Matale Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil Temple

Arulmighu Sri Muthumari Amman Kovil is a sacred Hindu temple located in Matale, Sri Lanka. The temple is dedicated to Mariamman, the goddess of rain and fertility. Goddess Mariamman is a form of Goddess Parvati. Here "Muthu" literally means pearl. In the Tamil language "Mari" means rain and "Amman" means mother. The chariot festival in this temple is usually celebrated on the full moon Poya day along with Magam. The first Kumbhabhishekam of the temple was held in 1960. Situated above the main northern entrance ('Vadakku Vayil') of the temple is a large decorated tower which is one of the largest gopurams in Sri Lanka, the Raja Koburam. The 1008 idols of Hindu deities are the work of South Indian sculptor, Nagalingam and his son Ramanathan, created with the help of about 100 designers, painters and architects from Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka.