History:

is said to date back to the 11 Century. In addition to being a temple of worship, our historical temple is also known as "the Living Museum". The temple is an important place of worship for the fishermen community, as it is believed to be a blessed site of the Karai Thuthu Thambiran Nathar Deity. According to legends, Palk Strait was found by Dakshinamoorthy Himself, our Karai Thuthiputhu Thambiran Nathar. He is believed to be the presiding deity of the temple, and Palk Strait is the meowing corridor of this majestic Temple. It is said that when Dakshinamoorthy meditated in Munai Kaddai, the fabric of nature was disturbed and salt water flooded the bay. This disrupted the agriculture of the area and the fishermen of Nagapattinam. Karai Thuthu Thambiran Nathar then requested the fishermen to build Him a Temple on the shore and make Him the presiding Deity so that He could help them with their livelihood. The Temple was built and with the blessings of God, the fishermen of Nagapattinam went on to become one of the most affluent and prosperous groups of the region. Karai Thuthu Thambiran Nathar's powers have been tested time and again and His blessings can be felt all around. Today, the temple is a symbol of divinity and devotion, and is visited by thousands of people every day. It is one of the best temple in SriLanka which you must visit.

Facts:

1. The Karainagar Temple, also known as the Eelathu Chithambaram Temple, is located in the village of Karainagar on the island of Karaitivu near Jaffna in Northern Sri Lanka. 2. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and considered to be one of the Pancha Ishwarams, or Five Great Iswarams, of the Hindu faith. 3. The original temple is believed to have been built during the 7th century AD by the Pallava king, Narasimha Varman. 4. The Karainagar Temple was renovated and remodelled by the Chola King Raja Raja Chola I in the 10th century. 5. The temple is renowned for its intricate carvings and sculptures, which depict tales from Hindu epics such as the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, as well as numerous Hindu gods and goddesses. 6. The Karainagar Temple also houses several shrines dedicated to Lord Ganesh, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Rama. 7. The temple complex also contains a large tank, known as the Saravana-Theertham, where devotees often take a holy dip before visiting the main temple. 8. The Karainagar Temple is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Tamils in Sri Lanka and is visited by hundreds of devotees every month. Here are some facts about the SriLanka temple.These facts will help you understand why it is oldest temple list of the best temples in SriLanka

Worship Method:

The Karainagar temple, which is known as “Eelathu Chithambaram”, is one of the most renowned temples in Karaitivu, Sri Lanka. It is believed to have been built by the Chola King, Raja Raja I. The primary deity of the temple is Lord Shiva, one of the most powerful gods in Hinduism, who is worshipped in the form of the Lingam. The worship and ceremonies carried out at the temple are based on the highest standards of Saivism. In general, the primary ways of worshiping in the Karainagar temple include regular pujas and abhishekams to Lord Shiva, doing recitations of various mantras and performing the traditional panchamritam ceremony. On important special occasions, priests may even offer cattle sacrifices. During daily pooja, priests start the ritual by taking a few drops of water into their hands and shaking it as an offering to the deity, and then chanting a few mantras. They then go on to make burnt offerings of various substances such as flowers, rice, incense, and special herbs. This is followed by a traditional fire ceremony commemorating the god Shiva's victory over the fierce demon, Ravana. The flames are then put out as they offer ritual worship to the Shiva Lingam. After the offerings are made, the temple bells are rung four times and mantras of worship are chanted. The priests then offer the Arthi to the main deity and break coconuts as a sign of respect and good luck. On special religious occasions, devotees also participate in dharshanam rituals, standing in a line to offer their prayers. Finally, the priests offer prasadam to all the devotees. This most visited temple in SriLanka

Opening Timing:

The temple is open from 5:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 4:30 PM to 8:30 PM daily. top temples in SriLanka

How to reach:

The Karaitivu Eelathu Chithambaram Temple is located approximately three kilometers from the Karaitivu junction in Batticaloa district. There are several ways to reach the temple. By Air: The closest airport to Karainagar temple is Batticaloa International Airport (BIA), which is 26 km from the temple. You can take a taxi to reach the temple after getting off from the airport. By Bus: The temple is accessible by bus from any major town. The nearest bus station is in Karaitivu, which is 3 km away from the temple. By Train: The closest train station is in Batticaloa, which is 32 km away from the temple. From there, you can take a bus or taxi to reach the temple. By Car: You can also drive to the Karainagar Temple if you have a car or hired a taxi. The exact GPS coordinates of the temple are 7.8572°N, 81.9550°E. famous temples in SriLanka