Header Ads Widget

Responsive Advertisement

Ticker

6/recent/ticker-posts

Most Popular Temple in Jaffna.


01. Nallur Kandaswamy temple


In the hot arid lands of Nallur, in Jaffna, rises the majestic Hindu temple for Skanda/ Murugan – the god of love, war and beauty. It has reigned over the land for centuries, attracting devotees from various walks of life. The temple itself embodies a kind of peace that can only be felt in the most divine of places.


History

The temple was originally founded in 948 AD. However, it reached fame when it was rebuilt in the 13th century by Puvaneka Vaahu, a minister of the Jaffna King Kalinga Maha. The Nallur Kandaswamy Temple was built for a third time by Senpaha Perumal (a.k.a Sapumal Kumaraya) who was the adopted son of the Kotteking. Nallur served as the capital of the kings of Jaffna, and was a highly defensive fort and city. There were courtly buildings, the palaces, businesses and much more.

                     The third built temple was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1624 AD; and many churches built over the ruins. The location of the original temple is now covered by the St James Church, Nallur. Part of the original Sivalingam from the temple remained in the vicarage, but was destroyed during the recent civil war. Now only the platform where it was mounted remains.
                    The current temple was built in 1734 AD by Don Juan. However, the ‘Golden Era’ of the Nallur Temple began in the latter 1890s with the takeover of the temple administration by Arumuga Maapaana Mudaliyar; who started renovating it to bring it back to its earlier magnificence.




02. Naguleswaram temple





     Naguleswaram temple is a very ancient temple believed to be one of the five Iswarams (divine residences) of Shaivism. This temple was built where the Sadhu Nagulaswami used to worship a lingam (usually an oblong shaped stone, representing the male attribute and seen also as a flame, symbol of life and creation. The lingam is often placed on a base, the yoni, which symbolizes the female). Like many others in the region, the temple was destroyed during the Portuguese times and the present temple, well maintained and administered, dates from 1859. 

     
The main entrance faces east and in walking distance towards the northwest is Keerimalai Spring. Inside the temple are the statues of the moorthies (deities) which adorn the sanctum. A fifteen day festival is held in February-March which culminates with the Sivarathri (Shiva’s night) for the revelation of the deities. Like Mavvidapuram, Naguleswaram is in the ‘High Security Zone’ and the access is restricted. From the main road, take the road on the left which is in front of Mavvidapuram Temple and drive 2.7 km. The temple will be on your left and the Keerimalai Spring slightly further on the right.



03. Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple  









A shrine dedicated to Lord Skanda or Murugan, god of war and the second son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. The Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Kovil is located close to Kankesanthurai, which was formerly known as Gayathurai. However, since the image of Lord Skanda, also known as Kankesan, first arrived in Gayathurai, it is believed that the name changed to Kankesanthurai. 







     Maviddapuram, the place where the temple is situated translates to ‘the holy city where the horse face was removed’ (Ma – horse, vidda –removed and pura – holy city). It is believed that this legendary temple temple was built by a Chola Princess from Tamil Nadu. According to history princess Maruthapuraveegavallli, had a disfigured face resembling that of a horse. It is said that Maviddapuram is the place where the gods answered her prayers and transformed her appearance to that of a woman.



The architecture of the Kovil is breathtaking with elaborately decorated columns and a towering gopuram. The six faced statue of Lord Murugan is accompanied by statues of his wives Valli and Devanai. Devotees visit the Kovil all year around to seek the blessings of Lord Murugan.





04. Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman Temple


       Nainativu Nagapooshani Amman Temple (Tamil: நயினாதீவு நாகபூசணி அம்மன் கோயில்) is an ancient and historic Hindu templelocated amidst the Palk Strait on the island of Nainativu, Sri Lanka. 
    It is dedicated to Parvati who is known as Nagapooshani or Bhuvaneswari and her consort, Shiva who is named here as Nayinaar. The temple's fame is accredited to Adi Shankaracharya, a 9th-century Hindu philosopher, for identifying it as one of the prominent 64 Shakti Peethams in Shakti Peetha Stotram and its mention in the Brahmanda Purana. The temple complex houses four gopurams (gateway towers) ranging from 20–25 feet in height, to the tallest being the eastern Raja Raja Gopuram soaring at 108 feet high. The temple is a significant symbol for the Tamil people, and has been mentioned since antiquity in Tamil literature, such as Manimekalai and Kundalakesi.
  
 The present structure was built during 1720 to 1790 after the ancient structure was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1620. The temple attracts around 1000 visitors a day, and approximately 5000 visitors during festivals. The annual 16-day Mahostavam (Thiruvizha) festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Aani (June/July) - attracts over 100,000 pilgrims. There is an estimated 10,000 sculptures in this newly renovated temple.





05. Tellippalai Thurkkai Amman Temple

         Tellippalai or Thellippalai (Tamil: தெல்லிப்பழை Tellippaḻai ) is a small town in the northern Jaffna District of Sri Lanka. It is located about 15 kilometers north of Jaffna town along the Kankesanthurai road.



      In the middle part of 20th century Tellippallai town had become an administrative and commercial hub for the surrounding villages of Ampanai, Kollangkaladdi, Veemankamam, Varuthalaivilan and Mathanai. Tellippalai railway station is located at about 100 meters east of Tellippalai junction.










06. Selva Sanniti Murukan Temple



   Revered as Sella Katirkāmam of the North, Selva Sanniti Murukan Temple at Thondaimanaru is situated about twenty miles north of Jaffna. Here too, as at Katirkamam, a free non-agamic environment for worship pervades the place, persons of various creeds and castes congregate here for darshan of the Vel installed at this blessed cannitānam(Celva Canniti).

The waters of Thondaimanaru, a tîrtham where fresh water flows into the sea past the site, elevates the location to a sthalam, blessed with the triple adjuncts of tîrtham, sthalam and mūrti. This waterway said to have been excavated under the supervision of Karunakara Thondaiman. He was sent here for procurement of salt supplies, by Kulatunka Colan, who reigned in South India from 1070 to 1118 A.C. The temple by the side of the newly cut waterway would have been the place of worship of this settlement that got founded in the locality. The temple however suffered the fate of devastation, like all other Hindu temples, in the hands of the foreigners of the 16th century.

At this stage, the story shifts to one Kadirkamar, a keen devotee of Murukan, who proceeded bewailing to Katirkamam, and was rewarded there with the gift of a silver Vel . He brought this sacred Vel and installing it in a madam at the sacred site, performed daily pujas to it. Later, he was permitted to use the temple itself, which he took over. He and his group have been managing and officiating ever since, with piety and satisfaction to all devotees.

Post a Comment

0 Comments