The much revered Munneswaram Temple is a significant complex of Hindu temples which is much venerated by its devotees. This shrine complex is well-established as it has existed for many centuries; according to records the shrines have existed since the 11th century. The location where it stands is also thought to have been mentioned in the great Hindu epic, the Ramayana.
The temple compound features an array of no less than five shrines in close proximity to each other, including one dedicated to the Buddhist faith. Of these pride of place goes to the temple devoted to Shiva, which is the largest and most prestigious. This shrine is the most revered by Hindu devotees. The remaining shrines are dedicated to Ayyanayake, Kali and Ganesha. Interestingly the temple dedicated to Kali is also popular amongst adherents of other faiths, such as Buddhists and Catholics. In fact in modern times the majority of visitors to the complex are those of the Buddhist Sinhala ethnicity who form the majority of the population in the country. On the other hand the officials of the temples who hail from hereditary families are, with the exception of the administrators of the Buddhist and Ayyanayake temples, from the Hindu Tamil minority.
The principal festivals which are observed at the temples are the Hindu celebrations of Sivarathri and Navarathri. Of these the former is an occasion of a single night, honouring Lord Shiva. On the other hand Navarathri is a special nine-day celebration which honours the resident goddess. Additionally there is another local celebration, the Munneswaram Festival which is a month-long festival attracting Hindus, Catholics, Buddhists and Muslims.
The temple compound inherits an eventful and somewhat turbulent history. In the period of Portuguese colonization the colonialists destroyed the temple twice, handing it over to Jesuits. However each time the local faithful rebuilt the shrines which they revered. Visitors to the Munneswaram Temple complex will be enthralled by the unusual rituals and observances undertaken by the devotees.
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