The Visit to Sri Muthumari Amman
Kovil, at Matale in Sri Lanka was a part of Sri Lanka’s ( Ezha Nadu ) Paadal Petra sthalangal Visit scheduled between 28th November to 2nd December 2013. Utilizing
this opportunity, we have Visited some, Shiva, Murugan, and Amman Temples, and Epic
Ramayan-associated sites of Sri Lanka.
Presiding Deity: Sri Muthumariamman Temple.
Some of the salient features of this
temple are...
The temple faces north with a 9-tier Rajagopuram. There are two more 3-tiers Rajagopuram in the east and
west directions. There is a dome-type mandapam in front of the west side of Rajagopuram. Stucco images of Amman are around the parapet walls of the
temple. Kambathadi Vinayagar, Dwajasthambam with villi/Silver kavacham,
Balipeedam, and vahanam Simham are in front of the sanctum sanctorum. Dwarapalakas
are on both sides of the sanctum sanctorum. Amman is in a sitting posture holding a
Trishul in the right hand.
The inside is completely covered as a
mandapam. Apart from the presiding deity, stucco images of various forms of
Amman, Saraswati Durga, Maha Lakshmi, Kazhumaram, Nava kandam, Santhana
Gopalar, Nataraja with Sivagami, Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasu
Swamigal, Manickavasagar, Utsava Idols, Navagrahas, Bairavar, Anjaneyar/Hanuman, Ramar, Sita and Lakshmana, Somakandheswarar, A sacred tree, Vinayagar
(with 5 faces – pancha mukha ), Sri Valli Devasena Shanmuganathar with 6 heads&
12 hands, Maha Vishnu in reclining posture on Adiseshan, Brahma, Sridevi and
BhuDevi.
ARCHITECTURE
The Temple consists of sanctum
sanctorum and a common Hall to
accommodate various Utsavars and Stucco images. The north side Rajagopuram is
of 32 meters (108 feet) tall with stucco images of Amman’s various forms,
Saivam and Vaishnavam-related Puranas and epics. The Ceiling of the inner
mandapam is drawn with paint related to various Puranas. The pillars of the inside mandapam
have various images and are painted colorfully. There are about 1008 stucco
images in this temple.
A Kalyana mandapam, office, and staff
quarters are constructed on the south side of the temple.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The history of the temple goes like
this. During British rule, Tamil people from India were brought to Sri
Lanka to work in the Tea Estates with heavy workload. People were accommodated
in a cramped shelter. Due to unhygienic conditions, people got measles. Then
they worshiped Muthumariamman and got cured. As a part of thanksgiving for
relieving the disease, they constructed this temple and expanded it later.
This temple land was originally part of a paddy field, gifted by the owner in 1852 CE. Amman was under a tree. A
New temple was constructed on the gifted land in 1874 CE by Nattukottai
Nagarathars. (Karuppannar).
During the July 1983, anti–tamil riots
the temple was damaged certain extent the same was restored.
The east Rajagopuram was built and
maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted on 20th January 2011. Most of the Stucco images are done by Tamil
Nadu Mamallapuram Sthapathis. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was performed in 2013.
The Stucco images are done by
Sthapathis R Nagalingam and his son Ramanathan.
LEGENDS
As per the legend, a Cute Little
Girl wearing a beautiful dress, was found in the premises of the temple. On the
next day, the dress worn by the little Girl was alone found. On the same night, She came in the dream of one Mr Nallamuthu to construct a Temple for her and
identified her as Pattini. The original temple was built on the same spot where
the present temple exists.
It is believed that Muthumariamman
will cure smallpox and chickenpox. People also pray for child boon and safe
delivery.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas special
poojas are conducted on all Hindu festival days like Tamil New Year, Aadi month
Fridays, Deepavali, Navaratri, etc,.
The annual festival will be celebrated
in a grand manner with a car/chariot procession during the month of Feb –
March. During that time devotees used to offer, what they had prayed to
Muthumariamman, similar to Trichy Samayapuram Mariamman temple.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple kept open between 06.30
hrs to 13.00 hrs and 16.30 hrs to 21.00 hrs
CONTACT DETAILS
HOW TO REACH
The temple is about 2.4 km from
Matale Railway Station, 27 km from Kandy, 47 km from Dambulla, 113 km from Anuradhapura, 144 km from Colombo.
The nearest Railway station is
Matale.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE:
CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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