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| Naguleswaram temple | |
|---|---|
 The ancient gopuram of the Keerimalai Naguleswaram Kovil | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Jaffna District |
| Province | Northern |
| Deity | Shiva |
| Location | |
| Location | Keerimalai,Kankesanturai |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
  Location in Sri Lanka | |
| Geographic coordinates | 9°49′0″N80°0′0″E / 9.81667°N 80.00000°E /9.81667; 80.00000 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Dravidian architecture |
| Completed | 6th century BCE[1] |
Keerimalai Naguleswaram temple (Tamil:கீரிமலை நகுலேஸ்வரம் கோயில்), historically known also as theThirutambaleswaram Kovil of Keerimalai, is a famousHindu temple inKeerimalai, located north ofJaffna,Northern Province,Sri Lanka in the suburb ofKankesanthurai. One of the oldest shrines of the region, it is the northernmost of the island'sPancha Ishwarams ofSiva, venerated bySri Lankan Tamil Hindus around the world fromclassical antiquity. Hindus believe its adjacent water tank, theKeerimalai Springs, to have curative properties, which irrigation studies attribute to highmineral content sourced from underground.
Keerimalai is 50 feet above sea level, and situated west ofPalaly. Hindus flock in large numbers onAadi Amaavaasai day which falls during the Tamil month ofAadi, to carry out rituals for their forefathers and bathe in the natural springs. Carried out largely by men, “Keerimalai” is particularly famous for this festival.
The temple was largely destroyed by Jesuit missionaries following thePortuguese conquest of the Jaffna kingdom, restored byArumuka Navalar in 1894, was occupied by theSri Lankan Army in 1983 and bombed by theSri Lankan Air Force in 1993. After nearly twenty years, a major expansion and reopening of the temple occurred in 2012.
Keeri in Tamil andnagula inSanskrit mean "mongoose".Keeri-malai in Tamil means "Mongoose-Hill". The temple is situated adjacent to the mineral water springs. The legendary sageNagula Muni, shrunk by age and austerity while meditating at a cave in Keerimalai was likened to mongooses that frequented the area. The sage bathed in the springs and was cured of his mongoose face. In gratitude, Nagula Muni constructed a small shrine and worshipped theLingam enshrined there. This became known as the Thirutambaleswaram Kovil of Keerimalai and also the Naguleswaram Kovil of Keerimalai alluding to the sage.[2]
Naguleswaram temple of Kankesanthurai was restored during the reign ofPrince Vijaya ofVanga (543-505 BCE). One of the oldest shrines of the region, it is the northernmost shrine on the island of thePancha Ishwarams of LordSiva, venerated by Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus around the world from classical antiquity.[3] Its adjacentwater tank, the Keerimalai Springs attribution to curative properties has been related in irrigation scientific studies to its high mineral content, sourced from underground.[4][3]
ThePandyan-Cholan princessMaruthapura Veeravalli built theMaviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple two miles from Naguleswaram in 785 CE after she was cured of her facial disfigurement at the Keerimalai springs, and later married the KingUkkira Singhan a scion of Vijaya's dynasty, at the temple's springs.[2]Eliandurvan, one of the four brothers of theMukkuvar kingVedi Arasan ruled at Keerimalai.[2]
"Maasi Magam" and "Aadi Amaavaasai" festival days, the latter falling during theTamil month of "Aadi" (mid July-mid August) brings Hindu pilgrims to the town to carry out rituals for their forefathers and take a divine dip in thenatural springs. These rituals are usually carried out by men. Keerimalai is particularly famous for this festival.[3] The newmoon or Amaavasai is a significant day, and according to Tamil astrologers, in the month of Aadi, the moon is in the ascendant in Kataka rasi, which is occupied by theSun; this concurrence is reminiscent of Siva and Sakthi in Hinduism. Hence, there is special significance of Aadi Amavaasai as a day when children remember their departed parents, notably their late fathers. It is customary for them to perform ablutions, offer prayers to the departed souls with the help of a priest (Dharpanam) and attend a temple of Siva. In Sri Lanka, Keerimalai Naguleswaram temple continues as the foremost shrine for Aadi amavaasai.
Dakshina Kailasa Puranam, a Sanskrit treatise on another Pancha Ishwaram,Koneswaram ofTrincomalee, recalls events in the Naguleswaram shrine. On Saivism in the 6th century, theSuta Samhita of theSkanda Puranam mentions Naguleswaram as among ancient sites of pilgrimage.Arab navigators spread the wonders of the temple's springs to the West, andJames Emerson Tennent, citing Lane'sArabian Nights elaborates on Keerimalai as the site of the shipwreck ofSinbad the Sailor during his sixth voyage, where he collectedpearls,hyacinth andambergris.Arjuna of theMahabharata fell in love with the Nagakanya (daughter of the Naga king)Ulupi, who bore them a son,Iravan.[2]
Following destruction by thePortuguese in 1621, Naguleswaram's Brahmin priests hid the main icons in a well before fleeing, which were since recovered.
After a gap of almost 400 years in 1894 ACE, localSri Lankan Tamil Hindu people of under the urging of Hindu reformerArumuka Navalar came together and built the present temple. However the temple was destroyed by fire in 1918 and had to be rebuilt.
In 1983, the temple was occupied by theSri Lankan army and devotees and priests were unable to visit the premises without special permits. At 16:00 on 16 October 1990, theSri Lankan Air Force dropped three bombs at Naguleswaram. The first fell on the front of the temple destroying two temple chariots and other buildings, the second bomb fell on the southern courtyard of the temple destroying the premises of the priest. Two days later, on 18 October at 14:30, the Sri Lankan Air Force returned and bombed the temple during the Kedara Gowri fast when thousands of devotees were present, killing 180 Tamil civilians, including 5 infants. Temple buildings, its ancient gopuram, the library housing palm leaf manuscripts and statues incurred substantial damage. The bombing was carried out despite the presence of temple identification flags at four corners of the temple, as instructed by theInternational Committee of the Red Cross. No access to the area was granted to devotees until 1997, when the Chief Priest was allowed to visit with an Additional GA of the Sri Lankan government. The temple was found to be ruins with the sacrediconsvandalized or missing. The temple was not restored.[5][6]
On Monday 6 February 2012, a major reconstruction of the temple was completed under the authority of the chief priest, Sivasri Naguleswara Kurukkal, and Naguleswaram's Mahakumbhabhishekam took place. It was a monumental event with thousands of devotees who came to pray and receive blessings.
