The Visit to this Sri Somasundareswarar Temple also known as Kandy Katukale Selva Vinayagar Temple at Kandy, in Sri Lanka was a part of Sri Lanka’s ( Ezha Nadu ) Paadal Petra sthalangal Visit scheduled on 28th November to 2nd December 2013. Utilising this opportunity, we have Visited some, Shiva, Murugan, Amman Temples and Epic Ramayan associated sites of Sri Lanka.
Moolavar : Sri Soma Sundareswarar
Consort : Sri Meenakshi
The important features of this temple are….
The temple is facing east with a 5 tier Rajagopuram. Balipeedam, Dwajasthambam and Rishabam are after the rajagopuram. Moolavar, Shiva Lingam is of Pancha ( 5 - Five ) mukha. In koshtam Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar, Brahma and Durgai.
In the inner prakaram Bhadrakali Amman, Nalvar, Kalyana Venkatesa Perumal, Maha Ganapathy, Somasundarar, Rajarajeswari ( Urchavar), Kasi Viswanathar, Visalakshi, Pancha Lingam, Maha Lakshmi, Arumuga Swamy, Navagrahas ( In sitting posture) and Thillai Chitsaba.
In Mandapam sannidhi for Dhandayuthapani, Selva Vinayagar, Panchamuga Vinayagar, Meenakshi Ambal and Palliyarai. Paintings of Vinayagars are in the mandapam.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of sanctum sanctorum, antarala and ardha mandapam. The adhistanam is aof simple padabandha adhistanam with Jagathy, Three patta kumudam and Pattigai. The Bhitti starts with Vedhika and the pilasters are of Vishnu kantha pilasters with square base, naga bandham, kalasam, kudam, mandi palagai and Poo mottu pothyal. A 2 tier Vesara Vimanam is on the sanctum sanctorum. The Koshatas of sala type.
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
As per history ( Legend ), in 1815, Kandy Kingdom king VikramaRajasingan and his wife worshiped in this temple. Hence, the original temple was dedicated to Shiva and the Vinayagar was installed during 20th Century. From Vikramarajasingan period ( 1747 – 1784 ), the Vinayagar was taken in procession to Sri Dalada Maligawa, Buddhist temple on the last day of the procession and the Priest will do pooja. Do not know whether this practice is still being followed or not.
The temple and mandapam are built with stone by Devakottai AR. L Vagai Nattukottai Chettiars. The First Chettiar was Na(gap)pan Chettiar. The temple was managed by his descendents till 1938. The temple was considered as a private temple. From 1938, a Trust was formed to look after the temple with trustees V Krishnamurthy, Mohan Nagalingam, Siva Subramaniam and P Palaniappan. From 1968, Mr Doraisamy Pillai, Ka Sellamuthu and P L Andiappan had become trustees. It was understood there is a legal dispute in the trustees.
Maha Shivaratri festival was started since 1967.
In September 1983, a fine arts institute was opened to teach Dancing and music. The students participate out side events too.
It was told that Vinayagar Utsava murti was taken to the Kandy. Maha Kumbhabhishekam was conducted in the years 1988, 2000 and on 10th May 2019. The 5 tier Rajagopuram was built during 2000.
LEGENDS
After the Kandy kingdom was taken over by the British, Nattukottai nagarathar came to this place to do trade. They used to take bath in a pool / tank in that area and washing their clothes beating on a polished stone. Initially one of the Chettiar thought, the stone might have got polished due to continuous beating of clothes. The Chettiar with a curiosity turned the stone and found it as Vinayagar / Ganesha. With the permission of British, the Chettiar constructed a temple and named as Selva Vinayagar Temple.
In another legend, the Vinayagar came in the dream of the Chettiar and complained that a washermen’s are beating on his back. The Chettiar took the Vinayagar and constructed a temple.
In another Legend, a person called Gurusamy from South India came to Sri Lanka for worshiping Shiva Temples and settled in Kandy. Vinayagar came in the dream of Gurusamy and told that he is on the banks of a tanks and is being was used for washing clothes, by the washermen. And asked him to install in this Shiva temple. With the help of Villagers Gurusamy moved Vinayagar to this temple and installed. Latter a temple was constructed by the sthapathis Sellakkannu Mahizhavan.
POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Pradosham, Maha Shivaratri, Vinayagar Chaturthi, Arudra Darshan days,Navaratri festival, etc,. A 11 Days Panguni Uthiram festival will be conducted in the Tamil Month Panguni and Theerthavari will be held at river Thannakumbara Mahavali Ganga on the 10th day, followed by Thirukalyanam.
TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept opened between 07.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 21.00 hrs
CONTACT DETAILS
The temple may be contacted on Land lines +94 81 222 2677 / +94 81 447 0982, for further details.
HOW TO REACH
The temple is 1.7 KM from Kandy Railway station, 24 KM from Matale, 73 KM from Dambulla, 135 KM from Colombo and 151 KM from Anuradhapura.
Nearest Railway station is Kandy.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE
--- OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---
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