Temple de Nallur Kandasamy Kovil
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Temple hindou
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Lieu religieux
Description
Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, also known as Nallur Murugan Kovil, is a major Hindu temple in Jaffna, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is vital to Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu identity. It inspired cultural homage temples in Europe and North America with similar names. The holy Vel represents Lord Muruga, Siva's son, in the temple. In the 10th century, Chola queen Sembiyan Mahadevi gave the temple's Nallur Devi idol in Sembian bronzes.
Plus de détails sur cette attraction
The temple's origins date back to 948 AD when it was founded on the land known as "Kurukkal Valavu." Over the centuries, the temple was relocated multiple times due to foreign invasions. It is believed that from 1734 to 1749, the temple complex also housed a shrine dedicated to an Islamic Sufi saint, which was later relocated. According to the Yalpana Vaipava Malai, a historical chronicle, the temple was further developed in the 13th century by Puvenaya Vaku, a minister to the Jaffna King Kalinga Magha. Sapumal Kumaraya, also known as Chempaha Perumal, is credited with constructing or renovating the third temple in the 15th century when Nallur was the capital of the Jaffna kings. However, the Portuguese destroyed the original temple and its location in 1621, and churches later occupied the site.
The present temple, the fourth iteration, was constructed in 1749 during the Dutch colonial era by Krishna Suba Iyer and Ragunatha Maapaana Mudaliyar at the original "Kurukkal Valavu" site. Initially, the temple was modest, with just two main halls, lacking the elaborate towers and clock tower seen today. The first clock tower was added in 1899, and the main hall was refurbished in 1902. The temple's grand hall, known as 'Vasantha Mandapam,' was renovated in 1964 to achieve its current form.
The temple's east-facing main entrance features an intricately carved five-story tower or gopuram, reflecting the Dravidian architectural style. The temple complex has shrines dedicated to various deities, including Ganesh, Vairavar, and the Sun God. The southern part of the temple houses a holy pond and the Thandayudhapaani shrine, while the northern side contains a large sacred garden.
Meilleure période pour visiter
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De décembre à mars et de juin à août
Points forts
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Parking à vélos
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Entrée gratuite
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Parking disponible
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Temps requis pour l'exploration : 30 minutes