Pathirakali Amman Temple

This article is about the temple in Trincomalee, Srilanka. For similarly named temple in Tamil Nadu, India, see Pathrakaliamman Temple.

Pathirakali Amman temple
பத்திரகாளி அம்பாள் கோயில்
Shiva temple front gate with the bell tower
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Trincomalee
Province	Eastern Province
Deity	Bhadrakali (Ambal/Kali)
Festivals	Koneswaram Temple Ther Thiruvilah festival
Location
Location	Trincomalee
Country	Sri Lanka
Location in central Trincomalee
Geographic coordinates	8°34′28.28″N 81°14′2.07″E
Architecture
Type	Dravidian architecture
Completed	Unknown; inscriptional references from 11th century and before
Inscriptions	Rajendra Chola I

Statue at the temple of a guardian with a very similar appearance to Kali

Pathirakali Amman Temple (Tamil: பத்திரகாளி அம்பாள் கோயில்) – Pathirakali Ambal Kovil – or the Kali Kovil, Trincomalee is a Hindu temple dedicated to the goddess Bhadrakali, a form of the goddess Kali Amman in Trincomalee, Eastern Province, Sri Lanka. The Kali temple of the ancient Trincomalee Koneswaram Temple Compounds, a large complex of connected shrines in the Trincomalee Konesar Malai area, the temple is located close to the Trincomalee Hindu College.

Made in classical Dravidian architecture, the Kovil is located just beyond the Konesar Road Esplanade before the entrance to Konamamalai (Swami Rock). Proximal to the ancient Koneswaram temple, both ancient temples share functions during Ther Thiruvillah Festival procession and the Back Bay Sea (Theertham Karatkarai).

Pathirakali Amman temple has attracted pilgrims from before the 11th century CE. King Rajendra Chola I expanded the shrine significantly during his reign, an inscription he left detailing this is displayed on the premises.

The temple is mentioned in the book Birds of Prey (1997) by Wilbur Smith, set in the 1660s.

See also

• Thillai Kali Temple, Chidambaram
• Koneswaram temple, Trincomalee