Kovils in Sri Lanka - Tamil places of worship
Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee
Hindu temples, which are called Kovils in Tamil, are found all over Sri Lanka, as Tamil communities live as minority groups in all towns and form the majority in the Northern and large part of the Eastern Province. Almost all Hindu Temples are situated at very ancient places of worship, but the current appearances are mostly from the 20th century, and they are built in the classical Dravidian style of Southern India, a typical element of which is one or more large Gopuram towers above the main entrance, decorated with myriads of sculptures of deities and other celestial beings on several tiers.
Hindu deities venerated in Tamil Temples of Sri Lanka
Most Hindu temples in Sri Lanka are dedicated to Murugan, a characteristic Tamil deity, particularly of the hillcountry of Tamil Nadu in southern India. Murugan, known as Kataragama to the Sinhalese, is identified with Shiva's son Skanda, whose name is shortened in several Indian languages to "Kanda". This is why most of the Murugan shrines carry the name "Kandaswamy Kovil".
The other son of Shiva, the elephant-headed Ganesha, has also numerous temples in the Tamil north and east of Sri Lanka ans also in Colombo and elsewhere (plus even more small chapels in the hillcountry inhabited by Tamil tea pluckers). He is venerated under the name of Pillaiyar by Tamils. The most important shrine dedicated to this deity is Kataragama in the south, the second most important is found in Nallur, now a suburb of Jaffna, but once actually the capital of the Jaffna Kingdom. The said two main Skanda temples of Sri Lanka are connected by a chain of further Skanda shrines along the east coast, which mark the pilgrimage places of Sri Lanka's largest annual Hindu march, the Pada Yathra, which also attracts pilgrims form India.
Shiva himself, of course, is the supreme deity of the Shaiva Siddhanta branch of Hinduism, which is predominant among Tamils in India and Sri Lanka alike. Surprisingly, Shiva temples are less numerous in Sri Lanka, but they are the most venerated Kovils, particularly the classical five, the Pancha Ishvarams. The latter mark (roughly speaking) the cardinal directions of the island, namely Thirukonesvaram in Trincomalee in the east, Naguleshvaram on Jaffna Peninsula in the north, Munneshvaram near Chilaw in the west, and Tondeshvaram in the south. The fifth, Thiruketheesvaram near Mannar Island, marks the geographical axis to Tamil Nadu in India. There are more Shiva temples in Sri Lanka than those five, but the Pancha Ishvarams are the by far most celebrated ones.
Maybe even more Tamil temples than for Shiva are dedicated to his Shakti, known as the mother goddess "Amman" to Tamil. She is venerated in various local forms, just like in South India. Muthumari Amman is the most common of those variants, but Nagapooshani Amman on Nainativu Island is the most significant sanctuary of the Goddess.
Kannaki, the deified heroine of the most beloved Tamil epic, the Silappatikaram. She is somzimes also identified with Amman. Kannaki is the presidind deity of some Tamil temples. But most temples dedidated to her, surprisingly, are Sinhalese shrines, many of them attached to Budhhist temples. Her Sinhalese name is Pattini.
Hindu Temples dedicated to Vishnu are comparatively rare in Sri Lanka. One small ancient Kovil in Rattota near Matale is a Rama temple, venerating the second last incarnation of Vishnu. A large new Vishnu temple near Trincomalee is called Shri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Kovil, the name indicates that Vishnu's consort Lakshmi is worshiped in this temple in the first place, Narayana is often identified with Vishnu, but sometimes also with his incarnation Krishna.
Hanuman, known as Anjaneyar to Tamils, was traditionally worshipped in annex temples and chapels of Tamils. But in recent decades, three temples were founded for Hanuman as the presiding deity, viz. on a property operated by the Chinmaya Mission in Tawalantenne near Ramboda in the highlands, Panchamuga Anjaneyar Temple in the Colombo's suburb of Kalubowila, and smaller Panchamuga Anjaneyar Kovil in Negombo.
The other son of Shiva, the elephant-headed Ganesha, has also numerous temples in the Tamil north and east of Sri Lanka ans also in Colombo and elsewhere (plus even more small chapels in the hillcountry inhabited by Tamil tea pluckers). He is venerated under the name of Pillaiyar by Tamils. The most important shrine dedicated to this deity is Kataragama in the south, the second most important is found in Nallur, now a suburb of Jaffna, but once actually the capital of the Jaffna Kingdom. The said two main Skanda temples of Sri Lanka are connected by a chain of further Skanda shrines along the east coast, which mark the pilgrimage places of Sri Lanka's largest annual Hindu march, the Pada Yathra, which also attracts pilgrims form India.
Shiva himself, of course, is the supreme deity of the Shaiva Siddhanta branch of Hinduism, which is predominant among Tamils in India and Sri Lanka alike. Surprisingly, Shiva temples are less numerous in Sri Lanka, but they are the most venerated Kovils, particularly the classical five, the Pancha Ishvarams. The latter mark (roughly speaking) the cardinal directions of the island, namely Thirukonesvaram in Trincomalee in the east, Naguleshvaram on Jaffna Peninsula in the north, Munneshvaram near Chilaw in the west, and Tondeshvaram in the south. The fifth, Thiruketheesvaram near Mannar Island, marks the geographical axis to Tamil Nadu in India. There are more Shiva temples in Sri Lanka than those five, but the Pancha Ishvarams are the by far most celebrated ones.
Maybe even more Tamil temples than for Shiva are dedicated to his Shakti, known as the mother goddess "Amman" to Tamil. She is venerated in various local forms, just like in South India. Muthumari Amman is the most common of those variants, but Nagapooshani Amman on Nainativu Island is the most significant sanctuary of the Goddess.
Kannaki, the deified heroine of the most beloved Tamil epic, the Silappatikaram. She is somzimes also identified with Amman. Kannaki is the presidind deity of some Tamil temples. But most temples dedidated to her, surprisingly, are Sinhalese shrines, many of them attached to Budhhist temples. Her Sinhalese name is Pattini.
Hindu Temples dedicated to Vishnu are comparatively rare in Sri Lanka. One small ancient Kovil in Rattota near Matale is a Rama temple, venerating the second last incarnation of Vishnu. A large new Vishnu temple near Trincomalee is called Shri Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Kovil, the name indicates that Vishnu's consort Lakshmi is worshiped in this temple in the first place, Narayana is often identified with Vishnu, but sometimes also with his incarnation Krishna.
Hanuman, known as Anjaneyar to Tamils, was traditionally worshipped in annex temples and chapels of Tamils. But in recent decades, three temples were founded for Hanuman as the presiding deity, viz. on a property operated by the Chinmaya Mission in Tawalantenne near Ramboda in the highlands, Panchamuga Anjaneyar Temple in the Colombo's suburb of Kalubowila, and smaller Panchamuga Anjaneyar Kovil in Negombo.
Tamil Kovils of Sri Lanka sorted by region
The most important Hindu places of worship on Jaffna Peninsula, the cultural heartland of Sri Lanka's Tamil community, are Nallur Kanaswami Temple near Jaffna Town, Naguleshvaram in Kirimalai on the north coast, and Nagapooshani Amman Kovil on the tiny island of Nainativu, which celebrates one of the two largest annual Hindu temple festivals of Sri Lanka, the other one being the Kataragama festival in the south of the island nation. Another large temple complex on Jaffna Peninsula is Ariyalai Siddhivinayakar Temple, which has a school, a handloom center and a market.
In the Mannar District of the Northern Province is Thiruketheesvaram. The neat and colourful large shrine, completely restored in the 19th and 20th century, is situated in an archaeological area once called Manthai (Mattota), which was the most important port of the island during the Anuradhapura period. Thiruketheesvaram, as said, is one of the Pancha Ishvarams, the five most venerated Shiva shrines in Sri Lanka.
In the Eastern Province, Thirukonesvaram Temple on the promontory called Swami Rock in Trincomalee is the by far most important temple. Actually, it could also claim to be the mist renowned Hindu place of worship of the entire island nation. The Kali temple Shri Bhadrakali Amman Kovil in Trincomalee is noteworthy, too. Like Trincomalee, Batticaloa is crowded with Kovils. However, the most significant Hindu temple in Batticaloa District is Kokkadicholai Thanthonrichcharam Kovil to the south of Batticaloa town, but on the opposite (western) side of the Batticaloa Lagoon. It is one of only two temples in Sri Lanka with a natural Shivalingam. Much smaller, but held in high esteem, is Thambiluvil Kannaki Amman Temple in Ampara District. The Tirukkovil Citra Velayudha Swami Kovil is the most important coastal Hindu temple of Ampara District.
By far the most important Hindu Temple, with the island's most significant temple festival, is Kataragama. However, Kataragama is not at all an exclusively Hindu place of worship. Originally, it's a sacred site of the aboriginal Wedda community. And Buddhists also claim Kataragama for themselves. Even some Muslims (inclined to Sufism) join the Kataragama cult, as they consider Kataragama as a tomb of a non-canonical prophet of Islam. The most venerated Shiva Kovil of the south is Tondeshvaram near Dondra Head and Matara. It's now better known as Tevaram Temple. However, an even larger Shiva Temple is Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Kovil in Galle, the landark of which are two Gopurams side by side. It's not to be confused with the much more famous temple of the same name which forms the core of the ancient town of Madurai in South India.
Colombo has a large Tamil community, and almost each neighbourhood is proud to contain a conspicuous Hindu Temple. Pettah, the large market quarter close to Colombo Fort, has about half a dozen of big Kovils. Almost every highly venerated deity of the Hindu pantheon has a temple in Colombo. Even Lord Rama, to whom usually not many shrines are deicated, has recently got his chapel in the complex of the Chnimaya Mission headquarter of the Sri Lanka dependency. The most conspicuous one among Colombo's Tamil temples might be Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil between Pettah Floating Market and Beira Lake, not far from Colombo Fort Railway Station.
The by far most venerated Hindu temple in the western coastal plains, however, is Munneshvaram near Chilaw, one of the Five Ishvarams of Sri Lanka. Munneshvaram is an entire temple town, with several more shrines dedicated to other deities as well.
The largest Hindu Temple of the Central Province in Muthumari Amman Kovil in Matale. In Nuwara Eliya, the largest Gopuram is that of Muthumari Amman Kovil. In Nuwara Eliya, too, the biggest temple with the most eyecatching Gopuram is dedicated to Muthumari Amman. The most conspicuous Hindu Kovil in the city of Kandy is a Ganesha temple, namely the Kattukalai Pillaiyar Kovil, situated behind the clocktower at Perideniya Road, near the Kandy Police Station. Badulla in the part of the hillcountry that belongs to Uva Province is rich in Hindu Kovils.
In the Mannar District of the Northern Province is Thiruketheesvaram. The neat and colourful large shrine, completely restored in the 19th and 20th century, is situated in an archaeological area once called Manthai (Mattota), which was the most important port of the island during the Anuradhapura period. Thiruketheesvaram, as said, is one of the Pancha Ishvarams, the five most venerated Shiva shrines in Sri Lanka.
In the Eastern Province, Thirukonesvaram Temple on the promontory called Swami Rock in Trincomalee is the by far most important temple. Actually, it could also claim to be the mist renowned Hindu place of worship of the entire island nation. The Kali temple Shri Bhadrakali Amman Kovil in Trincomalee is noteworthy, too. Like Trincomalee, Batticaloa is crowded with Kovils. However, the most significant Hindu temple in Batticaloa District is Kokkadicholai Thanthonrichcharam Kovil to the south of Batticaloa town, but on the opposite (western) side of the Batticaloa Lagoon. It is one of only two temples in Sri Lanka with a natural Shivalingam. Much smaller, but held in high esteem, is Thambiluvil Kannaki Amman Temple in Ampara District. The Tirukkovil Citra Velayudha Swami Kovil is the most important coastal Hindu temple of Ampara District.
By far the most important Hindu Temple, with the island's most significant temple festival, is Kataragama. However, Kataragama is not at all an exclusively Hindu place of worship. Originally, it's a sacred site of the aboriginal Wedda community. And Buddhists also claim Kataragama for themselves. Even some Muslims (inclined to Sufism) join the Kataragama cult, as they consider Kataragama as a tomb of a non-canonical prophet of Islam. The most venerated Shiva Kovil of the south is Tondeshvaram near Dondra Head and Matara. It's now better known as Tevaram Temple. However, an even larger Shiva Temple is Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Kovil in Galle, the landark of which are two Gopurams side by side. It's not to be confused with the much more famous temple of the same name which forms the core of the ancient town of Madurai in South India.
Colombo has a large Tamil community, and almost each neighbourhood is proud to contain a conspicuous Hindu Temple. Pettah, the large market quarter close to Colombo Fort, has about half a dozen of big Kovils. Almost every highly venerated deity of the Hindu pantheon has a temple in Colombo. Even Lord Rama, to whom usually not many shrines are deicated, has recently got his chapel in the complex of the Chnimaya Mission headquarter of the Sri Lanka dependency. The most conspicuous one among Colombo's Tamil temples might be Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Kovil between Pettah Floating Market and Beira Lake, not far from Colombo Fort Railway Station.
The by far most venerated Hindu temple in the western coastal plains, however, is Munneshvaram near Chilaw, one of the Five Ishvarams of Sri Lanka. Munneshvaram is an entire temple town, with several more shrines dedicated to other deities as well.
The largest Hindu Temple of the Central Province in Muthumari Amman Kovil in Matale. In Nuwara Eliya, the largest Gopuram is that of Muthumari Amman Kovil. In Nuwara Eliya, too, the biggest temple with the most eyecatching Gopuram is dedicated to Muthumari Amman. The most conspicuous Hindu Kovil in the city of Kandy is a Ganesha temple, namely the Kattukalai Pillaiyar Kovil, situated behind the clocktower at Perideniya Road, near the Kandy Police Station. Badulla in the part of the hillcountry that belongs to Uva Province is rich in Hindu Kovils.
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