Maviddapuram () is a village in the

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

n district of

Jaffna Jaffna (, ; , ) is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka, Northern Province of Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna District located on a Jaffna Peninsula, peninsula of the same name. With a population o ...

under the

Tellippalai Tellippalai or Thellippalai ( Tellippaḻai

divisional secretariat.

Etymology

The name Maviddapuram is derived , ''vidda'' (removed) .

History

According to legend Maviddapuram has had a Hindu shrine for 5,000 years. According to another legend, an 8th-century

Chola The Chola Empire, which is often referred to as the Imperial Cholas, was a medieval thalassocratic empire based in southern India that was ruled by the Chola dynasty, and comprised overseas dominions, protectorates and spheres of influence ...

princess Mathurapuraveeravalli, daughter of Tissai Ughra Cholan, the King of

Madurai Madurai ( , , ), formerly known as Madura, is a major city in the States and union territories of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the cultural capital of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Madurai District, which is ...

, was inflicted with a persistent intestinal disorder as well as facial disfigurement which made her face look like a horse. She was advised by a priest/sage to bathe in the freshwater spring at

Keerimalai Keerimalai ( kīrimalai) is a town in Jaffna District, Sri Lanka. Naguleswaram temple is located in this suburb. The mineral water spring called Keerimalai Springs here is reputed for its curative properties. In Tamil, Keerimalai means "mongoose ...

. After bathing in the spring Mathurapuraveeravalli's illness and disfigurement vanished. 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 Kartikeya (/ kɑɾt̪ɪkejə/; ), also known as Skanda ( /skən̪d̪ə/), Subrahmanya (/ sʊbɾəɦməɲjə/, /ɕʊ-/), Shanmukha ( /ɕɑnmʊkʰə/) and Murugan (/ mʊɾʊgən/), is the Hindu god of war. He is generally described as the ...

(Skanda). The King of Madurai sent sculptors, artists, building material, granite, statues, gold, silver etc. to assist with the renovation. The temple's statue of Kankesan (Murugan) was brought via the port of Gayathurai which was later renamed

Kankesanthurai Kankesanthurai (, , lit. ''Port Kankesan''), colloquially known as KKS, is a port suburb, fishing division and resort hub of the Jaffna District, Northern Province, Sri Lanka. Formerly an electoral district, Kankesanthurai is home to the Kankesant ...

Agriculture and Industries

Before 1990, Maviddapuram had a cement factory which was one of the major producers of cement in Sri Lanka.

Transport

* Maviddapuram railway station

Notes

References

{{coord, 9, 48, N, 80, 02, E, display=title, region:LK_type:city_source:GNS-enwiki Villages in Jaffna District Valikamam North DS Division