Global InformationVattappalai Kannaki Amman Kovil information
Vattapalai Kannagi Amman Thirukkovil (also known as Vatrapalai Kannagi Amman Temple) is an ancient Shaivaite and Shaktism-related Hindu temple located in the Mullaitivu District of Northern Sri Lanka. The temple's folklore is connected to the later stories of Kannagi, a legendary Tamil woman who, after leaving the Pandya capital Madurai, traveled to Kerala and eventually arrived in the prosperous land of Sri Lanka. Vatrapalai is an important Kannagi pilgrimage site in Sri Lanka, second only to the Mangala Devi Kannagi Kovil in Kerala.[1][2]
According to belief, Kannagi appeared in the land of Vatrapalai on the first Monday of the Tamil month of Vaikasi. To this day, an annual Pongal festival is held on this date, during which a sea water lamp is lit. Miraculously, this lamp is said to burn continuously since that time. Both Sinhalese and Tamils participate in this festival to witness the miracle each year.[3][4]
| Vattapalai Kannagi Amman Kovil | |
|---|---|
வற்றாப்பளை கண்ணகி அம்மன் திருக்கோவில் වට්ටාප්පලෛ පත්තිනි අම්මන් දේවස්ථානය | |
 Vattappalai Kannaki Amman Kovil During Annual Vaikasi Pongal | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| District | Mullaitivu |
| Province | Northern Province |
| Deity | Kannagi / Pattini |
| Festivals | Vaikasi Pongal Mahotsavam Navarathri |
| Governing body | Vattapalai Kannagi Amman Niruvaga Sabha Maritimepattu Pradeshiya Sabha |
| Features |
|
| Location | |
| Location | Vattappalai |
| Country |  Sri Lanka |
  Shown within Northern Province  Vattappalai Kannaki Amman Kovil (Sri Lanka) | |
| Geographic coordinates | 9°14′56″N 80°47′26″E / 9.24889°N 80.79056°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Hindu Temple |
| Style | Tamil Architecture |
| Creator | Gajabahu I According to Rajavaliya |
| Date established | 1st century CE |
| Direction of façade | East |
- ^ "உப்பு நீரில் விளக்கேற்றும் அரிய காட்சி - பக்தர்கள் புடைசூழ, சிறப்பாக இடம்பெற்ற தீர்த்தம் எடுத்தல் உற்சவம் - ஐபிசி தமிழ்". IBC Tamil (in Tamil). Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "வற்றாப்பளை கண்ணகி அம்மன் ஆலய உப்பு நீரில் விளக்கெரியும் கண்கொள்ளா காட்சி - ஐபிசி தமிழ்". IBC Tamil (in Tamil). Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "Kannaki Amman pongal celebrated in Mullaitivu under military surveillance | Tamil Guardian". www.tamilguardian.com. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "The annual festival of the Vattapalai Kovil in Mullativu where lamps are lit using sea water, begins (photos)". Hiru News. Retrieved 2024-02-11.