Heritage

Buddhist Ruins in Iluppakadavai Muththumari Amman Kovil in Mannar (ඉලුප්පකඩවෙයි මුත්තුමාරි අම්මාන් කෝවිලේ බෞද්ධ නටබුන්)

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Muththumari Amman Kovil Iluppakadavai is located close to the sea off Iluppakadavai in a remote unpopulated area. To reach this kovil, you must proceed along the Mannar-Jaffna (A32) road for 25.6 km from Mannar and turn left onto a narrow gravel road after passing the Kalliyady G.T.M. School. This narrow gravel road runs through unpopulated scrub jungles for 1.4 kilometres before reaching the Kovil.

During ancient times, Iluppakadavai was called Madhupadipathiththa or Meepathota. It has been invaded by Tamils in the 13th century (Asanga & Nishantha, 2018).

Mythology portrays Mari Amman as a creation of the holy trinity Brahma, Vishnu and Siva for exterminating a demon Asura who was persecuting the Devas. The Mari cult takes many names Mari, Muttumari, Mahamari etc., to whom the people turned for succour when stricken with infectious diseases (Arumugam, 1991).

A stone pillar base is found to the south of the kovil. The crest of it has been destroyed. There is a Siri Patul Gala (sacred footprint of Buddha carved on a square slab of rock) 6 meters back, westwards of the kovil building. The Siri Patul Gala is 55cmx55cm in size. These ruins can be placed to the Anuradhapura period and a possible ancient Buddhist temple complex at the site. An 8 cm long, 1 cm wide hole has been cut at the centre of the stone. This hole is probably cut by Kovil priests either to keep lamps or to place a statue on the sacred footprint. There is a small gutter to remove water or oil accumulated in this cavity (Guide to archaeological values for tourism in Mannar district).

References

Asanga, M.V.P.K. and Nishantha, I.P.S. (2018) in මන්නාරම දිස්ත්‍රික්කය. Colombo , Sri Lanka: Department of Archaeology, pp. 111–112.
Arumugam, S. (1991) More Hindu Temples of Srilanka : Ancient, Medieval and Modern. Colombo: Ceylon Printers Ltd.
The Green Movement of Sri Lanka (no date) Guide to Archaeological Values for Tourism in Mannar District. The Green Movement of Sri Lanka.

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Map of Buddhist Ruins in Iluppakadavai Muththumari Amman Kovil

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Travel Directions to Buddhist Ruins in Iluppakadavai Muththumari Amman Kovil

Route from Mannar to Buddhist Ruins in Iluppakadavai Muththumari Amman Kovil
Through : Adampan Distance : 28 km Travel time : 30 mins. Driving directions : see on Google map

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