Thirukkovil Temple
Thirukkovil Temple | |
---|---|
Tamil architecture | |
Inscriptions | Thambiluvil Inscription |
Thirukkovil Temple (officially Thirukkovil Citra Velayudha Swami Kovil,
Etymology
Kovil is the Tamil equivalent of shrine or temple. All
The old name Nagarmunai is interpreted as it was one of the ancient settlements of Naga tribe of ancient Sri Lanka.[7] Another name indicating Thirukkovil, Kaṇṭapāṇantuṟai, is also mentioned in Purva Charithiram manuscript.
Legends
There were many ladies and
History
Though the origin of the Thirukkovil temple is uncertain, it is assumed that the temple was initially a small thatched hut worshipped by
The temple was looted and destructed by
Thesaththukkovil
Thirukkovil is usually referred as thesaththukkovil as well as thiruppadaikkovil. Thiruppadai Kovil (திருப்படைக் கோவில் Tiruppaṭaik kōvil Literally "Holy Temple of Soldiers' Camp or weapons") is the term referred to seven popular temples in Batticaloa region - Kokkadichcholai, Sithandy, Thirukkovil, Mandur, Kovil Porativu, Verugal and Ukanthai. They are believed to be revered by the Chieftains ruled the country. Some historians consider the term "paṭai" in Thiruppataik kovil refers to weapon of Murugan - Vel, and ignores Kokkadichcholai from Thiruppataik Kovil list as it is a Sivan temple.
Old Batticaloa District was divided into 8 "pattu"s (Administrative divisions) - Akkaraipattu, Karaivakupattu, Eruvilpattu, Manmunaippattu, Sammanthuraipattu, Porativupattu, Eravurpattu, Kiriwittipattu along with three other adjacent pattus - Koralaipattu, Panamaipattu and Nadukadupattu.[11] Ritual rights in Thirukkovil Annual Festivals were shared with whole inhabitants of 7 main pattus and Panamaipattu of Batticaloa region.[12] According to Temple records, it can be confirmed that this custom was continued till 1950s.
The structure of Sanctum is identified with
Annual Festival
Annual Festival of Thirukkovil is called as "Aadi Amavasai theertham" ("ஆடி அமாவாசைத் தீர்த்தம்""Āṭi amāvācait tīrttam" simply "tīrttam") which is a mega festival of South-East Sri Lanka. It is celebrated for 18 days and finished on Aadi Amavasya, the new moon day comes on Aadi month (July–August) of Tamil Hindu Calendar. Necrolatry carried out in the shore of Thirukkovil sea on an Adi Amavasai is considered to give peace to the spirits of ancestors. A Dutch merchant Johann Herman Von Bree states about the Annual Festival of Thirukkovil where the assembly of "Dessave" (Chieftain) and the thousand of people of Batticaloa happened in July month of 1603 CE.[13]
Deterioration of Administration
Even after the colonial period, Temple was administrated by a conservative method based on clan system - பண்டு பரவணி ("Paṇṭu paravaṇi"). The வண்ணக்கர் (Vaṇṇakkar, the Batticaloan equivalent post for head of trustee), belongs to
A post named "வட்டாரப் பிரதிநிதி" (Vaṭṭārap piratiniti, Regional representatives) was given to each villages and "Pattus" of Batticaloa, from Panama to Kallady. Nur Yalman, a Turkish anthropologist observed "Kudukkai Kuruthal", a ritual based on Caste and Clan system, which was observed in another Thiruppadaikkovil Kokkadichcholai.[14]
After the independence of the country, the reliability of Paṇṭu paravaṇi was questioned in the mid 20th Century and had to face many court cases. Since the old settlement around the temple was started to be distinguished as two villages separately - Thirukkovil and Thambiluvil, where the latter had the post of Vannakkar, the inhabitants of Thirukkovil raised their voice for the right to rule their own temple.
However, the Vannakkar-based Paṇṭu paravaṇi system still continues compromised along with the modern administration system of President, Secretary and Treasurer in which Kovil Vanniyanar post was integrated into President post. Hence, Thirukkovil Temple could maintain its position as "Tecathuk Kovil" with the homage of the Tamil inhabitants of Southern Batticaloa - known as Ampara District today. They still praise the guardian deity at Thirukkovil and celebrate his Mega fiesta "tīrttam" Festival annually with full of devotion and harmony.
See also
- Thambiluvil Inscription
- Batticaloa Territory
- History of Eastern Tamils
- Thirukkovil
- Thambiluvil
- Thambiluvil Sri Kannaki amman temple
References
- ISBN 9780521241458.
- ^ University of Sri Lanka (1970). "The Ceylon Journal of the Humanities". The Ceylon Journal of the Humanities. 1–2: 133.
- ISBN 9780822349822.
- ^ a b c d e V.C.Kandiah (1983). Maṭṭakkaḷappu caivak kōvilkaḷ, Vol I. Batticaloa: Ministry of Regional development, Hindu religious, Hindu cultural and Tamil affairs, Sri Lanka. pp. 49–64.
- ^ ISBN 978-955-9233-31-2.
- ^ ISBN 9559429663.
- ISBN 9789558733974.
- ^ "Pagood Tricoil at Dutch Ceylon map, 17th Century CE". Kaart van de Hooft-Fortificatien van Colombo, Jaffanapatnam, Gale en Batacalo, alsmede van de subalterne of mindere forten, onder voorgenoemde plaatsen behorende, en die aan Zee gelegen zyn. Nationaal archief of Nederlaands. Retrieved 9 August 2017.
- ^ "Tirukkovil Citra Velayudha Swami Kovil". Kataragama.org. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
- ^ James Cardiner (1807). A Description of Ceylon Vol. II. Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme. p. 137.
- ^ Jacob Burnand (1794) "Memorial Compiled By Late Chief Jacob Burnand for his scuccessor Johannas Philippus Wambeek" p.284
- ^ Sahadevarajah, V T. "Āṭi'aṭaṅkiya ātmākkaḷukkāṉa āṭi'amāvācait tīrttam (Tamil)". Thinakkathir.com. Thinakkathir Website. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ Donald Ferguson,(1998) "The Earliest Dutch Visits to Ceylon", pp.112,113
- ^ Nur Yalman (1967) "Under the Bo Tree", pp.326,327
- ^ Dennis B.McGilvray, (2008) Crucible of Conflict
- ISBN 978-1848130463.