Karunakara Pillaiyar Temple

This temple is of exceptional importance because it has an interesting and unique feature in being the only one in the Jaffna Peninsula to have two stone inscriptions. This stone can now be found within the temple as an object of veneration. The first inscription of the sixteenth century is written in the Tamil language and is dated April 1567. It records the names of donors of a gift to the temple and says that he who violates this gift should incur sins equivalent to killing the sacred cow on the banks of the river Ganges. The second inscription, is written towards the end of the sixteenth century.

The temple is named after a distinguished Indian general, Karunakara Thondaiman who had been sent during the reign of Cholan King I in the twelfth century, most probably to help the Jaffna King during the war. He is believed to have asked as a reward the development and procurement of salt which is easy to collect around the Thondaiman Aru Lagoon which was then named after him. The annual festival commences with Avany Sathurthi in August and lasts for 10 days.

Take the road to Palali and drive until you reach the junction in Urumpirai. Turn left and drive 400 m and then take the small road on the left. The site is then 400 m ahead on the right hand side.

(The Essential guide for Jaffna and its region by Philippe Fabry. P:25

Unique Sri Lanka

Karunakara Pillaiyar Temple

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