Munneswaram Kovil Temple
Description
Munneswaram Kovil temple is an essential local Hindu temple complex in Sri Lanka. It has continued at least since 1000 CE, although stories enclosing the temple connect it with the famous Indian epic Ramayana and its mythological hero-king Rama. The temple is one of five old temples devoted to Shiva in the region.
The temple is located in Chilaw, a village with mixed Sinhala and Tamil populations situated in the Puttalam District of Sri Lanka. The presiding deity Siva is placed in the form of Lingam in the sanctum sanctorum. The Siva temple’s architectural features conform to what is written down in the Hindu inscriptions identified as agamas. The Siva temple stands east and has three pathways altogether. A sacred pond is located in front of the Siva temple, and a Bo Tree occupies by its side. The main sanctum and the building above the shrine are some of the most lavish in Sri Lanka.
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The Munneswaram temple complex in Sri Lanka is an ancient Shiva-dedicated Hindu temple comprising five temples, one of which is a Buddhist temple. The central Shiva temple is the most prestigious and is favoured by Hindus, whereas Buddhists prefer the Kali temple. The temple was twice devastated by the Portuguese, but locals rebuilt it. The temple hosts multiple festivals, including Navarathri, Sivarathri, and the four-week-long Munneswaram festival, which Hindus and Buddhists witness. Hindu Tamil households administrate the temple in the mixed Sinhala and Tamil village of Munneswaram in the Puttalam District.
History
The Munneswaram temple is located in the village of Munneswaram, which has been the spiritual and religious hub of the Munneswaram Pattuva region. The temple complex comprises five temples, including the main Shiva temple, the Kali temple, the Ayyanayake temple, the Ganesha temple, and the Buddhist temple. The temple has historical and cultural significance, as its origins date back to the beginning of the tenth century BCE. Historically, the temple was associated with local cities and villages, including Chilaw and Maradankulama, contributing to its maintenance. Temple festivals include Navarathri, Sivarathri, and the Munneswaram festival. Along with Koneswaram, Naguleswaram, and Thiruketheeshwaram, this temple is one of the ancient Ishwarams in the region, including Sri Lanka, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Renovation and demolishment
The Sri Lankan Munneswaram temple has a history of destruction and reconstruction. King Parakrakrama Bahu VI of the Kotte Kingdom issued a grant in the 15th century that contains the first known record of the temple's reconstruction. The Portuguese arrived in Sri Lanka in 1505 and completely demolished the temple in 1578, repurposing its nucleus as a Roman Catholic chapel. In the early 17th century, the locals reconstructed the temple before the Portuguese devastated it once more. When Kirti Sri Rajasinha of the Kandyan Kingdom rebuilt the superstructure in the 1750s, it was nominally in use. The top Kalasam or Kotha was silver, and the kumbhabhishekam (dedication) ceremonies occurred in 1753. In 1753, Kirti Sri Rajasinghe granted land to the priesthood to perform daily and special temple rites, which were recorded on a copper plate.
Modern structure
In 1830, a large crowd attended the Munneswaram temple festival, but by the 1870s, the temple had been abandoned due to the depopulation of the surrounding Pattuva. The temple grounds were no longer cultivated, and the reservoirs were not maintained, resulting in a population decline. British colonial policies favoured the conversion of these lands into coconut plantations, resulting in a demographic shift and the estrangement of the local population from the temple. Filing a lawsuit to prevent the appropriation of temple land resulted in forming of a temple trust. The Kurukal family controls the priestly position at the Siva temple, while a Tamil family from the Munneswaram village controls the priestly position at the Kali temple. The Siva temple underwent renovations in 1875, 1919, and 1963. Sinhalese pilgrims account for more than 78 per cent of visitors to the Siva and Kali temples.
Temple plan
The primary Siva temple of the Munneswaram temple complex faced east and was constructed by Hindu agamas. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, one of the largest in Sri Lanka is a Lingam representing Siva, the presiding deity. A fig tree is next to the temple, surrounded by three paths and a sacred pond.
In addition to the Siva temple, the complex contains several other temples and sanctuaries. A shrine dedicated to Ganesha is located southeast of the Siva temple. In contrast, a temple dedicated to Ayyanayake, a Sinhalese Buddhist divinity, is located in the northeast corner of the third path. The well-known Kali temple is located in the northern section of the path. A second Ganesha-dedicated temple is situated southwest of the outer courtyard.
Within the Siva temple are numerous shrines dedicated to the Navagraha (nine planets), the sixty-three Saivite Nayanmar saints, and various aspects of Siva, Ganesha, and Amman.
Myths
Various legends surround the Munneswaram temple, and they vary depending on the religious and ethnic groups involved. One set of beliefs relates to the temple's construction, while the other links to its reconstruction. The temple is predominantly a Siva sanctuary for Hindu Tamils, while for Sinhala Buddhists, it is a goddess temple associated with Kali and witchcraft. Sinhalese mythologies claim that Kali landed in Munneswaram and was prohibited from devouring humans by the deity Pattini. According to a Tamil legend, the temple is where King Rama prayed to Siva after he conflicted with the demon-king Ravana. There are also legends that a Chola king named Kullakotan or a Sinhalese monarch named Rajasinghe or Bhuvanekabahu renovated the temple after the holy pond cured their skin ailments.
Festivals
The temple of Munneswaram holds Navaratri and Sivarathri celebrations, which primarily attract Hindus. However, the annual Munneswaram festival is a significant component of the temple's calendar and attracts individuals of various faiths. In August and September, the festival lasts for 28 days and features internal temple processions and the parading of deity images around the temple. Outside, booths are erected to sell food, drink, brassware, pottery, fabric, and religious images. The culmination of the festival is a procession of the deity on a wooden chariot and a thirtham ceremony in a nearby river. Following the ritual ablution, the procession returns to the temple via Chilaw and other temples.
How to reach Munneswaram temple
here's how to get to Munneswaram temple via tuk-tuk, taxi, train, and air:
Tuk-Tuk: Tuk-tuks are a popular mode of transportation in Sri Lanka, and you can easily find one to take you to Munneswaram temple. From Colombo or Negombo, the approximate cost of a tuk-tuk ride is around 4,000 to 5,000 LKR (about $20-25 USD), and it takes about 2-3 hours to reach the temple.
Taxi: If you prefer a more comfortable ride, you can hire a cab from Colombo or Negombo. A taxi ride costs around 8,000–10,000 LKR (about $40–50 USD) and takes 2-3 hours to reach the temple.
Train: You can take a train from Colombo to the nearby town of Chilaw, about 10 km from Munneswaram temple. From Chilaw, you can hire a tuk-tuk or taxi to reach the temple. The train journey takes around 2-3 hours, and the fare is around 300 LKR (less than USD 3).
Air: If you're coming from further away, you can fly to the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo. You can take a taxi or tuk-tuk to reach Munneswaram temple. The distance between the airport and the temple is around 45 km, and it takes 1-2 hours to get there.
