Vattappalai Kannaki Amman Kovil
Vattapalai Kannagi Amman Thirukkovil (also known as Vatrapalai Kannagi Amman Temple) is an ancient Shaivaite and Shaktism-related Hindu temple located in the Mullaitivu District of Northern Sri Lanka. The temple's folklore is connected to the later stories of Kannagi, a legendary Tamil woman who, after leaving the Pandya capital Madurai, traveled to Kerala and eventually arrived in the prosperous land of Sri Lanka. Vatrapalai is an important Kannagi pilgrimage site in Sri Lanka, second only to the Mangala Devi Kannagi Kovil in Kerala.[1][2]
According to belief, Kannagi appeared in the land of Vatrapalai on the first Monday of the Tamil month of Vaikasi. To this day, an annual Pongal festival is held on this date, during which a sea water lamp is lit. Miraculously, this lamp is said to burn continuously since that time. Both Sinhalese and Tamils participate in this festival to witness the miracle each year.[3][4]
| Vattapalai Kannagi Amman Kovil | |
|---|---|
வற்றாப்பளை கண்ணகி அம்மன் திருக்கோவில் වට්ටාප්පලෛ පත්තිනි අම්මන් දේවස්ථානය | |
 Vattappalai Kannaki Amman Kovil During Annual Vaikasi Pongal | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Mullaitivu |
| Province | Northern Province |
| Deity | Kannagi Paththini |
| Festival | Pongal Festival of The Tamil Month Vaikasi Thingal |
| Governing body | Vattapalai Kannagi Amman Niruvaga Sabha Maritimepattu Pradeshiya Sabha |
| Features |
|
| Location | |
| Location | Vattappalai |
| Country |  Sri Lanka |
  Shown within Northern Province  Vattappalai Kannaki Amman Kovil (Sri Lanka) | |
| Geographic coordinates | 9°14′56″N 80°47′26″E / 9.24889°N 80.79056°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Hindu Temple |
| Style | Tamil Architecture |
| Direction of façade | East |
Location[edit]
The Vattapalai Kannagi Amman Temple is located on the shores of the Nandikadal Lagoon in the Mullaitivu District. While there is no direct railway connection from other districts to Mullaitivu, the temple is accessible by buses and other road vehicles. Situated on the main A34 road, at the intersection with the B260, the temple becomes particularly accessible during the annual Pongal festival in the month of Vaikasi, when special buses are operated by both government and private services from across the island. The temple is 8.7 km southwest of the main Mullaitivu District capital.[5]
History[edit]
According to mythology, it is believed that the goddess Kannagi arrived in Sri Lanka and stayed in twenty different locations after burning the Madurai Kingdom in anger. This event, as described in the historic epic Cilappatikaram, occurred because Kannagi did not receive justice for her husband Kovalan's wrongful execution. Historically, the final location where Kannagi stayed is widely acknowledged to be Vattappalai.[2]
The origin story of the Vattappalai Kannaki Amman Kovil is rooted in local legend. It is said that an old woman once visited the eastern part of Vattappalai village, seeking rest after a long journey. A group of children tending cattle noticed the old woman and approached her to inquire about her well-being. The children prepared pongal, a traditional dish, and offered it to her. The old woman revealed that she was from the Chola Empire and instructed the children to worship her, especially during the festival of Vaikasi Visakham (Vaisakha), and to prepare pongal on such occasions. She then mysteriously disappeared. It was later believed that this old woman was the goddess Amman in disguise. The children spread the news throughout the village, leading the community to build the kovil, which is known today as the Vattappalai Kannaki Amman Kovil.[6][7]
In the 1st Century AD, Gajabahu I of Anuradhapura participated in the grand inauguration of the Mangala Devi Kannagi Temple in Kerala, India, alongside Cheran Chenguttuvan, the King of Cheralam (modern-day Kerala). He introduced the worship of Kannagi, known as Paththini in Buddhism, to Sri Lanka and expressed his desire to construct a temple dedicated to her. Upon learning about the Vatrapalai Temple, he journeyed there, and throughout his life, he visited many of the holiest sites associated with Kannagi in Sri Lanka. Following his visit, the Sinhalese also adopted the tradition of pilgrimage to the Vatrapalai Temple. During the annual Pongal festival, both Sinhalese and Tamils partake in the customary rituals, showcasing the shared cultural significance of Kannagi's legacy.
Rituals[edit]
In the Tamil calendar, the month of Vaikashi heralds significant cultural festivities, typically beginning in mid-May according to the Gregorian calendar. Amidst the myriad of customs and traditions observed during this period, one of the most deeply revered is the celebration of Pongal in Vattapalai. This event holds immense importance within Tamil culture, serving as a beacon of tradition and communal unity.
The preparations for Pongal in Vattapalai unfold with meticulous planning and fervent devotion, commencing not just on the auspicious Monday of Vaikasi but also weeks prior. The anticipation builds as communities near the Kaatu Pillaiyar temple, a sacred site steeped in historical significance and revered for its sanctity. Here, amidst the serene surroundings, a grand procession takes shape, characterized by vibrant colors, resonant traditional music, and the palpable energy of the participants.
Central to the procession's significance is the symbolic pot, meticulously balanced atop the head of a chosen individual, symbolizing abundance, fertility, and prosperity. As the procession wends its way towards the tranquil Nandikadal Lagoon, resonant chants and hymns fill the air, invoking blessings and divine grace upon the participants and their community. Along the journey, a Pusari, distinguished by their spiritual authority, leads the congregation in ancient rituals, drawing inspiration from the verses of the Silapathikaram, a masterpiece penned by the esteemed King Ilango Adigal.
Upon reaching the shores of the Nandikadal Lagoon, a site steeped in myth and legend, the culmination of the procession unfolds in a series of solemn ceremonies. Here, amidst the gentle lapping of the waves, the chosen individual bearing the pot immerses both themselves and the vessel thrice in the crystalline waters, symbolizing purification, rejuvenation, and the renewal of life's blessings. Each immersion is accompanied by fervent prayers and invocations, beseeching blessings for the community and its inhabitants for the days and years to come.
Places Visited by Kannagi in Sri Lanka[edit]
After Kannagi from Ancient Tamilakam entered the ancient Sri Lankan kingdom, she visited 20 significant places, primarily located on the east coast. After her journey, she returned to Vatrapalai, where she was taken to heaven. These 20 places are regarded as the holiest sites associated with Kannagi by both Sinhalese and Tamils. The Sinhalese honor her as Pathini Deiyo. Even many Sinhala Buddhist kings visited these temples, paid homage, and some even sang hymns in Tamil, similar to the Nayanars of Tamil Nadu. Today, despite religious and ethnic differences, she is revered as a guardian deity by both Tamils and Sinhalese.
References[edit]
- ^ "உப்பு நீரில் விளக்கேற்றும் அரிய காட்சி - பக்தர்கள் புடைசூழ, சிறப்பாக இடம்பெற்ற தீர்த்தம் எடுத்தல் உற்சவம் - ஐபிசி தமிழ்". IBC Tamil (in Tamil). Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ a b "வற்றாப்பளை கண்ணகி அம்மன் ஆலய உப்பு நீரில் விளக்கெரியும் கண்கொள்ளா காட்சி - ஐபிசி தமிழ்". IBC Tamil (in Tamil). Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "Kannaki Amman pongal celebrated in Mullaitivu under military surveillance | Tamil Guardian". www.tamilguardian.com. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "The annual festival of the Vattapalai Kovil in Mullativu where lamps are lit using sea water, begins (photos)". Hiru News. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "Vattrāppalai Kannaki Amman Kōvil - Attraction in Mullaitivu - 2024 tourism guide". Discover Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2024-05-19.
- ^ மலர், மாலை (2021-04-24). "முள்ளியவளை வற்றாப்பளை கண்ணகி அம்மன் கோவில்". www.maalaimalar.com (in Tamil). Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ admin (2021-02-11). "வற்றாப்பளை கண்ணகி அம்மன் ஆலய வரலாறு! ரதிகலா புவனேந்திரன்". Global Tamil News. Retrieved 2024-02-11.