| Thirukkovil Temple | |
|---|---|
திருக்கோவில் Thirukkovil Arulmigu Citra Velayudha Swami Aalayam | |
 Front view of temple | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Ampara |
| Province | Eastern |
| Deity | Sithiravelayuthar (hisVel) |
| Festivals | Utsava andŚrāddha centered onAadiAmavasai |
| Location | |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
  Location in Sri Lanka | |
| Coordinates | 7°7′6″N81°51′22″E / 7.11833°N 81.85611°E /7.11833; 81.85611 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Tamil architecture |
| Inscriptions | Thambiluvil Inscription |
Thirukkovil Temple (officiallyThirukkovil Citra Velayudha Swami Kovil,Tamil:திருக்கோவில் சித்திரவேலாயுத சுவாமி ஆலயம்) is the most significantHindu temple inThirukkovil,Ampara District ofEastern Province, Sri Lanka.[1][2][3] It is dedicated toChitravelayudhar (Cittiravēlāyutar, literally "One with elegant spear") who was once the guardian deity ofMattakkalappu Desam (Batti -Ampara districts nowadays) and this temple enjoyed the honor ofDesathukkovil (Tēcattukkōvil, royal temple) of theBatticaloa region.[4] Archaeological and historical evidences suggest thatCholan,Kotte andKandyan kings maintained strong relations with this temple in the past.[5]
Kovil is the Tamil equivalent of shrine or temple. AllHindu temples inTamil Speaking region are generally known as Thirukkovils adding the prefix 'Thiru' which means great or sacred. The inhabitants of Eastern Sri Lanka praise that it is unusual to apply the sacred term "Thirukkovil" to not only a specific temple but to its whereabout too.[4]"Mattakkalappu Purva charithiram", the 18th century CE Tamil chronicle of Eastern Sri Lanka, narrates thatNagarmunaiSubramanya Kovil was the first temple initially constructed inagamic tradition at Batticaloa region and it was subsequently known as "Thirukkovil" (prominent temple).[6]
The old nameNagarmunai is interpreted as it was one of the ancient settlements ofNaga tribe of ancient Sri Lanka.[7] Another name indicating Thirukkovil,Kaṇṭapāṇantuṟai, is also mentioned in Purva Charithiram manuscript.
Kalinga King Bhuvaneka Gajabahu and his wifeCholan princess Thambathi Nallaal visitedBatticaloa region during their way toKatirkamam. Prasannajith, the kinglet of Batticaloa welcomed the royal couple and requested them to repair the chief temple of his country, Nagarmunai Subrahmanya Swami Kovil. Bhuvaneka Gajabahu sought the assistance of his father in law Thirucholan and constructed Nagarmunai Kovil with the chola immigrants sent by the same. He consecrated the temple and renamedThiukkovil since it was the first temple erected in agamic tradition in Batticaloa region. Prasannajith gifted his southern territory to Bhuvaneka Gajabahu as a reward for this marvelous construction. Gajabahu and his queen Thambathi Nallaal established a new kingdom known as 'Unnaasagiri' there. After a few years, their son Megavarnan, whose royal title was Manuneya Gajabahu reconstructed the temple in stone.[6]
There were many ladies andDevadasis providing their services in Thirukkovil. Thangammai was one among them and she was the aalaathipendu (lady doingaarti) of Thirukkovil. During her later life, She couldn't be at the temple on time for the service and temple administrators terminated her service as she was 80 years old then. She couldn't bear that pain of leaving lord Citravelyudhan and cried and yelled all the night in the temple. Next day morning no one could find Thangammai in the temple premises but miraculously there was an eight-year-old girl getting ready for aarti. Devotees and administrators surprised when she revealed herself she was none other than Thangammai.[4]
Though the origin of the Thirukkovil temple is uncertain, it is assumed that the temple was initially a small thatched hut worshipped byVedda and Naga tribes of this region.[4] It was later expanded and built according toagamic tradition during theChola rule in Sri Lanka (993-1070 CE). The deity here was venerated as the guardian deity of theBatticaloa region, ruled byVannimai chieftains, feudatory under theKandyan Kings. The stone inscriptions such asThambiluvil Inscription confirm that once this deity was revered by the kings such asVijayabahu VII of Kotte andRajasinha II ofKandy.[5] This temple has been substantially mentioned asThirukkovil Pagoda in the Dutch maps of Ceylon starting from 16th century CE.[8]
The temple was looted and destructed byPortuguese in the 1620s and it could only resurrect after two centuries.[9] However, the rituals and its state importance throughBatticaloa region were continued in its grievous period also. Thomas Christie, an Inspector of Hospitals ofBritish Ceylon describes the antiquity of Sanctum, the sculptures and chariot belonged to Thirukkovil during his journey toTangalle fromTrincomalee in 1802.[10]
Thirukkovil is usually referred asthesaththukkovil as well asthiruppadaikkovil. 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 andUkanthai. 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 ignoresKokkadichcholai from Thiruppataik Kovil list as it is aSivan 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 andNadukadupattu.[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 until the 1950s.
The structure of Sanctum is identified withPandyan architecture. Inscriptions and Segments of broken sandstone pillars can be observed in the courtyard around the temple. Two main inscriptions are preserved in a small room south to temple entrance. One of them -Thambiluvil Inscription found inThambiluvil Sri Kannaki amman temple tells about the donation of "Vovil" (probably an irrigation water source) by KingVijayabahu VII of Kotte kingdom (1507–1521) while the purpose of another inscription is unclear which is also donated by the same king.
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 onAadi month (July–August) of Tamil Hindu Calendar. Necrolatry carried out in the shore of Thirukkovil sea on anAadi 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]
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 toVellalar caste ofThambiluvil village played a main role in the administration while "வன்னியனார்" (Vaṉṉiyaṉār - former kinglet ofBatticaloa region) of Karavakupattu, belongs to Paṇikkaṉā matriclan ofMukkuvar caste supervised the rituals and other main activities of temple. Vaṇṇakkar is expected to be from Kantan kuty, one of the prominentmatriclans of Thambiluvil village. Karavaku Vanniyanar is identified in the name of "Kovil Vanniyanar" during his temple activities.
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 anotherThiruppadaikkovilKokkadichcholai.[14]
After the independence of the country, the reliability ofPaṇṭu 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 ofVannakkar, the inhabitants of Thirukkovil raised their voice for the right to rule their own temple.[15] And the old Mattakkalappu Desam divided de facto two new districts in 1961 - one remained in the same name while latter got the name "Amparai".[16] As the capital of newly formedBatticaloa District, Mamangam, another ancient temple situated nearPuliyantivu, which also celebrated its annual festival on Adi Amavasai, subsequently began to replace Thirukkovil in northern Batticaloa.[4] As the results of these facts, Vaṭṭārap piratinitis north to Kalmunai ignore their responsibilities on temple. At last, Thirukkovil lost its primitive state significance permanently.
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.
