Pathirakali Amman Temple

Pathirakali Amman temple
Pathirakali Amman temple
Location in North East Sri Lanka
Name
Proper name Pathirakali Ambal Kovil
Tamil பத்திரகாளி அம்பாள் கோயில்
Geography
Coordinates 8°34′28.28″N 81°14′2.07″E / 8.5745222°N 81.2339083°E / 8.5745222; 81.2339083Coordinates: 8°34′28.28″N 81°14′2.07″E / 8.5745222°N 81.2339083°E / 8.5745222; 81.2339083
Country Tamil Eelam
Province Eastern
District Trincomalee District
Location Trincomalee
Culture
Primary deity Bhadrakali (Ambal/Kali)
Important festivals Koneswaram Temple Ther Thiruvilah festival
Architecture
Architectural styles Dravidian architecture
Inscriptions Rajendra Chola I
History and governance
Date built Unknown; inscriptional references from 11th century and before

Pathirakali Amman Temple (Tamil: பத்திரகாளி அம்பாள் கோயில்) – Pathirakali Ambal Kovil – or the Kali Kovil, Trincomalee is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, a form of the goddess Kali Amman in Trincomalee, Eastern Province, North East Sri Lanka. The Kali temple of the ancient Trincomalee Koneswaram Temple Compounds, a large complex of connected shrines in the Trincomalee Konesar Malai area, the temple is located close to the Trincomalee Hindu College.

Made in classical Dravidian architecture, the Kovil is located just beyond the Konesar Road Esplanade before the entrance to Konamamalai (Swami Rock). Proximal to the ancient Koneswaram temple, both ancient temples share functions during the Ther Thiruvillah Festival period and the Back Bay Sea (Theertham Karatkarai).

Pathirakali Amman temple has attracted pilgrims from before the 11th century CE. King Rajendra Chola I expanded the shrine significantly during his reign, an inscription he left detailing this is displayed on the premises.[1]

The temple is mentioned in the book Birds of Prey (1997) by Wilbur Smith, set in the 1660s.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Trinco historic Pathirakali Amman temple festival begins". TamilNet (March 9, 2003). Retrieved April 5, 2012.


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