Temple Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam

Temple Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Temple Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Temple Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam

Sri Kailasanathar Swami Devasthanam, or Kapikaawatha Shivan Temple as it is also called by its devotees, is the oldest Hindu Temple in Colombo. Dedicated to the gods Ganesha and Shiva, the temple has been around for over two centuries. It’s also one of the most beautiful temples in Colombo.

History

The temple was built in Maradana, Colombo by a group of Indian Chetti traders known as ‘Thiruvilanga Nakarathar’ who moved to Sri Lanka for business two hundred years ago.

King Kirthi Sri Rajasingha ruled Kandy at the time; while the Dutch had taken over the coastal regions and were managing the incoming trade. It was in this environment that the Chetti traders disembarked in Sri Lanka. They were Hindus and worshipped a small Sivalingam that had been kept under a tree by the other Hindu Chetti traders who lived in the area. The Thiruvilanga City Chettis felt that it was not right that there was no Hindu Temple in Colombo, that had been built according to the Vedic Scriptures. So he brought it up with his fellow traders and they agreed to build such a temple.

In 1783 the foundation was laid within the lands of a Chetti trader known as Sri Veerapathran. This same trader also accepted the responsibility of finding the finances for the construction, and the construction works itself. As the group of traders was the foremost and richest people in Colombo at the time, they had no issues; and soon the temple was built. The ritualistic opening ceremonies took place in the proper manner and the Hindus of the era in Colombo started visiting the temple regularly.

At the time the temple was called ‘Captain Gardens Temple’. The name was gotten due to the Dutch officer who was responsible for overseeing the trade operations in the area of the temple. He was called Captain, and the area he stayed was called ‘Captain Gardens’.

The Features

The temple has been created by skilled temple architects and sculptors straight from India and maintains the classic Hindu temple look that is rarely seen on Sri Lanka. The colorful main tower with its detailed sculptures, intricate lotus-carved main door, solid stone statue masterpieces, and other such aspects make the temple a beautiful sight for sore eyes. In addition to the main shrine dedicated to God Shiva; a number of shrines to other Hindu Gods and Goddesses encircle the main sanctum.

Included in these satellite shrines are shrines to Ganesh, Skanda, Dhurka, Vairavar, Ambaal, the nine planetary bodies, Kali, Brahma, Sandeswarar, and many others. Visitors have to take off their footwear and wash their feet before entering. They are also not allowed to take photos of the insides of the temple unless proper prior approval is gained.

Today Kailasanathar Swami Devasthanum is one of the most popular temples in Colombo, with its devotees numbering in the tens of thousands.

Temple Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Temple Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam Temple Sri Kailawasanathan Swami Devasthanam

Informazioni sul distretto di Colomb

Colombo è la città più grande e la capitale commerciale dello Sri Lanka. Si trova sulla costa occidentale dell'isola e adiacente a Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, la capitale dello Sri Lanka. Colombo è una città vivace e trafficata, con un mix di vita moderna, edifici e rovine coloniali e una popolazione di 647.100 abitanti. La regione metropolitana di Colombo, definita dai distretti di Colombo, Gampaha e Kalutara, ha una popolazione stimata di 5.648.000 abitanti e si estende su una superficie di 3.694,20 km². Colombo è una città multietnica e multiculturale. È la città più popolosa dello Sri Lanka, con 642.163 abitanti che vivono entro i confini della città. La popolazione di Colombo è un mix di numerosi gruppi etnici, principalmente cingalesi, mori e tamil. In città vivono anche piccole comunità di persone di origine cinese, portoghese, olandese, malese e indiana, oltre a numerosi espatriati europei. La stragrande maggioranza delle aziende dello Sri Lanka ha sede a Colombo. Alcuni dei settori industriali includono prodotti chimici, tessili, vetro, cemento, pelletteria, arredamento e gioielleria. Nel centro città si trova il secondo edificio più alto dell'Asia meridionale: il World Trade Center.

Informazioni sulla provincia occidentale

La Provincia Occidentale è la provincia più densamente popolata dello Sri Lanka. Ospita la capitale legislativa Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte e Colombo, il centro amministrativo e commerciale della nazione. La Provincia Occidentale è divisa in 3 distretti principali: Colombo (642 km²), Gampaha (1.386,6 km²) e Kalutara (1.606 km²). Essendo il fulcro economico dello Sri Lanka, tutte le principali aziende locali e internazionali hanno sede in città, così come i principali negozi di stilisti e grandi magazzini, quindi preparatevi a concedervi un po' di shopping nella Provincia Occidentale. Avendo la popolazione più alta di tutte le province, quasi tutti i principali istituti scolastici dell'isola si trovano nella Provincia Occidentale. Le università della provincia includono l'Università di Colombo, l'Università di Sri Jayewardenepura, l'Università di Kelaniya, l'Università Aperta dello Sri Lanka, l'Università Buddista e Pali dello Sri Lanka, l'Università della Difesa Generale Sir John Kotelawala e l'Università di Moratuwa. La provincia occidentale ospita il maggior numero di scuole del paese, tra cui scuole nazionali, provinciali, private e internazionali.

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