Munneswaram Temple is considered the oldest Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva in Sri Lanka and the ancient belief is that this is the place where King Rama prayed to Lord Shiva, after he slayed Ravana in order to rid of the bad omen or karma (named Brahmahatya Dosha) which he received after he had killed king Ravana who was a Brahmin.
It was said that Lord Shiva had instructed Lord Rama to install four Shivalingas at four different places namely Manavari, Thiru Koneshwaram, Thiru Ketheshwaram and Rameswaram in India to get rid of his ‘Brahmahatya Dosha’. Manavari Temple is the first place where Lord Rama installed the Shivalinga – and is named Ramalingam, to date. It is important to note that Rameswaram in India is the only other lingam in the world named after Lord Rama.
How to Get there
The temple is 82.3 kms North of Colombo
