Dondra Head
Encyclopedia
Dondra Head is a cape on the extreme southern tip
of Sri Lanka
, in the Indian Ocean
, near the small town of Dondra near Galle
, Southern Province, Sri Lanka
. The Dondra Head Lighthouse
, ruins of several Hindu shrines of Tenawaram and a vihara
(Buddhist temple) are located in the vicinity. Dondra is an anglicized version of the name Tevan Thurai (God's Port) and Ten Thurai (Southern port)
Historically known as the Tevanthurai Tenavarai temple port town or Tanaveram temple town, Dondhra was until the late 16th century CE a historic Hindu temple
port town complex. Its primary deity was a Hindu god Tenavarai Nayanar and at its zenith was one of the most celebrated religious sites of the island, containing a thousand statues. It was maintained by Tamil merchant guilds at the port town during its time as a popular pilgrimage destination and famed emporium
, having extensive contacts with Asia, Africa, Europe and the rest of the Malabar Coast
. The temple was built on vaulted arches on the promontory overlooking the Indian ocean. Patronized by various royal dynasties and pilgrims, Tanaveram temple became one of the most important surviving buildings of the classical Dravidian architectural period
covering a vast area housing shrines to many Hindu deities including Lord Shiva
and Lord Vishnu
. Its rediscovered statue images and ruins from the 5th-7th century CE reflect the high points of Pallava art
, and the temple's splendour drew comparisons to another famous Pallava developed shrine complex in the region, Koneswaram
of Trincomalee
, during the medieval period.
The central gopuram
tower of the Vimana
and the other gopura towers that dominated the town were covered with plates of gilded brass, gold and copper on their roofs, and the many shrines of the town were bordered with elaborate arches and gates, giving the entire temple complex an appearance of a city to sailors who visited the port to trade and relied on its light reflecting gopura roofs for navigational purposes. Chroniclers, travelers and benefactors of the temple describe the entire town as the property of the temple and inhabited solely by merchants during the medieval period.
The temple was destroyed in February 1587 CE by the Portuguese
colonial De Souza d'Arronches, who devastated the entire southern coast. Its ruins of granite pillars that formed the shrines' mandapa
can be found in the town spread over a considerable area. The temple's ancient Lingam
statue and sculpture of Nandi, excavated in 1998 provide early examples of Pallava Hindu contributions to the island.
There was a temple to Vishnu
with a gilt copper roof, destroyed by the Portuguese
, and the place still attracts pilgrims today to the Dondra Fair and Perahera, held in the month of Esala (July–August).
Dondra Head was once the capital of the country.
Extreme points of Sri Lanka
This is a list of the extreme points of Sri Lanka.-Heading:-Altitude:* Highest point: Pidurutalagala , -See also:*Extreme points of Earth*Geography of Sri Lanka...
of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, in the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
, near the small town of Dondra near Galle
Galle
Galle is a city situated on the southwestern tip of Sri Lanka, 119 km from Colombo. Galle is the capital city of Southern Province of Sri Lanka and it lies in Galle District....
, Southern Province, Sri Lanka
Southern Province, Sri Lanka
The Southern Province of Sri Lanka is a small geographic area consisting of the districts of Galle, Matara and Hambantota. The region is economically backward compared to the Western province, where the capital Sri Jayawardenapura-Kotte is situated...
. The Dondra Head Lighthouse
Dondra Head Lighthouse
Dondra Head Lighthouse is an offshore lighthouse in Dondra, Sri Lanka and is operated and maintained by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority. It is located on Dondra Head near the southernmost point in Sri Lanka and is the tallest lighthouse in the country. It was designed by Sir James Nicholas Douglass...
, ruins of several Hindu shrines of Tenawaram and a vihara
Vihara
Vihara is the Sanskrit and Pali term for a Buddhist monastery. It originally meant "a secluded place in which to walk", and referred to "dwellings" or "refuges" used by wandering monks during the rainy season....
(Buddhist temple) are located in the vicinity. Dondra is an anglicized version of the name Tevan Thurai (God's Port) and Ten Thurai (Southern port)
Historically known as the Tevanthurai Tenavarai temple port town or Tanaveram temple town, Dondhra was until the late 16th century CE a historic Hindu temple
Hindu temple
A Mandir, Devalayam, Devasthanam, or a Hindu temple is a place of worship for followers of Hinduism...
port town complex. Its primary deity was a Hindu god Tenavarai Nayanar and at its zenith was one of the most celebrated religious sites of the island, containing a thousand statues. It was maintained by Tamil merchant guilds at the port town during its time as a popular pilgrimage destination and famed emporium
Marketplace
A marketplace is the space, actual, virtual or metaphorical, in which a market operates. The term is also used in a trademark law context to denote the actual consumer environment, ie. the 'real world' in which products and services are provided and consumed.-Marketplaces and street markets:A...
, having extensive contacts with Asia, Africa, Europe and the rest of the Malabar Coast
Malabar Coast
The Malabar Coast is a long and narrow coastline on the south-western shore line of the mainland Indian subcontinent. Geographically, it comprises the wettest regions of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden monsoon rains, especially on their westward-facing mountain...
. The temple was built on vaulted arches on the promontory overlooking the Indian ocean. Patronized by various royal dynasties and pilgrims, Tanaveram temple became one of the most important surviving buildings of the classical Dravidian architectural period
Dravidian architecture
Dravidian architecture was a style of architecture that emerged thousands of years ago in Southern part of the Indian subcontinent or South India. They consist primarily of pyramid shaped temples called Koils which are dependent on intricate carved stone in order to create a step design consisting...
covering a vast area housing shrines to many Hindu deities including Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
and Lord Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
. Its rediscovered statue images and ruins from the 5th-7th century CE reflect the high points of Pallava art
Pallava
The Pallava dynasty was a Tamil dynasty which ruled the northern Tamil Nadu region and the southern Andhra Pradesh region with their capital at Kanchipuram...
, and the temple's splendour drew comparisons to another famous Pallava developed shrine complex in the region, Koneswaram
Koneswaram temple
Koneswaram temple of Trincomalee is an Hindu temple in Trincomalee, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka venerated by Saivites throughout the continent...
of Trincomalee
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
, during the medieval period.
The central gopuram
Gopuram
A Gopuram or Gopura, is a monumental tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of any temple, especially in Southern India. This forms a prominent feature of Koils, Hindu temples of the Dravidian style. They are topped by the kalasam, a bulbous stone finial...
tower of the Vimana
Vimana (shrine)
Vimana is a term for the tower above the Garbhagriha or Sanctum sanctorum in a Hindu temple.-Architecture:A typical Hindu temple in Dravidian style may have multiple gopurams, typically constructed into multiple walls in tiers around the main shrine...
and the other gopura towers that dominated the town were covered with plates of gilded brass, gold and copper on their roofs, and the many shrines of the town were bordered with elaborate arches and gates, giving the entire temple complex an appearance of a city to sailors who visited the port to trade and relied on its light reflecting gopura roofs for navigational purposes. Chroniclers, travelers and benefactors of the temple describe the entire town as the property of the temple and inhabited solely by merchants during the medieval period.
The temple was destroyed in February 1587 CE by the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
colonial De Souza d'Arronches, who devastated the entire southern coast. Its ruins of granite pillars that formed the shrines' mandapa
Mandapa
A mandapa in Indian architecture is a pillared outdoor hall or pavilion for public rituals.-Temple architecture:...
can be found in the town spread over a considerable area. The temple's ancient Lingam
Lingam
The Lingam is a representation of the Hindu deity Shiva used for worship in temples....
statue and sculpture of Nandi, excavated in 1998 provide early examples of Pallava Hindu contributions to the island.
There was a temple to Vishnu
Vishnu
Vishnu is the Supreme god in the Vaishnavite tradition of Hinduism. Smarta followers of Adi Shankara, among others, venerate Vishnu as one of the five primary forms of God....
with a gilt copper roof, destroyed by the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
, and the place still attracts pilgrims today to the Dondra Fair and Perahera, held in the month of Esala (July–August).
Dondra Head was once the capital of the country.