Ketheeswaram temple

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Thiruketheeswaram
திருக்கேதீஸ்வரம
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Mannar
Province	Northern
Deity	Shiva
Location
Location	Manthai
Country	Sri Lanka
Location in Northern Province, Sri Lanka
Geographic coordinates	8°57′28.3″N 79°57′46.8″E / 8.957861°N 79.963000°E / 8.957861; 79.963000
Architecture
Type	Dravidian architecture (Koil)
Creator	Unknown
Completed	earliest reference 6th century BC,[1][verification needed] Reconstruction - 1903AD by Nattukottai Nagarathar of Tamil Nadu

Ketheeswaram temple (Tamil: திருக்கேதீசுவரம் Thirukketheeswaram^[2]) is an ancient Hindu temple in Mannar, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the oldest temple in Sri Lanka with at least 1400 years of evidence.^[3] Overlooking the ancient Tamil port towns of Manthai and Kudiramalai, the temple has lain in ruins, been restored, renovated and enlarged by various royals and devotees throughout its history. Thirukketheeswaram is one of the Pancha Ishwarams dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva and is venerated by Shaivas throughout the continent.^[3] Throughout its history, the temple has been administered and frequented by Sri Lankan Hindu Tamils. Its famous tank, the Palavi tank, is of ancient antiquity and was restored from the ruins.^[4] Thirukketheeswaram is one of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams of Shiva glorified in the poems of the Tevaram.

Literary and inscriptional evidence of the post classical period (300BC-1500AD) attests to the upkeep of the temple during the ancient period by kings of the Pallava, Pandyan Dynasty and Chola dynasties who contributed to its development up to the late 16th century. In 1575, Thirukketheeswaram was largely destroyed by Portuguese colonials, with Pujas terminating at the shrine in 1589. Following an appeal by Arumuka Navalar in 1872, the temple was rebuilt at its original site in 1903.