Sri Muttumari Amman Temple, Matale
Muthumariamman Temple or Arulmigu Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil is a Hindu temple in Matale, Sri Lanka. The prefix “Muthu” in a real sense implies pearl. “Mari” signifies downpour and “Amman” signifies mother in the Tamil language. The temple is dedicated to Mariamman, the goddess of downpour and fertility. The chariot celebration in this temple is held generally coinciding with Magam on a Full Moon Poya Day.
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History of Sri Muttumari Amman Temple
The land was initially an important paddy field and was gifted by the proprietor in 1852.
The present temple was constructed in 1874, supported by the Nattukkottai Chettiar. This temple is utilized by the Hindus as well as Buddhists. The temple was initially a little shrine with a sculpture placed under a tree, where the Hindu devotees prayed. Later it was developed into a big Hindu temple in Matale. The first Kumbhabhishekham of the sanctuary was held in 1960.
Mob attacks on Sri Muttumari Amman Temple
The temple was badly damaged by the anti-Tamil mobs in July 1983 however it was reestablished. One of the important attractions of this temple is its 32.9 m (108 ft) high Gopuram (‘Raja Koburum’), an enormous and tall tower situated over the northern passage (‘Vadakku Vaayil’) to the temple. The Raja Koburum is one of the biggest Gopurams in Sri Lanka. The 1008 sculptures of Hindu gods are crafted into the gopuram by South Indian stone carver, Nagalingam and his child Ramanathan, with the assistance of around 100 designers, painters and architects from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. The Raja Koburum was finished in 2007 at the expense of around Rs 150M.
Important events of Sri Muttumari Amman Temple
The main celebrations including the chariot celebration at the temple take place during February or March on a yearly basis. The temple has five richly decorated chariots, which are utilized to convey sculptures of Hindu divinities around the city on ‘Ther’ or ‘Vettai Thiruvizha’, the chariot function day, which is held the day preceding ‘Medin Poya’ (the Poya day in March). Ganesha, Shiva, Mahadevi, Murugan and Chandeshvara Nayanar are the five noticeable sculptures of Hindu gods which are conveyed by devotees in the chariot festival.