Maviddapuram

Maviddapuram (Tamil: மாவிட்டபுரம், romanized: Māviṭṭapuram) is a village in the Sri Lankan district of Jaffna under the Tellippalai divisional secretariat.^[1]

Maviddapuram மாவிட்டபுரம் මාවිට්ටපුරම්
Village
Maviddapuram
Coordinates: 9°48′0″N 80°02′0″E
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Northern
District	Jaffna
DS Division	Valikamam North

Maviddapuram Kandaswamy temple

Etymology

The name Maviddapuram is derived from: மா, romanized: Mā, lit. 'Horse', vidda (removed) from: விட்ட, romanized: Viṭṭa, lit. 'Let go or removed' and: புரம், romanized: Puram, lit. 'Holy city'.^[2]

History

According to legend Maviddapuram has had a Hindu shrine for 5,000 years.^[3] According to another legend, an 8th-century Chola^[a] princess Mathurapuraveeravalli,^[b] daughter of Tissai Ughra Cholan, the King of Madurai, was inflicted with a persistent intestinal disorder as well as facial disfigurement which made her face look like a horse.^[5][6][7] She was advised by a priest/sage to bathe in the freshwater spring at Keerimalai.^[5][6] After bathing in the spring Mathurapuraveeravalli's illness and disfigurement vanished.^[5][6] In gratitude, she renovated a Hindu shrine, located in Kovil Kadavai about two kilometers south east of the spring, into a full temple honouring the Hindu god Murugan (Skanda).^[5][6][7] The King of Madurai sent sculptors, artists, building material, granite, statues, gold, silver etc. to assist with the renovation.^[5] The temple's statue of Kankesan (Murugan) was brought via the port of Gayathurai which was later renamed Kankesanthurai.^[8][9]

Agriculture and Industries

Before 1990, Maviddapuram had a cement factory which was one of the major producers of cement in Sri Lanka.^{[citation needed]}

Transport

• Maviddapuram railway station

Notes

1. Another source states that the princess was Pandyan.^[4]
2. Also Maruthapuraveegavalli, Marutappiravikavalli.