page_title: Ukanthamalai Murugan Kovil
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Ukanthamalai Murugan Kovil / History
caption_attribution_description: English: Temple of Lord Murugan in Ukanthamalai
context_page_description: Ukanthamalai Murugan Kovil is the well known ancient Hindu temple situated in the Okanda, Ampara District of Eastern Sri Lanka, about 145 km south of Batticaloa town. This alluring temple dedicated to Lord Murugan in the heart of Kumana forest is a main stand for the devotees performing pilgrimage to Katirkamam through dense jungle. In places like Pânama and Kumana, which are close to Ukantai, Tamils and Sinhalese lived in harmony even down to the present day.
context_section_description: So many folklores bring the antiquity of Ukanthai Temple to Katirkamam. It attracted the Katirkamam pilgrims from immemorial time. The top of the hillock has been cited as one of the places where a divine katir / Vel from Lord Skanda struck. Veddas preserved the sanctity of the place with a simple shrine of stick and ola leaves. According to another myth, the third spear from the hand of Lord Murugan reached here and came to rest on this hilltop, making it a favorite site for Murukan worship. There is yet a third myth according to which, Murugan and his sweet heart Valli arrived in stone boats (which still rest on the beach) to reside on top of the Ukanthai Malai.
  There was a small hut made with loose stones for the "Vel" at the top of the hill from very long time. British diaries confirm that this was a notable Hindu shrine even in the 1800s.  It is believed that, a Hindu sage named "Giri", from North India looked after this temple. A famous merchant from Jaffna "Markkandu Mudaliyar" lived in Batticaloa erected a small building for housing the Vel in 1885. "Muthiyanse Bandara Mahataya" from Panamai was appointed by him, as the "Vannakkar" (litt. Caretaker) of the temple along with the priest "Kaliyappan", from Kolavil village.
  A pilgrims' rest was also built by Markkandu Mudaliyar  which was burnt many years ago. Temple faced to its first "Kumbapishegam" (Baptism of Hindu temple) in 1908 followed by two other Kumbapishegams in 2002 and 2014.
caption: Temple of Lord Murugan in Ukanthamai.
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