temple temple tamil important regional hindu temple complex sri_lanka existence myths surrounding temple associate popular indian epic legendary hero king temple ancient dedicated region temple complex collection temples including buddhist temple central temple dedicated prestigious biggest popular temples dedicated temple popular frequent complex century temples complex belong majority buddhist ethnic group temples excluding buddhist temple administered families belonging minority temple located village mixed tamil population situated historic tamil division region main temple owns extensive property surrounding villages ownership affirmed region medieval temple destroyed twice portuguese colonial officers handed properties built catholic chapel temple foundation locals reconstructed temple times religious demographic change late 18th century surrounding villages towns directly associated temple administration maintenance villages associated organizing main temple festival main festivals celebrated temple include day long festival honour presiding goddess overnight observation honour lord addition hindu festivals temple festival festival week long event attended history temple situated center spiritual religious life people dwelling medieval administrative division called division temple existence villages provided political leadership belonged bigger medieval division called ruled semi independent tamil chiefs subject kingdoms presiding deity called lord antiquity ancient roots goddess called goddess beautiful form mother goddess temple historically associated nearby fishing town landed gentry surrounding villages provided resources maintain temple proximity trading routes port provided opportunity transmission ideas people india sri_lanka temples dedicated higher hindu buddhist deities village guardian deities speculates main temple minor shrine dedicated village guardian deity transformed major temple royal patronage temple established temple 11th century issued coins temple began patronage chiefs probably constructed early 10th century ferry transported traders pilgrims temple kingdoms stopping kingdom sailing 14th century temple historically attested grants local literature temple popular shrine associated animal sacrifices spirit possession spirit possession noted jesuit priests left records 16th century temple dedicated deity administered local family buddhist temple century addition temple located south west main temple newest hindu temples built early 19th century india forms ancient temples dedicated region including sri_lanka renovation destruction renovation known reconstruction temple recorded grant grant script sanskrit thirty eighth year summoned chief priest temple reaffirmed lands belonged temple villages mentioned belonging temple revenue land grant exempt tax grant inscribed granite slab installed renovated temple conquest kingdom military leader sent king celebrated message carried bird written 15th century principal monk book contains contemporary description country traversed road taken bird referred south beautiful city mentions temple second set grants recorded king donated extensive lands temple recorded deed copper plate inscription destruction portuguese arrival sri_lanka began campaign forced conversion destruction buddhist hindu temples island destroyed temple completely exception basement core building roman catholic chapel recorded iron bars destroy presiding deity according portuguese records able convert people village roman catholics locals temple administrators able hide idols temple complex destruction reconstruction following destruction area came control expanding led king continuously harassed portuguese reign rebuilt temple continuous conflict area temple proper cultivation lands abandoned irrigation tanks provided water cultivation fell portuguese destroyed temple early 17th century temple rebuilt local people nominally usage superstructure rebuilt silver work art displaying affinity architecture ceremonies performed year performance daily special rites temple grant lands priests recorded copper plate myths myths associated temple dated vary different religious ethnic groups set myths deals creation temple deals reconstruction efforts temple primarily temple according tamil legend temple situated place king india hero epic prayed war demon king identified sri_lanka hail outside primarily goddess temple currently associated popular place myths place deity landed india legend female deity prevented human beings settle myth current says temple renovated legendary king according myth king afflicted skin disease cured taking bath ruined temple holy pond following miracle king went temple created community temple maintain temple equivalent myth people indicates king king prayed presiding goddess cured kings called sri_lanka involved actual renovations temple seven kings named making difficult identify right king modern temple recorded temple festival attracted thousands people surrounding 1870s temple abandoned reasons causes conversion land plantations farming village hardly people entire people villages temple properties longer cultivated tanks maintained population surviving slash burn agriculture british colonial policies favored conversion lands lucrative plantations quickly covering suitable lands establishments large scale plantations led population increase migration settlement plantation workers interior country led demographic change local people temple administration villagers village filed case district courts prevent land grab temple properties outsiders case resulted british colonial government accepting temple properties belonging newly created temple trust trust came control family maintains hereditary position temple controls temple properties tamil family village controls position temple temple renovated personal efforts improvements effected public support temple popular pilgrims temples temple layout presiding deity installed form temple architectural details conform written hindu scriptures known temple faces east pathways sacred pond situated temple tree stands main structure largest sri_lanka temple surrounded temples southeast shrine dedicated temple dedicated buddhist deity situated northeast corner temple popular temple dedicated stands northern southwest outer courtyard temple dedicated temple dedicated planets saints aspects center cult according cult reached sri_lanka temples prior 12th century buddhist population came village demon 12th century known hindu temple shrine popular myth landing town residing temple popular place visit purposes early 1970s majority visitors purposes 1990s half visiting temple general purposes demonstrating transformation deity mother goddess completely overtaken previously popular 1960s number buddhist dedicated sprung island especially urban areas managed priests trance specialists act deity possessed deity popular previously hindu deities identified hindu fundamentally altered rational nature personal deity aspect following protests buddhist monks animal rights activist government banned age old custom animal sacrifices temple festivals temple known celebration functions days dedicated aspects presiding goddess dedicated functions primarily attract temple annual festival important temple calendar attracts catholics muslims 1830s festival lasted days 1960s lasts days months august september festival begins temple flag followed days internal temple conducted outer pathways temple day festival images presiding consort goddess temple local village deity temples festivals coincide annual festival villagers belonging sponsor day day festival visit temple attend daily offerings erected outside sale food drink pottery cloth holy images penultimate day festival procession image goddess placed huge wooden pulled temple final day festival large drawn local river holy bath ceremony images river time thousands jump river holy bath procession goes temple route accompanied traditional musicians procession passes temples prior entering main temple
Munneswaram temple