Thiruketheeswaram Temple

Ketheeswaram temple or Thiruketheeswaram Hindu Temple in Manner is one of the most venerated Hindu Temples in Sri Lanka located in Mannar District, Nothern Province of Sri Lanka.
This is also one of the five Pancha Ishwarams (five abodes of God Shiva) temples in Sri Lanka dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva. And also this temple was venerated by Shaivas throughout the continent. According to the Hindu natives of the Manthota, Thiruketheeswaram is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams of Shiva glorified in the poems of the Tevaram. It is believed that there is a direct link between Ketheeswaram Temple and the Ramayana trail in Sri Lanka.

According to the Ramayana Yatra Sri Lanka, this temple was built by Mayan, the king of Manthai who is also the father of Mandothari who was the wife of king Ravana. According to the Hindu legend, Maharishi Bhrigu worshipped Shiva at this shine. Another tradition also holds that the Hindu Planetary got Ketu worshipped shiva at this shine, thus this shine is named as Ketheeswaram. Visitors can be visited this Hindu temple during your Ramayana tour in Sri Lanka. There are approximately 50 plus Ramayana sites in Sri Lanka including the Ketheeswaram temple in Mannar.

This has been laid in ruins, restored, renovated and enlarged by various royal people and devoted throughout its history. This has been proved by overlooking the ancient period of Tamil port towns of Manthai and Kudiramalai. Throughout history, it is stated that this temple has been administered and frequented by Sri Lankan Hindu Tamils.
Some ancient places including the famous tank, Palavi tank were restored from the ruins. Palavi tank is considered one of the most spiritual ones by Hindu devotees.
This temple is an ancient Dravidian architectural design. This is a Sri Lankan Hindu temple with two and a half millennia-long traditions as a place of worship for shiva. But it has the earliest reference of 6th century BC and was reconstructed latest in 1903 AD after the destruction by Portuguese invaders and religious fanatics in 1575.

At present, the temple has been renovated well and the colourful Gopuram of the temple attracts everyone’s eye. many Hindus and natives visit this temple to worship and carry out the traditional pooja for their Lord.