Thambiluvil Kannaki Amman Temple: Difference between revisions

Thambiluvil Kannaki Amman Kovil
Thambiluvil Kannaki Amman Kovil
	File:Tham Entrance.jpg Temple Entrance in Thambiluvil, Sri Lanka.
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Ampara
Province	Eastern
Standort
Land	Sri Lanka

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Thambiluvil Sri Kannakai Amman temple (Tamil: தம்பிலுவில் கண்ணகி அம்மன் ஆலயம்) is one of the most significant Hindu temples in the Ampara District of Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. It is situated about 70 Km south of Batticaloa town and 11 km south to Akkaraipattu. This is considered as the one of the ancient temples of Mattakkalappu Desam (Batti - Ampara districts nowadays) made for Kannaki, the heroine of the great Tamil epic Silappatikaram.

History

Thambiluvil and its neighbor village Thirukkovil are considered as the ancient settlement of [Nāga|Naga people (Lanka)]] tribe thus called as "Nagamunai".^[1] The cult of Kannaki is believed as the continuity of tribal worship of mother goddess of Nagas. The alternative name "Nāga Mangalai" (literally "the Auspicious Nāga") given to Kannaki only in the literary records of Thambiluvil and Pattimedu of Batticaloa region signifies the same.

The temple is believed to constructed after the arrival of Pattini cult by Gajabahu I during 113-135 BCE.^[2] There is another myth tells that idols of three goddesses - Kannaki, Kali and Chenbaga Nachi arrived east coast of Sri Lanka through a merchant vessel from Tamilakam and three temples were built for them wherever they stopped. That three locations are identified nowadays as Thambiluvil, Sampur and Eachchilampattu respectively.^[3]. However, so many historical evidences confirm that this temple was honored by the Kandyan and Kotte kings of Sri Lanka who ruled the island since 14th century CE. The origin of this temple is pointed out by the elders as "Urakkai", a paddy field site west to Thambiluvil village. They claimed that idol of goddess was accidentally shown by a golden pigeon at Urakkai and Old temple at Urakkai was shifted here many years ago for unknown reasons.

An inscription of Vijayabahu VII of Kotte (1507-1521) known as "Thambiluvil Inscription" was found in this temple premises. It claims about the donation of "Vovil" by Vijayabahu to Sivagnāna Sankarar Kovil. Hugh Nevill (1848 – 1897) concludeed that "Sivagnāna Sankarar Kovil" is not other than Thirukkovil Sithira Velayutha Swami Temple and displaced the inscription there. ^[4] It may be assumed that an old temple built for Sivagnāna Sangarar (Lord Shiva) was replaced by Kannaki Amman after the destruction of that temple by Portuguese in 16th Century CE.

"Thambiluvil Mazhai Kāviyam" and "Thambiluvil Amman Pallu", two literary works made on this goddess praise the Kandyan kings Rajasingan(1635-1687) and Narendra Singan (1707-1739) and indicate their influences with this temple.

Annual Festival

Annual Festival of Thambiluvil Kannaki Amman is celebrated on "Vaikāsi" month (May-June) of Tamil calendar along with other Kannaki Temples in Batticaloa region. It is called as "Kathavu Thiraththal" (Opening the door), "Vaikasi Pongal", "Amman Kulirthi" and so on. It is conducted for one week prior to or including full month of Vaikasi month. The final day of Festival will be always a Monday. Chariot procession of the temple through the village is held on Sixth day of the festival (always on a Sunday night) and the next day is known as "Kulirthi Naal" (literally Cooling Day). Thousands of Devotees cook "Pongal" in the temple premises and offer it to the goddess in the midnight "Kulirthi" puja.

"Amman Kulirthi Kaaviyam" which describes her angry and sorrow during her life time is recited during the puja for requesting her calming down. Then, "Theertham" - The sacred water used to bathe the goddess during the Kulirthi ritual will sprinkle over the devotees. The festival finishes with distributing offered Pongal to devotees and "Kathavu Adaiththal" (Closing the door).

Traditions and Facts

Kannaki Amman Temple is built in non-Agamic tradition with simple four halls known as "Karuvarai", "Mun Mandapam", "Nadu Mandapam" and maha Mandapam. Karuvarai and Mun Mandapam are closed always except from the festival season comes during May - June month. Pillayar, Vairavar and Nāga Thambirān are seated in seperated shrines around the main temple of Kannaki. Pooja rituals are conducted infront of closed doors of Mun Mandapam in every tuesdays and firdays.

The Aspects of Sri Lankan Pattini Cult - Kombu Vilayattu (Horn - play) and Porthengai (Coconut Play) was conducted till 1980s here and ceased due to the war conflict. One of the Priest of This Temple "Kannappan" lived in the time of Rajasinha II sung a verse on Goddess "Amman Mazhai Kaviyam" (மழைக் காவியம் - Raining Poetry) for relieving the country from a terrible draught. The inhabitants of this village still believe that it should be rained whenever this verse is recited with full of devotion during a drought season.

^ Nirmala Rmachandran (2004) "The Hindu Legacy to Sri Lanka" p.103
^ http://invokingthegoddess.lk/history/4/
^ V.C.Kandiah,"Mattakkalappu Saivak Kovilkal II (Tamil)
^ S.Pathmanathan (2013) Ilangai Thamiz Sasānangal (Tamil) pp.430-434

[1] Nirmala Rmachandran (2004) "The Hindu Legacy to Sri Lanka" p.103

[2] ttp://invokingthegoddess.lk/history/4/

[3] V.C.Kandiah,"Mattakkalappu Saivak Kovilkal II (Tamil)

[4] S.Pathmanathan (2013) Ilangai Thamiz Sasānangal (Tamil) pp.430-434

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Infobox Mandir
 | name               = Thambiluvil Kannaki Amman Kovil
-| image              = Thambiluvil Amman.jpg
+| image              = Tham Entrance.jpg
 | image_alt          =
 | caption            = Temple Entrance in [[Thambiluvil]], [[Sri Lanka]].
@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 }}
-'''Thambiluvil Sri Kannakai Amman temple'''  ({{lang-ta|தம்பிலுவில் கண்ணகி அம்மன் ஆலயம்}}) is one of the most significant [[Hindu]] temples in the [[Ampara District]] of [[Eastern Province, Sri Lanka]]. It is situated about 70 Km south of Batticaloa town and 11 km south to Akkaraipattu. This is considered as the one of the ancient temples of Mattakkalappu Desam ([[Batticaloa|Batti]] - [[Ampara District|Ampara]] districts  nowadays) made for [[Kannagi|Kannaki]], the heroine of the great Tamil epic [[Silappatikaram]].
+'''Thambiluvil Sri Kannakai Amman temple'''  ({{lang-ta|தம்பிலுவில் கண்ணகி அம்மன் ஆலயம்}}) is one of the most significant [[Hindu]] temples in the [[Ampara District]] of [[Eastern Province, Sri Lanka]]. It is situated about 70 Km south of [[Batticaloa]] town and 11 km south to [[Akkaraipattu]]. This is considered as the one of the ancient temples of Mattakkalappu Desam ([[Batticaloa|Batti]] - [[Ampara District|Ampara]] districts  nowadays) made for [[Kannagi|Kannaki]], the heroine of the great Tamil epic [[Silappatikaram]].
 ==History==
+[[File:Thambiluvil Amman.jpg|thumb|left|Idol of Kannaki Amman at Sanctum]]
 Thambiluvil and its neighbor village [[Thirukkovil]] are considered as the ancient settlement of [Nāga|Naga people (Lanka)]] tribe thus called as "Nagamunai".<ref> Nirmala Rmachandran (2004) "The Hindu Legacy to Sri Lanka" p.103</ref> The cult of Kannaki is believed as the continuity of tribal worship of mother goddess of Nagas. The alternative name "Nāga Mangalai" (literally "the Auspicious Nāga")  given to Kannaki only in the literary records of Thambiluvil and Pattimedu of [[Batticaloa District|Batticaloa ]] region signifies the same.
@@ Line 33: / Line 35: @@
 ==Annual Festival==
 Annual Festival of Thambiluvil Kannaki Amman is celebrated on "Vaikāsi" month (May-June) of  [[Tamil calendar]] along with other Kannaki Temples in Batticaloa region. It is called as "Kathavu Thiraththal" (Opening the door), "Vaikasi Pongal", "Amman Kulirthi" and so on.  It is conducted for one week prior to or including full month of Vaikasi month. The final day of Festival will be always a Monday. Chariot procession of the temple through the village is held on Sixth day of the festival (always on a Sunday night) and the next day is known as "Kulirthi Naal" (literally Cooling Day). Thousands of Devotees cook "[[Pongal (dish)|Pongal]]" in the temple premises and offer it to the goddess in the midnight "Kulirthi" puja.
 "Amman Kulirthi Kaaviyam" which describes her angry and sorrow during her life time is recited during the puja for requesting her calming down. Then, "Theertham" - The sacred water used to bathe the goddess during the Kulirthi ritual will sprinkle over the devotees. The festival finishes with distributing offered Pongal to devotees and "Kathavu Adaiththal" (Closing the door).
+[[File:Chariot under a Pandal.jpg|thumb|right|Temple Chariot under a Pandal (on 2012 Kulirthi Vizha)]]
 ==Traditions and Facts==
 Kannaki Amman Temple is built in non-[[Āgama (Hinduism)|Agamic]] tradition with simple four halls known as "Karuvarai", "Mun Mandapam", "Nadu Mandapam" and maha Mandapam. Karuvarai and Mun Mandapam are closed always except from the festival season comes during May - June month. [[Ganesha|Pillayar]], [[Bhairava|Vairavar]] and [[Nāga|Nāga  Thambirān]] are seated in seperated shrines around the main temple of Kannaki. Pooja rituals are conducted infront of closed doors of Mun Mandapam in every tuesdays and firdays.