Munneswaram temple
| Munneswaram temple | |
|---|---|
Siva temple
|
|
 Munneswaram temple
Location in Sri Lanka
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| Name | |
| Proper name | Munneswaram Kovil |
| Geography | |
| Coordinates | 7°34′50.80″N 79°49′00.02″E / 7.5807778°N 79.8166722°ECoordinates: 7°34′50.80″N 79°49′00.02″E / 7.5807778°N 79.8166722°E |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Province | North Western |
| District | Puttalam |
| Location | Munneswaram, near Chilaw |
| Culture | |
| Primary deity | Shiva (Siva) |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural styles | Dravidian architecture |
| History and governance | |
| Date established | Earliest date 1000 CE (probable) |
| Date built | 1753 |
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Timeline of Munneswaram temple (1000-1963) |
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| Founded as a village guardian shrine to Munisvaran | (1000) |
| Temple converted into a Siva temple | (????) |
| The Siva temple issues its own coins | (1100) |
| Renovations by Parakrama Bahu VI | (1450 or 1453) |
| Renovations by Parakrama Bahu IX | (1509 - 1528) |
| Animal sacrifices banned by Portuguese missionaries | (After 1505) |
| Destroyed by the Portuguese | (1578) |
| Rebuilt by Rajasinghe I | (???) |
| Second destruction by the Portuguese | (1600) |
| Restored by local villagers | (???? ) |
| Renovations by Kirti Sri Rajasinghe | (1753) |
| Renovations by Cumarasamy Kurukkal | (1875) |
| Renovations by concerned Tamils | (1919 & 1963) |
| Animal sacrfices banned by the Sri Lankan government | (2011) |
Munneswaram temple (Sinhalese: මුන්නේශ්වරම් කෝවිල, Tamil: முன்னேசுவரம் கோயில்) is an important regional Hindu 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 the ancient Pancha Ishwarams dedicated to Shiva in the region.
The temple complex is a collection of five temples, including a Buddhist temple. The central temple dedicated to Shiva (Siva) is the most prestigious and biggest, and is popular amongst Hindus. The other temples are dedicated to Ganesha, Ayyanayake and Kali. The Kali temple is also popular with Buddhists, who frequent the complex. Post-19th century, most of the devotees of all temples in the complex belong to the majority Sinhala Buddhist ethnic group; the temples, excluding the Ayyanayake and the Buddhist temple, are administered by families belonging to the minority Hindu Tamils.
The temple is located in Munneswaram, a village with mixed Sinhala and Tamil population situated in the historic Demala Pattuva ("Tamil division") region in the Puttalam District. The main Shiva temple owns extensive property in the surrounding villages, ownership of which was affirmed when the region was part of the medieval Kotte Kingdom. The temple was destroyed twice by the Portuguese colonial officers, who handed over the properties to the Jesuits. Although the Jesuits built a Catholic chapel over the temple foundation, locals reconstructed the temple both times. Due to religious and demographic change after the late 18th century, most surrounding villages and towns are not directly associated with the temple administration and maintenance. However, the villages of Maradankulama and Udappu are associated with organizing the main temple festival.
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Wikipedia