Ketheesvaram Temple - Ishvaram near Mannar
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Ketheeswaram, situated on Sri Lanka's mainland just opposite the island of Mannar, is one of the five so-called Ishvaram (Eesvaram) shrines, which are the main Shiva temples on the island. Mythical folklore related to the Indian epic Ramayana has it, that Mandodari, the wife of the legendary demon King Ravana was from this area and that a first temple on this spot had been built by her father.
Like the other Ishvarams, the Ketheesawam Temple, also known as Thiriketheesvaram, is situated near the coast. And like the other four, it was destroyed be the Portuguese occupying forces, who had taken control of the coastal plains, in the 16th century. Orders to such acts of destruction were usually given by the bishop of Goa. Ketishvaram was rebuilt mainly in the 20th century. However, the restoration was inspired by the most significant Hindu reformer and revivalist of the Sri Lankan Tamil community, Arumuka Navalar, already in the 19th century. He had been disappointed that the restoration of the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple near Jaffna did not follow the rules of the Agamas, which besides the Vedas are the sacred scriptures of Shaiva Siddhanta, the main form of Hinduism among Tamils. So he initiated a restoration program at Ketheeswaram, aiming at implementing the sacred guidelines strictly. The new temple is clean and neat and therefore has become popular among native and foreign Hindu pilgrims.
Historically, the area of Ketheeswaram was the ancient town of Manthai, also known as Mattota. During the Anuradhapura period, it was the most important port of the entire island. Ketheeswaram is a finding place of artefacts. But there are no noteworthy remnants left of the ancient buildings, as they were secular and hence made of perishable materials.
Like the other Ishvarams, the Ketheesawam Temple, also known as Thiriketheesvaram, is situated near the coast. And like the other four, it was destroyed be the Portuguese occupying forces, who had taken control of the coastal plains, in the 16th century. Orders to such acts of destruction were usually given by the bishop of Goa. Ketishvaram was rebuilt mainly in the 20th century. However, the restoration was inspired by the most significant Hindu reformer and revivalist of the Sri Lankan Tamil community, Arumuka Navalar, already in the 19th century. He had been disappointed that the restoration of the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple near Jaffna did not follow the rules of the Agamas, which besides the Vedas are the sacred scriptures of Shaiva Siddhanta, the main form of Hinduism among Tamils. So he initiated a restoration program at Ketheeswaram, aiming at implementing the sacred guidelines strictly. The new temple is clean and neat and therefore has become popular among native and foreign Hindu pilgrims.
Historically, the area of Ketheeswaram was the ancient town of Manthai, also known as Mattota. During the Anuradhapura period, it was the most important port of the entire island. Ketheeswaram is a finding place of artefacts. But there are no noteworthy remnants left of the ancient buildings, as they were secular and hence made of perishable materials.
