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| Sunday, 18 September 2005 |
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Junior Observer |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Most important religious site in Jaffna The Nallur Kandasamy Kovil is one of the most important and famous Hindu religious sites not only in Jaffna, but also in the whole country. It holds a special place in the country, mainly because of its poojas and the spectacular annual festival.
The temple is characterised by golden arches and elaborate gateways known as gopurams. The entrance tower has many colourful carvings of Hindu mythological characters. The walls are also decorated with beautiful paintings from Hindu mythology. The large and airy complex has shrines to several Hindu deities around the central chamber, decorative brass-work, beautiful pillared halls and larger than life murals. The origin of the Nallur Kovil is not very clear. Yalpana Vaipava Maalai, an ancient text, attributes the construction of the temple to the 13th century and to Puvaneya Vaku, a minister of Kulangai Arya Chakravarthy. Others link the temple to Sempahap Perumal (Buwaneka Bahu) as this name is mentioned in the daily recitations at the temple. Some believe that it was built during the 15th century. This building was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1620 after the then king of Jaffna Singiliyan was defeated by Philip de Oliviera. St. James' Church presently stands on this site, which is about a quarter mile away from the present temple site. The present temple building is said to date back to the 18th century (1734) and is attributed to Don Juan Mappan Mudaliyar of the Dutch administration who erected a site for worship of Lord Murugan. His descendants, who acted as the temple trustees, started restoring the premises. Restoration work included the enlargement of the inner and most sacred chamber (where vel or the traditional emblem of the god is enshrined), adding gopurams to highlight and add beauty to the main gopuram and installation of bells in towers. With the pond and the shrine set up for Thandayuthpani, the kovil spans several acres. It is also famous for the annual festival which is held in the premises for a period of 26 days between July and August. It represents mythologies such as the destruction of all evil. The daily festival, which is the most important religious festival in the peninsula, starts around 8.30pm and goes on till about 3.00am the next day. The festival commences on the first day with the hoisting of the flag (known as Kodiyetram) and concludes with the water cutting ceremony (Theertham). The highlight in this event is the Ther Festival when the deity is taken around the temple premises in a chariot by devotees to chants of 'Haro Hara'. Kavadi dancers are also a staple in this colourful procession. In an earlier age, people belonging to lower castes were barred from entering the premises, but the doors were open to all people from all castes, religions and races in the late 50s. Around the temple premises are a large number of shops selling items required by worshippers such as coconuts, plantains and camphor. |
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The beautifully decorated kovil is a premier place of worship for Sri
Lankan Hindus and devotees of Lord Murugan, the protector. However
pilgrims and visitors to the site are not restricted to one religion, race
or one section of society. It is one of the most important and most
visited sites in the Jaffna peninsula, attracting thousands of pilgrims
and worshippers every year. 
