History:

is a popular Hindu temple located in Puthukudiyiruppu in the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is one of the most famous temples in the country. Thousands of devotees from all over the country descend upon the temple during the annual festival which is celebrated on the day of Maha Shivaratri. The temple is believed to have been built by the Chola dynasty which ruled the island from 890 to 1279 AD. According to Hindu mythology, Sivan is the most powerful of gods and is the chief of the Trimurti, the three gods who are responsible for creating, sustaining, and destroying the universe. A number of festivals and rituals are conducted in the temple throughout the year, with Maha Shivaratri being the most important one. During this festival, large crowds flock to the temple to pay their respects to the Lord. During the celebrations, special pujas and prayers are conducted in the temple and the devotees offer flowers, fruits and small tokens to Lord Shiva. It is one of the best temple in SriLanka which you must visit.

Facts:

1. The Sivan Temple of Manthuvil is one of the oldest temples in Sri Lanka, dating back to the 11th century. 2. The temple is dedicated to Lord Siva, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the God of Creation. 3. The site is located in Puthukudiyiruppu, a small village located in the Mullaitivu District. 4. The temple complex is popularly known as 'Kashmir Kadil' or 'Kashmir of the East' due to its exotic beauty and peaceful location. 5. The temple is surrounded by 10 acres of land, with a 16-foot-high protective stone wall that also houses Durga Devi’s shrine. 6. On the northern side of the temple, there is an old bathtub made of lavishly carved black granite. 7. The main entrance of the temple is adorned with intricately carved figures of komaras (dragon deities). 8. It is believed that Lord Rama, the hero of the epic Ramayana, once visited this temple. 9. The specialty of this temple is the long, narrow flights of steps that gently climb up the hill leading to the sanctum sanctorum. 10. The temple is a major pilgrimage centre for Hindus, especially during the ‘Sivan Thirunal’ festival, which is an annual celebration of Lord Siva. 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 worship methods of Sivan Temple, Manthuvil, Puthukudiyiruppu in Sri Lanka follow the Hindu traditions that are prevalent in the temples of the country. According to these traditions, worshipping the deity should be done with offering pooja, performing puja rituals, placing an offering or oil lamp in front of the deity, burning incense sticks, presenting flowers and fruits as offering and chanting mantras. There is also a tradition to leave the temple for a few minutes after performing the ritual. The Pooja rituals usually involve chanting the mantras, offering coconut, pooja material, mantrapushpam (flowers), prasadam (offerings to the God), dhoopa (incense) and diya (lamp). After the pooja, the priest will ask the devotees to take the prasadam and then perform the aarathi (waves of the camphor light around the shrine or deity). The priest will then offer prasadam to the devotees and bring the rituals to a close with Dhoop Aarathi and Shema Aarathi. At the end of the puja, the worshippers offer their obeisance to the deity before proceeding to the ritual of circumambulation (parikrama) Before leaving the temple, devotees take prasadam or blessed food to take home and as an offering to their home deities. This most visited temple in SriLanka

Opening Timing:

The Sivan temple at Manthuvil, Puthukudiyiruppu opens at 7:00 AM and closes at 7:00 PM each day. top temples in SriLanka

How to reach:

The Sivan Temple, Manthuvil is located in the district of Mullaitivu in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. The nearest airport to reach Manthuvil is the Batticaloa Airport, located at about 70 km away. From here, Manthuvil can be reached via various public and private transport facilities. These include taxi services and buses. Buses from Puttukudiyiruppu (the nearest town to Manthuvil) depart daily at 2PM and cost around LKR 45. From Puttukudiyiruppu, Manthuvil can be reached via a 10-minute tuk-tuk ride. famous temples in SriLanka