History:

is believed to have been in existence since the Ramayana period. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and is believed to be over 1000 years old. The main deity housed in the temple is the Sri Godha Vinayagar, a form of Ganesha. Various festivals and poojas are celebrated during the course of the year in the temple, and during special ceremonies the temple is open 24 hours a day. The temple is visited by pilgrims from all parts of Sri Lanka for prayers and blessings. It is one of the best temple in SriLanka which you must visit.

Facts:

1. Sivan Temple, Vivekananthapuram, Thiruppalukamam is one of the few temples for Lord Siva located in Sri Lanka. 2. The temple is located on the Kottar-Thondaikadu main road, 5 km away from the city of Kottar. 3. The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Siva in the form of Sri Veerabathiran. 4. The main deity of the temple is the sactum sanctorum of Lord Siva, popularly called" Kondavil Vinayakar". 5. A massive carved stone wall surrounds the temple complex and the entrance gate is of 'Gopurams' or towers, with sculptures of deities gracing the entrance. The main tower is about 15 feet tall. 6. In the 23rd century A.D a prominent Pandyan chieftain name Sathiyo Thanthon Selvnan started to build this temple. 7. As per inscriptions on an epigraph found in this temple, it was re-built by Jagat Seth Kannersing in the early 19th century AD. 8. It is believed that Karkimukham Venugopal, a prominent merchant of Kottar, built the majestic outer wall of the temple. 9. The temple has a five-tier temple tank called "Sivalaya-theertham" who is located outside the temple premises. 10. Several musical performances such as veena, flute and mridangam concerts are often performed at Lord Shiva's vehicle, Nandhi. 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 method practiced in this temple follows the Vishishtadvaita tradition of Sri Vaishnavism. This means that worship is performed by offering a personal prayer to the Lord personally. The devotee usually recites several mantras and slokas according to their understanding and devotion. Mantras such as the Laxmi Narasimha Mantra, the Venkatesa Gayatri Mantra, the Vishnu Sahasranama and the Astakshari mantra are commonly chanted during worship. Upon entering the temple, the devotee will first perform a traditional tirumanjanam (ablution) to the main deity and offer various other offerings, like fruits, flowers and garlands. After this, they will perform a prayer in the form of a puja, offering several items such as fruits, flowers, sandalwood and other objects required for the puja. Once the puja is complete, the devotee will chant various Vedic hymns and slokas in praise of the Lord, such as the Narasimha Sthothram, Purusha Sooktha, Ganapati Sthuthi, Shiva Sthuthi and Vishnu Stuthi. After this, the devotee will offer several arati offerings, including the waving of a lit lamp, playing of bells, and offering of offerings such as Durva grass, Betel leaf and Kumkum. Finally, the devotee will set up a small shrine of the main deity and light a lamp before it, and offer a small aarti or pooja. They may then offer aarti to nearby deities such as Ganesha, Navagraha and Surya. This is then followed by the ceremonial aarati offering in front of the main deity. Following this, the devotee will receive the blessings of the deity before leaving the temple. This most visited temple in SriLanka

Opening Timing:

According to the Sri Sivan temple website, the temple opens at 5:00 a.m. for morning poojas and closes at 8:00 p.m. top temples in SriLanka

How to reach:

The Sivan Temple, Vivekananthapuram, Thiruppalukamam is located in the Galle District of Sri Lanka. The nearest airport to the temple is Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport, which is about 53 km away from Vivekananthapuram. The temple can be reached by either hiring a taxi from the airport, or by taking a public bus or train from the airport. If you are travelling from Colombo, the capital, you can reach the temple directly via A2 highway that connects the two cities. It is about 170 km from Colombo and takes about 3.5 hours to reach. You could also take the train or bus to Thotamuna Railway Station which is located 40 km away from the temple, and then take a taxi to reach the destination. famous temples in SriLanka