2/5 Shahnama by Azeem S. 5 years ago on Google
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
work
itself.
As
the
group
of
traders
were
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.
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