Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Kovil
An ancient and important Murugan temple in the north with a tall carved gopuram, tied to a legend of a princess cured of a horse-like affliction, hence its name.
Near Kankesanthurai in the Jaffna District, close to the sacred Keerimalai springs, Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Temple traces its origins back to 789 AD, its very name carrying the story of its founding, Ma meaning horse, vitta meaning removed, puram meaning holy city, together translating roughly to the holy city where the horse face was removed. Legend holds that a South Indian Chola princess named Maruthapuraveegavalli was cursed by a sage whose meditation she had disturbed with laughter, her face transformed into that of a horse, until she traveled to Keerimalai, bathed in its healing waters, and worshipped Lord Skanda at this very site, her human face miraculously restored. In gratitude, her father, King Thissai Ukkirasinga Cholan, funded construction of the original temple, which grew into a genuinely grand complex featuring four towers facing all four directions and five separate outer processional paths.
That original grandeur didn't survive colonial conquest, the Portuguese destroyed the temple sometime between 1700 and 1800, dismantling much of the structure to supply building materials for their fort at nearby Kayts. The British later oversaw its rebuilding, and in 1795, sacred idols were brought from Chidambaram in South India for a formal consecration ceremony that reestablished full worship at the site. The temple's history carries a more recent chapter of real social significance too, in 1968 it became the site of a peaceful protest movement when devotees from traditionally marginalized castes demanded, and won, equal access to worship within its walls, a landmark moment for social equality within Sri Lankan Tamil Hindu communities.
Today the temple's ancient Raja Gopuram still rises over its western entrance, three separate courtyards leading toward the inner sanctum, and its 25 day annual festival, culminating on Aadi Amavasai, draws devotees for elaborate processions in which five deities are carried through the grounds in ornately decorated ceremonial chariots, a living continuation of devotion first sparked by a princess's transformation well over a thousand years ago.
At a glance
- Entry fee: Free, donation welcomed
- Opening hours: 6:00am to 6:00pm
- Time needed: 30 to 45 minutes
- Best time: During puja
Getting there
At Maviddapuram near Kankesanthurai, about 15km north of Jaffna.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to visit Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Kovil?
- Free, donation welcomed.
- What are the opening hours at Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Kovil?
- 6:00am to 6:00pm.
- How long should I spend at Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Kovil?
- Plan for 30 to 45 minutes.
- When is the best time to visit Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Kovil?
- During puja.
- How do I get to Maviddapuram Kandaswamy Kovil?
- At Maviddapuram near Kankesanthurai, about 15km north of Jaffna.