Ketheeswaram temple

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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.

1 Origins
2 Destruction by the Portuguese
3 Reconstruction
4 Occupation by Sri Lankan Army
5 In literature
6 See also
7 References

[edit] Origins

While tradition has it that Thiruketheeswaram is at least 2500 years old. It has been in existence as an established and famous shrine for at least 1400 years, based on the fact that Nayanmars have sung Thevarams on it. 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.

[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 Catholic colonialists. In 1589 A.C.E .the Portuguese Governor was seen supervising the transport of the temple stones for building the Mannar Fort and a Catholic Church.

[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. While these preparations were in progress the army took over the Temple and its environs in August 1990 and continued to occupy the same for several years. Although they have left the Temple premises their occupation of its environs is a cause of concern to the Restoration Society which has been urging the Government to remove the Armed Forces completely from the environs of the Temple.^[1]

[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.