Vattappalai Kannaki Amman Kovil is a prominent Hindu temple located in Vattappalai, Mullaitivu District. Interestingly, the annual festival at the Vattappalai Kannaki Amman Kovil is celebrated with devotees lighting lamps with sea water instead of using oil.[1][2][3] Vaikasi Pongal is a common phenomenon at the Vattappalai Kannaki Amman Kovil and it is celebrated in a grand manner.[4]
History edit
As per the mythology, it is believed that goddess Kannagi arrived in Sri Lanka and stayed in 10 different locations, especially after she burned the Madurai Kingdom in anger according to historic epic Cilappatikaram as a result of not gaining justice for her husband Kovalan's planned assassination. As per the history, it is widely acknowledged that the tenth place where Kannaki stayed was later known to be "Vattappalai".[3]
There is a backstory regarding the origin story of Vattappalai Kannaki Amman Kovil. Once upon a time, an old woman visited the eastern part of Vattappalai village with the intention of taking some rest after being exhausted from a long journey. Reportedly, a few children who were looking after a herd of cattle in that particular area had identified and noticed that an old lady was taking some rest, and the children reached towards her to inquire about her health. Apparently, the children prepared pongal and delivered it to her in order for her to eat.[5] The old lady later revealed that she came from the Chola Empire, and she also insisted the children worship her, especially during Vaikasi Visakham (Vaisakha), and make pongal on such occasions. She then eventually disappeared away, and it was later believed that it was goddess Amman who reprised the role of an old lady. The children spread the news all over the village, and that was how people came to know about the turn of events, and they built the kovil, as we call it now.[6]
References edit
- ^ "The annual festival of the Vattapalai Kovil in Mullativu where lamps are lit using sea water, begins (photos)". Hiru News. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "உப்பு நீரில் விளக்கேற்றும் அரிய காட்சி - பக்தர்கள் புடைசூழ, சிறப்பாக இடம்பெற்ற தீர்த்தம் எடுத்தல் உற்சவம் - ஐபிசி தமிழ்". IBC Tamil (in Tamil). Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ a b "வற்றாப்பளை கண்ணகி அம்மன் ஆலய உப்பு நீரில் விளக்கெரியும் கண்கொள்ளா காட்சி - ஐபிசி தமிழ்". IBC Tamil (in Tamil). Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "Kannaki Amman pongal celebrated in Mullaitivu under military surveillance | Tamil Guardian". www.tamilguardian.com. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ admin (2021-02-11). "வற்றாப்பளை கண்ணகி அம்மன் ஆலய வரலாறு! ரதிகலா புவனேந்திரன்". Global Tamil News. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ மலர், மாலை (2021-04-24). "முள்ளியவளை வற்றாப்பளை கண்ணகி அம்மன் கோவில்". www.maalaimalar.com (in Tamil). Retrieved 2024-02-11.