Koneswaram
Deities

Koneswaram

Koṇeśvara — Lord of the East of Sri Lanka

Status · Anusandhāna
Source · Tier 3
Tradition · Hindu
Period · varies by tradition

Koneswaram

Koneswaram is one of the five ancient ishvarams of Sri Lanka, located at Swami Rock, Trincomalee — a dramatic cliff-site over the Indian Ocean. The temple was destroyed by the Portuguese in 1622 and rebuilt in 1963.

Koneswaram is classified as one of the 275 Paaḍal Petra Sthalaṅgaḷ of Tevāram Shaivism — a rare Sri Lankan temple with this classical Tamil canonical status. It is one of 5 Pancha Ishvarams:

  1. Naguleswaram (north, Jaffna)
  2. Thiruketheeswaram (northwest, Mannar)
  3. Munneswaram (west, Chilaw)
  4. Tenavaram (south, Matara — destroyed 1589, unreconstructed)
  5. Koneswaram (east, Trincomalee)

The temple was sacked by Phillipe de Oliveira in 1622 CE. The cliff was fortified as Fort Frederick (British). Upon Sri Lankan independence the site was reopened; the current structure dates from 1963.

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✦Wisdom Graph: Divine Associations✦

MantraNone
Vāhana
None
Offerings
bilva leavesmilk abhiṣeka
Sacred colours
redsaffron

🛕 Principal Temples

🎊 Festivals

  • Navratri
    · 9 nights
  • Temple Mahotsava
    April