Yalpana Vaipava Malai, the Mattakallappu Manmiam confirms its sacred status for all Hindus. Kachiyappa Sivachariar's Kanda Puranam compares the temple to Thillai Chidambaram Temple and Mount Kailash in Saivite esteem. Konesar Malai may have been the site where Yoga originated; some scholars have suggested that the worship of the almighty god Eiswara on the promontory is the most ancient form of worship existing.

Etymology

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2018/10/koneswaram-temple-trincomalee-etymology.html

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2018/10/koneswaram-temple-trincomalee-legends.html

History

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2018/10/koneswaram-temple-trincomalee-history.html

The Temple

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2018/10/koneswaram-temple-trincomalee-temple.html

Festivals

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2018/10/koneswaram-temple-trincomalee-festivals.html

Literary Mention

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2018/10/koneswaram-temple-trincomalee-literary-mention.html

Contact

Thiru Koneswaram Temple

Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

Phone: +94 26 222 6688 / 26 326 7588 / 26 320 4382

Phone: +94 77 127 0292 / 77 967 0057

Email: webmaster@koneswaram.com

Connectivity

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2018/10/koneswaram-temple-trincomalee-connectivity.html

Location | Photos