Koneswaram temple

திருக்கோணேச்சரம் Koneswaram Kovil
View of Temple before recent Kumbhabhishekham
திருக்கோணேச்சரம் Koneswaram Kovil Location in Sri Lanka
Name
Proper name	Tirukkōṇēsvaram kōṇanāta cuvāmi ālayam
Tamil	கோணைநாத சுவாமி திருக்கோயில்
Geography
Coordinates	8°34′57″N 81°14′44″E / 8.58250°N 81.24556°E / 8.58250; 81.24556Coordinates: 8°34′57″N 81°14′44″E / 8.58250°N 81.24556°E / 8.58250; 81.24556
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Eastern
District	Trincomalee District
Location	Swami Rock (Kōṇāmalai), Trincomalee
Culture
Primary deity	Konanātha Swami
Consort	Māthumai
Temple tank	Papanasam Thirtham
Architecture
Architectural styles	Dravidian architecture
History and governance
Date built	1952 (Earliest records from 6th Century BCE)

Koneswaram temple (Tamil: திருக்கோணேச்சரம், also known as Dakshinakailasha (Tamil: தென்கயிலை, Teṉkayilai, litt. Southern Kailasa) is a classical-medieval Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Trincomalee, Eastern Sri Lanka. The temple is situated atop Konesar Malai, a promontory from where overlooking of large body of Indian ocean, nearby eastern coast, as well as Gokarna bay. Konesvaram is revered as one the Pancha Ishwarams of Sri Lanka for long time. Being a major place for Hindu pilgrimage, it was labelled "Rome of the Gentiles/Pagans of the Orient" in some records. Konesvaram holds a significant role in the religious and cultural history of Sri Lanka, as it was likely built during the reign of the early Cholas and the Five Dravidians of the Early Pandyan Kingdom.

Pallava, Chola, Pandyan and Jaffna designs here reflect a continual Tamil Saivite influence in the Vannimai region from the classical period. River Mahavali, known to be risen at Sivanolipatha Malai (Tamil:Mount of Shiva's glowing feet) and meets sea near Konesvaram rock, leads to create the myth that it is comparable to Ganges, in which it symbolically crowns the flowing of river from Shiva’s head to his feet.

Developed from 205 B.C., the original kovil combined key features to form its basic Dravidian temple plan, such as its thousand pillared hall – "Aayiram Kaal Mandapam" – and the Jagati expanded by King Elara Manu Needhi Cholan. Regarded as the greatest building of its age for its architecture, elaborate sculptural bas-relief ornamentation adorned a black granite megalith while its multiple gold plated gopuram towers were expanded in the medieval period. One of three major Hindu shrines on the promontory with a colossal gopuram tower, it stood distinctly on the cape’s highest eminence. the Pavanasam Theertham at the preserved Papanasuchunai holy well and the proximal Back Bay Sea (Theertham Karatkarai) surrounding Konesar Malai.