History:

Dandamalai is an ancient sacred site located in the jungles of Karunagapalli in the Batticaloa District of Sri Lanka. It is said to have been established by the great sage Agastya as the first Hindu temple of the Batticaloa area. According to legend, the temple was the site of a fierce battle between Lord Shiva and a demon by the name of Dandamalaya. Shiva emerged victorious in this battle and is hence honored as the principal deity in the temple. The main deity of the temple is Muttulingaswamy though several other deities are also worshipped here. These include Ganesha, Vishnu, Murugan, Dakshinamurthy and Nataraja. The temple complex consists of several shrines and mandapas and a large pond. A number of festivals are celebrated here throughout the year, with the grand Chitra Pournami festival being the most popular. It is one of the best temple in SriLanka which you must visit.

Facts:

1. The Muttulingaswamy Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located in Dandamalai, Sri Lanka. 2. The temple is believed to have been constructed by King Ravana during the 2nd century BC and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. 3. The temple is a popular place of worship for Hindus and is also a major tourist attraction in the area. 4. It is believed to be the only temple which has a murti (idol) of Ravana. 5. The temple is surrounded by many ancient shrines, including one for Lakshmana, another for Agastya, and one for Indra. 6. The temple is set in a picturesque location, with views of the surrounding hills and rivers. 7. The main temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and has a large lingam in its sanctum. 8. There are several small shrines around the main temple, dedicated to other gods and goddesses, such as Ganesha, Surya, and Shakti. 9. In the center of the complex is a large tank which is supplied with water from a nearby spring. 10. The temple also includes a yoga hall, where devotees can perform yoga practices. 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 daily worship of the Muttulingaswamy Temple of Dandamalai, Sri Lanka involves five main rituals. Every morning and evening the temple priests (poojaari) perform poojas or rituals to the main deities in the temple - Lord Shiva, Mother Parvati (Umadevi), and Lord Ganesha. The puja ritual includes offering of flowers, offerings of sandalwood, camphor, and lighting of incense sticks. The temple priests then offer prayers to the deities and mark auspicious symbols on the floors of the shrine with a paste of turmeric and sandalwood. The temple also hosts regular Maha Rudrayan (great fire ritual) ceremonies, wherein the priests offer special homa (homam) or fire offerings to the Deity invocation. During these ceremonies, ritual dances, prayed and chanted (by priests and devotees) mantras dedicated to Lord Shiva, are also performed. Visitors seeking divine blessings from the temple deity, often offer their respects by offering milk, bananas, coconuts, and flowers as a sign of respect and devotion. On auspicious occasions like Shivratri, a grand festival is organized in honour of Lord Shiva and hundreds of devotees come to the temple to participate in the ritualistic events and pay their respects. On popular festivals like the Chithirai Thiruvizha, the temple is full of devotees and it is a colorful sight to behold. On these auspicious occasions, fireworks, drums, and rhythmic music are added to the festivities. This most visited temple in SriLanka

Opening Timing:

The temple is open every day from 5:30am to 11:30am and 4:00pm to 8:30pm. top temples in SriLanka

How to reach:

Muttulingaswamy Temple is located in the Trincomalee district of Sri Lanka. The closest airport is the Bandaranaike International Airport in Katunayake, about 191 km away. The closest railway station is Trinco railway station, which is about 12 km away. From there, one can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach the temple. famous temples in SriLanka