Ketheeswaram temple
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Ketheeswaram temple also Thirukeethiswaram is a Hindu temple which is located near the town of Mannar, Sri Lanka. It is dedicated to main deity in Shaivism namely Lord Siva and is one of the five ancient Sivan temples around the island.
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[edit] Origins
It is believed to have been built at least 1300 years ago. It is associated with the ancient port of entry called Mantotai and may have been built or maintained by merchant guilds from South India. There is epigraphic evidence of maintenance by Pallava and Pandya rulers from India. It was originally dedicated to a snake deity (Kethu) indicating a prehistoric origin along with Kataragama in the south.
[edit] Destruction by the Portuguese
After 1505 A.C.E along with countless Buddhist and Hindu temples around the island, it was destroyed by Portuguese colonialists. In 1589 A.C.E .the Portuguese Governor was seen supervising the transport of the temple stones for building the Mannar Fort.
[edit] Reconstruction
After a gap of almost 400 years in 1910s local Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu people of under the urging of Hindu reformer Arumuka Navalar came together and built the present temple. With the restoration of the ancient and holy Palavi Teertham or pond in 1949, a major effort was made and a proper temple was completed in 1976
[edit] Occupation by Sri Lankan Army
As part of the civil war that has plagued the country since the Black July pogrom of 1983 currently the temple is occupied by the Sri Lankan army and devotees and priests are unable to visit the premises without special permits.
[edit] In literature
Along with Koneswaram temple, this temple was mentioned in one of the Bhakti era Tevaram literature by two of the Nayanmars namely Sundarar and Sambanthar in South India indicating it's popularity even in India.
