Sri Munneswaram Temple, Sri Lanka

Address

Sri Munneswaram Temple, Maha Devalayam, Wariyapola Road, Chilaw 61000, Sri Lanka Phone: +94322224833

Diety

Sri Munnai Natha Swamy Amman: Sri Vadivambiga Devi

Introduction

Munneswaram temple is an important regional temple complex in Sri Lanka. It has been in existence at least since 1000 CE, although myths surrounding the temple associate it with the popular Indian epic Ramayana, and its legendary hero-king Rama. The temple is one of five ancient temples dedicated to Shiva in the region. The temple is located in Munneswaram, a village with mixed Sinhala and Tamil population situated in the Puttalam District of Sri Lanka. The presiding deity Siva is installed in the form of Lingam in the sanctum sanctorum. A sacred pond is situated in front of the Siva temple and a Bo Tree stands by the side of it. The main sanctum and the structure above the sanctum are one of the largest in Sri Lanka.

Puranic Significance

Munneswaram temple is located in Munneswaram village, the center of the spiritual and also religious life of the people residence in a medieval administrative division called Munneswaram Pattuva. For the majority of the temple’s presence, Munneswaram Pattuva has actually had over 60 villages for which Maradankulama offered political management. The presiding deity is called Sri Munnainathar and the goddess is called Sri Vativampika Devi. The temple has traditionally been connected with the nearby pearling and also the fishing town of Chilaw, along with the landed gentry of the surrounding villages that offered the sources to preserve the temple. Closeness to the trading routes as well as to the port supplied an opportunity for transmission of suggestions and also people from India to Sri Lanka. The Pattuva has several temples committed to the higher echelons of Hindu or Buddhist deities, and to village guardian divine beings such Ayyanar or Ayyanayake, Viramunda, Kadavara, and also Bandara Anthropologist Rohan Bastin hypothesizes that the primary Siva temple was as soon as a small shrine dedicated to village guardian divine being Munisvaran that was changed right into a significant Siva temple due to imperial patronage. The temple was currently a well-established temple by the 11th century CE, as it had released coins by then. The temple started under the patronage of Pattuva principals as well as was most likely created during the very early part of the 10th century CE. The Kali temple is a popular sorcery and cursing temple related to animal sacrifices and spirit possession. Spirit belongings of enthusiasts were kept in mind by the Jesuit priests that left behind documents of it in the 16th century. The temple committed to the Sinhala divine being Ayyanayake is provided by neighborhood Sinhalese family members. The Buddhist temple Pushparamaya Vihara is a post-19th century CE addition. The Ganesha temple, located to the southwest of the main temple is the most recent among the temples and was constructed throughout the very early 19th century by artisans from South India. Munneswaram, along with Koneswaram (Trincomalee), Naguleswaram (Keerimalai), Thiruketheeshwaram (Mannar), creates the five ancient temples (Ishwarams) dedicated to Shiva in the area including Sri Lanka.

Special Features

The Munneswaram Temple complex in Sri Lanka houses five shrines of which the one dedicated to Lord Shiva is the most prominent. The complex also houses a shrine for Buddhists. The other temples in the complex are dedicated to Lord Ganesha, Goddess Kali, and Lord Ayyanayeke. Siva linga is installed in the main sanctum of this kovil. Siva as the undivided causal principle is worshipped in the linga. His more manifest as¬pects are represented in various other images. The linga represents the male aspect and the pitha as a yoni represents the female principle complementing the male principle of linga; both together reflect the Siva-Sakti concept. In Saiva tradition the linga is the most sacred and highly venerated object. Hence Siva linga is installed in the garbhagrha ‘womb-house’ of Sri Munneswaram Devasthanam.

Festivals

The main festivals celebrated at the temple include Navarathri and Sivarathri. The former is a nine-day long festival in honour of the presiding Goddess, while the latter is an overnight observation in honour of Lord Shiva. In addition to these two Hindu festivals, the temple has a festival of its own, the Munneswaram Annual Festival, a four-week long event attended pilgrims from all parts of Sri Lanka including Hindus, Buddhists etc.