NALLUR KANDASWAMY KOVIL

This large Hindu temple , the most visited in Jaffna, is dedicated to Murugan (also called Kârtikeya, Subrahmanya or Skanda), the god of war. He is the son of Shiva and Parvati, and the brother of Ganesh.

The original temple is said to have been built at this place, called Kurukal Valavu, in the year 948. After being destroyed once in 1450 during the invasion of King Shenpakaperumal (Sapumal Kumaraya), it was rebuilt between 1450 and 1467 at the site of the present St James Church, about 2.5 km to the south. It was then located close to the royal palace, in the heart of what was the capital of the Jaffna kingdom. In 1620, it was razed to the ground again by the Portuguese captain Filipe de Oliveira, who had a church built in its place. In 1734-1749, the temple was rebuilt in its present location with the permission of the Dutch conquerors. Many additions and modifications have been made since the construction of the temple. Most of them were initiated in the late 19th century by the 7th custodian of the temple, Arumuga Maapaana Mudallyar. He added a clock tower in 1899, and modified the main shrine in 1902, by having it paved with granite. A boundary wall was added in 1909. From 1964 onwards, the 10th custodian of the temple undertook numerous renovations and improvements which led to the Hindu temple becoming the largest in Sri Lanka. Today, the temple has 4 gopurams (ornate towers over the entrances), 6 clock towers and a fortified wall that gives the temple a citadel-like appearance. Recent modifications include the replacement of the front gate and the carved decoration of the pillars.

Pilgrims come here in large numbers to worship the idol and bring offerings. Priests and assistants also serve the temple in large numbers. As always in busy Hindu temples, the eagerness of the devotees, their devotion, is a spectacle in itself. Shoes must be removed before entering the temple and men must remove their shirts.

Major religious festivals. The Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil is the starting point for the annual Chariot Festival (or Nallur Festival) in July-August. This is a procession in which the deities are taken out of the temple and carried through the nearby streets, followed by thousands of pilgrims. The festival itself lasts 26 days and begins with a flag raising ceremony. Another important festival is Thai Pusam, which takes place in January-February.