Many Sri Lanka Ramayana tour package include tourist places mentioned in the Ramayana as well as important Hindu temples located in northern Sri Lanka. Traditional Sri Lanka cultural tour packages may not include Nallur Kandaswami temple, as it is not considered an important tourist attraction.
Table of Contents
- Nallur Kandaswami temple
- Nallur Kandaswami Temple is a tourist attraction
- Origins of Nallur Kandaswami temple
- Present condition of Nallur Kandaswami temple
- The social importance of Nallur Kandaswami temple
- New Gopuram of Nallur Kandaswami temple
Nallur Kandaswami temple
The Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil is an important Hindu temple in Nallur, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. The presiding deity is Lord Murugan in the form of the holy ‘Vel’ in the Sanctum, the principal shrine, and in various forms in subordinate shrines of the temple, namely, Shanmugar, Muthukumaraswami, Valli Kaanthar with consorts Valli and Deivayanai, and Thandayuthapani, sans consorts.
Nallur Kandaswami Temple is a tourist attraction
Jaffna is the capital of the northern province of Sri Lanka and where all four religions of Sri Lanka (Buddhism, Hinduism, Cahelic and island) live together while brushing their shoulders with each other. However, the population of Tamil people surpass other ethnic groups in some parts of northern Sri Lanka such as Nallur.
Many travellers plan their Sri Lanka tour packages with Jaffna and the northern province mainly to experience the Tamil culture and tradition. Northern Sri Lanka is one of the best localities where travellers can see many Hindu temples. Many of the temples to be found in Jaffna date back many centuries, and the temple of Nallur is one of them. A sizable number of Hindu pilgrims travel to Northern Sri Lanka. Most of these pilgrims are coming from India.
Many Sri Lanka Ramayana tour package include tourist places mentioned in the Ramayana as well as important Hindu temples located in northern Sri Lanka. Traditional Sri Lanka cultural tour packages may not include Nallur Kandaswami temple, as it is not considered an important tourist attraction.
Origins of Nallur Kandaswami temple
The original, Kandaswamy Temple was founded in 948 ad. According to the Yalpana Vaipava Malai, Parakramabahu VI King of Kotte built the temple on this place in the 15th century. Sapumal Kumaraya (also known as Chempaha Perumal in Tamil) is credited for constructing the third Nallur Kandaswamy temple on behalf of the Kotte kingdom. Nallur was the capital of the Jaffna rulers, with the royal palace located near the shrine. Nallur was designed with four gated entrances. There were two main thoroughfares and four temples at each of the four entrances.
The Portuguese-built churches that now stand where the original temple once stood do not correspond to those locations. The marketplace, known as Muthirai Santhai, served as the city’s center. The monarchs, Brahmin priests, warriors, and other service providers had their own courts. The original Kandaswamy temple was a fortified defence structure with lofty walls. In general, the city was laid out in the style of a typical Hindu temple town. The front of King Cankili II’s palace, Cankilian Thoppu, may still be found in Nallur. In 1624 AD, the Portuguese Catholic colonial ruler Filipe de Oliveira demolished the third temple. The first kovil stood where St. James’ Church in Nallur now stands.
Present condition of Nallur Kandaswami temple
The current temple was built in 1734 A.D. during the Dutch colonial era by ‘Don Juan’ Ragunatha Maapaana Mudaliyar, who served as a Shroff in the Dutch Katchery, at a location known at the time as the ‘Kurukkal Valavu. Krishnaiyar, a Brahmin, was the temple’s first priest.
Originally, the temple was made of bricks and stones, with a cadjan ceiling and a ‘Vel’ in the centre. There were just two modest halls in the ancient temple.
Ragunatha Maapaana Mudaliyar’s ancestors continued to oversee the temple as Custodians over the years, and various improvements have been made to bring the temple to its current glory.
The beginning of the ‘Golden Period’ in the history of Nallur Temple is documented as post-1890, shortly after the temple administration was taken over by Arumuga Maapaana Mudaliyar, the 7th Custodian. He built the first bell tower in 1899 and made several renovations to the temple, including the main Sanctum, which he renovated in 1902 by paving the floor with granite. He built the first enclosing wall in 1909. Similarly, the temple’s successors have gradually restored it from time to time. Since 1964, when the current and tenth Custodian, Kumaradas Maapaana Mudaliyar, gained office, major upgrades have been performed, nearly reconstructing the whole complex and making it the country’s largest Hindu Temple Complex. The yearly ‘Thiruppani,’ which he instituted, has seen the temple rise to its current beauty. Today, the temple includes four Gopurams and six Bell Towers, as well as fortified walls, giving it the impression of a Nallur stronghold.
The main entrance to the temple faces east. At the main entrance, there is an ornately carved five-story tower or gopuram in the Dravidian architectural style.
It has shrines for Lords Ganesh, Palliyarai, Sandana Gopalar, Goddess Gajavalli Mahavalli, Vairavar and Sooriyan with Consorts, and Vairavar in the encircling inner very or circumambulatory walk.
The holy pond and Thandayudhapaani shrine can be observed in the temple’s southern section. The sacred garden ‘Poonthottam’ may be found on the northern side.
The social importance of Nallur Kandaswami temple
The temple is a socially significant institution for the Tamil identity of Sri Lanka’s north. The Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora has established numerous temples with the same name as Tamil cultural memory throughout Europe and North America. Nallur Kovil is the epitome of timeliness, order, and neatness and serves as an example for all Saiva/Gaumaram temples, thanks to the Nallur temple Administration and tight discipline adored and revered by devotees. Above all, it is the method by which religious rites are carried out with such precision and rigid discipline that makes them popular among followers.
New Gopuram of Nallur Kandaswami temple
At 7:00 a.m. local time on August 21, 2011, the temple inaugurated its new nine-story Raja Gopuram, named ‘Shanmuha Raja Gopuram,’ with an entrance called ‘Swarna Vaasal’ (The Golden Entrance).
On September 4, 2015, at 7 a.m. local time, another New Raja Gopuram was erected, establishing a new Northern entrance to the temple complex. It is known as ‘Gubera Raja Gopuram’, and the entrance is termed ‘Kubera Vaasal’. This tower somewhat outnumbers the Southern tower and is now the largest Gopuram on the island. ‘Guberan,’ the riches deity, guards the Northern direction. Locals think that this Gopuram will bring greater prosperity to the residents of the Jaffna peninsula.
Festivals The temple organizes an annual celebration, the Kodiyetram, which begins with the hoisting of the Holy flag.[8] For generations, the fabric for hoisting has been ceremonially delivered to the temple in a miniature chariot from a family of the Sengunthar Kaikola Mudaliyar dynasty.
The event lasts twenty-five days, during which time numerous Ygams Abishekams and special poojas are performed. Manjam, Thirukkarthikai, Kailasavahanam, Velvimanam, Thandayuthepani it’s a being, Sapparam, Ther festival parade, Theertham – the water cutting festival, and Thirukalyanam – the holy wedding are the important religious events that people go to see. The Thiruvila (chariot festival), the most popular of all activities, begins at 6.15 a.m. and is quite colourful. Lord Shanmuhar and his consorts are carried out on a Silver Throne called ‘Simmasanam,’ an exquisitely carved masterpiece made in 1900 by the 7th Custodian, Arumuga Maapaana Mudaliyar. Hundreds of devotees bearing it on their shoulders, and the Simmasanam floating on the heads of thousands of worshippers yelling ‘Aro haraam’ is a spectacle not to be missed.
The massive and heavy chariot bearing the figure of God Shanmuhar and his consorts is carried through the Temple’s streets. Hundreds of devotees, both rich and poor, young and old, pull the chariot shoulder to shoulder, giving God Murugan the chance to see their sincerity and purity.