History:

is that the temple history dates back more than 500 years . It is believed that the temple was built by the Sinhalese king, Parakrampahu the Second who reigned from 1588-1603. He is said to have built this temple to honor and worship Lord Murugan or Kartheeshwaran. The temple is also renowned for being a major center of aquatic rituals. It is said that during certain festivals, devotees embark upon a water procession to pay homage to Lord Murugan It is one of the best temple in SriLanka which you must visit.

Facts:

Sinnavalavu Gnavairavar Temple is located in Araly North Village, Valikamam West Divisional Secretariat, Jaffna District, Sri Lanka. It is one of the Hindu temples in the area. It is dedicated to the Hindu God Gnavairavar, a form of Lord Shiva. The temple is believed to be in existence for more than 2000 years. It is believed to have been built by the Kings of Jaffna during the 16th century AD, while some also credit it to King Dhammika I (r. 1187–1208 CE). The temple underwent several renovations and improvements throughout the centuries. The most extreme damage to the temple was when it was destroyed and looted during the Sri Lankan civil war. The temple was later restored with the help of donations from locals and the Hindu community. The temple is visited by devotees of Gnavairavar to seek his blessings. In addition, the temple also offers various services to the local community, such as offering spiritual guidance and providing financial aid to those in need. 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 temple follows the same Tamil Hindu Vedic rituals as traditional Hindu temples. The primary mode of worship at Sinnavalavu Gnavairavar Temple is daily puja to Lord Gnavairavar (Ganesha). During each puja, Nandi (the sacred bull) is first invoked. A portion of the Nandi mantras is then chanted and offerings are made to Lord Gnavairavar with sixteen materials. This is followed by a set of specific mantras and hymns, which are chanted in accordance with accepted Vedic tradition. After puja is completed, the devotees seek Lord Gnavairavar’s blessings before they end the session. Devotees also offer a special form of ‘arathi’ prayer to Lord Gnavairavar at the temple every day. This form of prayer is performed with a lit lamp (arathi) accompanied by chanting of specific mantras. Offerings are presented at the end of the prayer. Apart from daily puja, different religious ceremonies are also held at the temple during specific Hindu festivals. Pongal, a harvest festival celebrated in South India, is the most important of these festivals, and is celebrated at the temple on the fourteenth of the lunar month of Thai. Annabhishekam, a holy bath ritual that brings spiritual purity and removes negative karma, is also conducted for Lord Gnavairavar during this festival. Other important festivals celebrated at the temple are Navaratri, Thaipongal, and Deepavali. During these celebrations, priests conduct special prayers for the welfare and prosperity of the devotees. They also conduct homas, a sacred fire ritual, for the wellbeing of all. This most visited temple in SriLanka

Opening Timing:

The Sinnavalavu Gnavairavar Temple is open for worshippers from 6 AM to 12 Noon and from 4 PM to 9 PM. top temples in SriLanka

How to reach:

The nearest airport is the Jaffna International Airport, located 21 km away from the temple. You can reach the temple by taking a bus or taxi from Jaffna. The nearest bus stand is Aruviyal, located 8 km away. A public bus or private vehicle can be taken from there. famous temples in SriLanka