Aathi Koneswaram Temple in Sri Lanka: A Place of Worship
Aathi Koneswaram Temple in Sri Lanka is a regionally important Hindu temple located in the Thambalagamuwa village in the Trincomalee District. The name of the temple in Tamil means the "Temple of the Original Lord of Konesvaram". It is situated 24 kilometers from the town of Trincomalee. The temple was constructed during the 17th century in replacement to the Koneswaram temple (Temple of Thousand Pillars) that was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1622. Only the main Sanctorum remains of the original temple. The Gopuram or main entrance tower was added in 1953 and is one of the tallest in the region.
The temple is built of stone and is surrounded by two enclosed pathways. The presiding deity is Siva but there are important cults associated with the veneration of Pattini Amman and Kathirkaswami accommodated within the main premises as well. The temple also has minor shrines to Pulleyar, Navagraha, Murunkan, Valli and Tevayani. The daily services are held set according to scriptures along with an elaborate annual festival that involves Tamil and Sinhala devotees of Trincomalee district. There are also festivals that pertain to Pattini Amman and Kathirkaswami. As part of the Sri Lankan civil war, in the 1980s and 90's the village was deserted and the temple abandoned. Since 2004 residents of the village have returned and the temple has been restored.
Aathi Koneswaram Temple in Sri Lanka: The History
Aathi Koneswaram Temple in Sri Lanka is situated in the village of Thambalagamuwa that was part of the medieval semi-independent feudal division called Thambalagamuwa Pattu. Prior to the arrival of Portuguese in 1622 and then Dutch colonial overloads in 1656, leaders of the Thambalagamuwa Pattu and others around it were independent rulers. Thambalagamuwa is surrounded by lush paddy fields and was a prosperous settlement. The presiding deity is known as Ati Konanayakar and the consort as Hamsagamanambike; another name for Mother Goddess Amman. These names are significant of the original presiding deity of the Ko esvaram temple, Konesar and Annam Mennatai. The idol of the presiding deity is dated to the later Chola period (1070-1279 CE) and the consort to that of early Chola period based on the composition of metals and styles. The temple's name and the separate shrine to Ati Konanayakar allude to the tradition that this temple was built to accommodate the idols that were saved from the destruction of the Temple of Thousand Pillars in Trincomalee by the Portuguese colonial officers.
According to Tirukonasala Purana the temple was built with the help of
