The Five Easwaram
Pancha Easwaram
Pancha Eeswarans are Tamil temples built for Lord Shiva in five different directions in the present day landscape of the island of Sri Lanka.
These have been around since the time of Ravana and can be traced back to myths and histories.
- Munnesuram – Chilaw (West)
- Thirukkedicharam – Mannar (North West)
- Nakulecharam – Jaffna (North)
- Trincomalee – Trincomalee (East)
- Thondichcharam / Chandra Sekara Eecharam – Galle (South)
Munneswaram
Also known as Alageswaram. Five temples have been set up in the area. The most important and largest temple is the Shiva temple. There is also a Kali temple, a Ganesha temple and an Ayyanar temple. It was initially supported by Tamil Buddhists and now houses a Sinhala Buddhist temple.
This Kali temple is considered as one of the eighteen Shakti Peethas (the place where the pelvis fell).
Thiruketheeswaram
Located on the coast of Mannar district. At that time, the area was known as Mathottam, the most famous port area. It is a myth that Ketucharam was named after the place where Ketu was worshiped. One of the sites where the song was sung by Thiruna Sambandar Murthy Nair. In 1505, it was Demolished by Portuguese invaders. The temple was rebuilt in 1910. In 1952, Avani was consecrated. For two decades after 1990 it was imprisoned as a high security ring without beads. Worship is now going on again. However various occupations take place.
Naguleswaram
Located in the Keerimalai area of Jaffna, this temple has been very famous since the time of Ravana. The most important consecration took place in 1895. The temple was badly damaged by a massive fire in 1918. Kumbabisekam also took place in 1955 and 1973. It is noteworthy that pilgrims from many countries come here because of the faith of the Theertham here.
Thirukoneswaram
It is also one of the most popular song venues in Sri Lanka. Is a site closely associated with Ravana. This temple is located at the junction of Kurinji, Mullai and Neithal.
The fort was built by demolishing this hill with three great temples and demolishing it with the capture of the Portuguese. It is also known as South Kailayam, Thirukodam and Macheswaram.
Thondicharam
The temple known as Tennavaram, Thondicharam has now lost its identity as Mumaya.
The temple is well known for its beauty, influence and divinity to the extent that pilgrims from other countries such as Ibn Battuta came, visited, admired and wrote in their historical journals.
Another highlight of the Tennavaram Thondiswaram Temple is that it does not allow for vegan or Vaishnava
differences, but is common to all Hindus, with temples dedicated to both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu on the same premises.
It has now fully become the Vishnu temple of the Sinhalese. It is a roof temple built in the Sinhala cultural system. The portrait of Lord Vishnu inside the temple is painted in blue, Sinhala style and the walls of the temple are painted in blue.
Altogether these famines also lost their greatness, wealth and identity to the Portuguese. These could have been majestic with several thousand years of history if the Portuguese and other Western occupations had not occurred.
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