Sri Thiruketheeswaram (Ketheeswaram ) Temple, Sri Lanka

Address

Sri Thiruketheeswaram( Ketheeswaram ) Temple, Navathkuli Karativu – Mannar Hwy, Thiruketheeswaram, Sri Lanka Phone: +94 232 050 800Telephone No : 0232233003, 0112360316, 0112582890, 0112586042

Diety

Thiruketheeswaramn, Ketheeswaram Amman: Gowri

Introduction

The Ketheeswaram temple (alternatively called Thiruketheeswaram) is an ancient Hindu kovil located in Mannar, in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province. It is one of the island’s Pancha Ishwarams (a group of five ancient coastal kovils that were built around the perimeter of Sri Lanka) that were dedicated to the Hindu supreme being Ishawara in the form of the god Shiva. The temple overlooks the ancient Tamil port towns of Manthai and Kudiramalai. Thiruketheeswaram is at least 2,400 years old, although the exact year of its creation is unknown. It exists alongside the long-buried city of Manthottam, a former Hindu city and a centre of international trade in ancient times. In the 16th century, when the Portuguese attacked the island, the Thiruketheeswaram and countless other temples around the country were destroyed. The temple was rebuilt in the early 20th century, nearly 400 years after its destruction, and again renovated with the help of the Thirketheeswaram Restoration Society in the 1950s. There are different legends that claim the origin of the temple. According the Indian epic Ramayana, the wife of the king of Lanka hailed from Manthai, where her father built the Thiruketheeswaram temple in dedication to Shiva. In the Skanda Purana, an ancient Sanskrit work, legend tells of the God of Wind uprooting the three towers of the Maha Meru mountain in Indonesia, and dropping one of these towers at Thiruketheeswaram. Ketheeswaram temple or Thiruketheeswaram Hindu Temple in Manner is one of the most venerated Hindu Temples in Sri Lanka located in Mannar District, Nothern Province of Sri Lanka. This is also one of the five Pancha Ishwarams (five abodes of God Shiva) temples in Sri Lanka dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva. And also this temple was venerated by Shaivas throughout the continent. According to the Hindu natives of the Manthota, Thiruketheeswaram is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams of Shiva glorified in the poems of the Tevaram. Its is believed that there is a direct link between Ketheeswaram Temple and Ramayana trail Sri Lanka.

Puranic Significance

Mythical stories related to the Indian epic Ramayana recount that Mandothari, the wife of King Ravana was from Manthai and that Mayan, the father of Mandothari and the King of Manthai built the ancient Temple of Thiruketheeswaram to worship Shiva. According to one Hindu legend, Maharishi Bhrigu worshipped Shiva at this shrine. Another tradition holds that the Hindu planetary god Ketu worshipped Shiva at the shrine, thus creating the shrine’s name “Ketheeswaram”. Another legend is found in the Skanda Purana, an ancient work in Sanskrit, the antiquity of which is unknown. It consists of 2500 verses grouped into 27 Chapters and had been handed down in accordance with the traditional custom as oral discourses by the Guru to his disciples in this case by Sootha Munivar to the Naimisaraniya Munivars. Three Chapters of the Skanda Purana which have been given the title Dhakshana Kailasa Manmiam deal with historical events in ancient Ceylon. The first chapter narrates about the Puranas in general and the splendour that was of ancient Ceylon; the second chapter relates about the celebrated places of religious importance in Ceylon and the story of “Thiruketheeswaram”. In this chapter is narrated the incident of how, at one time long ago, the God of Wind (Vayu) uprooted the three towers of the great mountain Maha Meru in order to keep off Athichedan — who fought against him, obstructing the great mountain with thousands of adorned summits resembling serpents’ heads — and deposited one of these towers at Thiruketheeswaram. The Lord established Himself there, at Thiruketheeswaram. According to the Manmiam, Thiruketheeswaram along with Koneswaram are two of the nine most sacred sthalams of the Hindus. The other seven are in India. Lord Ketu came to this temple to perform penance and worship, and Lord Amma gave him a vision as Appara. This is why it has become known as Thiruketheeswaram. It is said that if a person has Rahu and Ketu doshas in the horoscope, then the doshas will be removed if he bathes in Palavi and worships Ketiswara. The Palavi Theertham has the power to cure sins committed in many incarnations. If you perform Pitru Puja by bathing here, you will get the blessings of performing Pitru Puja with your hands. Surabathman’s grandson, Duvatta, bathed in this tirtha, worshiped the Lord and had children by his lord. Later, the place got its name from the fact that it became a metropolis. Later Maruvi became known as Mathottam and Matai. One of the three lingams received from Lord Rama is dedicated and worshiped here. Legend has it that when Sage Agathiyya was on his way to Tendisai, he came to Thirukkedicharam and worshiped Shiva before visiting the Dakshina temple, Koneswaram.Ravana’s wife Mandodari and her father Mayan are worshiped at this place. Lord Itala is also known as Naganathar as the tribal Nagas are worshiped here.

Beliefs

It is said that those who bathe in the Balavith Tirtha, which is located in this place, will get blessings and those who bathe in this Tirtha will get rid of sins like Pramakathi.

Special Features

According to the Manmiam, Thiruketheeswaram along with Koneswaram are two of the nine most sacred sthalams of the Hindus. The other seven are in India. There is a huge statue of Somaskandar in the world. The temple was built by the Cholas. The temple was destroyed in 1600. Is being updated again. It is the 269th shrine out of the 274 shrines to receive the devotional song of Lord Shiva. .

Festivals

The Thiruketheeswaram Kovil in Mannar comes alive with lights and activity especially during Maha Shivaratri – a festival celebrated each year in reverence of Lord Shiva. During this festival, the Shiva temple is flocked by many devotees from all over the country both young and old, who come to perform the traditional Shivalinga Pooja or to worship and hence hope for favours from the deity. At sunrise the devotees cleanse themselves in the traditional Palavi, a tank which is next to the temple. This is a significant purificatory right adhered to at all Hindu festivals. Then the worshippers carry pots of water to the temple with which they bathe the Shiva Lingam.