SRI MUNNESWARAM DEVASTHANAM

The temple of Munneswaram is dedicated to Shiva. This high place of Hindu worship has beautiful vestiges dating from the 14th century and deserves a visit for its atmosphere charged with mystery. The temple would exist since the year 1000 and it gathers the Hindu minority of the area. The complex actually houses 5 separate temples, earning it the title of Pancha Ishwaram (panch

meaning 5 in Hindi). The main temple, the largest, is dedicated to Shiva, while the others are dedicated to Ganesh (the elephant god), Aiyyanar (the village guardian god) and Kali (the goddess of destruction). The fifth temple is a Buddhist temple. Different myths exist among the communities. According to a Tamil Hindu legend, the temple is located at a place where King Rama of Ayodhya (India), the hero of the Ramayana epic, prayed to Shiva after his battle with the demon king Ravana of Lanka. According to Sinhalese myths, the deity Kali landed from India in the city of Chilaw, before taking up residence in the temple of Munneswaram. Since then the place is associated with witchcraft in the popular consciousness.

The temple was destroyed twice by the Portuguese settlers who gave the place to the Jesuits. They built a chapel on the foundations of the temple. But each time, the faithful rebuilt the temple.

It is here that the Munneswaram Festival is held annually between August and September for 4 weeks, bringing together thousands of Hindu and Buddhist devotees.