The newly constructed Lord Shiva statue in Maskeliya, Central Province’s Glentilt estate, was unveiled recently. Located along the path leading to Siri Pada, the island’s most sacred peak, the statue will quickly rise to prominence as one of the most important sacred sites that should not be missed.
The enormous statue of Lord Shiva stands at a height of 27 feet. The sacred weapon of Lord Shiva, the Trishool, or Trident, is also 27 feet tall. In front of Him, the holy bull Nandhi, which is 10 feet long and 8 feet wide and serves as Lord Shiva’s vehicle, is built according to the Hindu Vedic tradition. A lingam, used for the deity’s holy bath known as abishekam, is located in between. Apart from these, on the brim of the temple, 108 Lingas also have been installed.
The statue of Lord Maha Vishnu, the god of protection, is located to the left of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is considered as The Destroyer in Hinduism . The truth is that when a devotee worships Lord Shiva, He eliminates all their negative traits.
Lord Shiva used to have river Ganga on his Jata, the braid. Interestingly, the statue has been constructed in such a thoughtful manner with a fixed water supply which is connected with the braid. So, whenever Abhishekam is done, pure water can be poured over the statue of Lord Shiva easily despite the Statue’s height. The devotees are overjoyed when sprinkles of water fall on them.
On special days, volunteers from the temple prepare and serve lunch as Prasadham to the devotees who come to worship Athma Nadeshwara Swamy, the God of the Sound of the soul. Pooja items can also be obtained for a reasonable price on the temple grounds.
It’s worth noting that in the recent past, people from all parts of the island, and even other countries, regardless of language or religion barriers, used to visit this sacred temple when passing by this estate. Consequently, the temple authorities have now implemented parking facilities ensuring easy access to the site.
The driving force behind the entire site – including the massive statue, Nandi, 108 Lingas, Dhyana Linga, Meditation hall, and Lord Maha Vishnu statue – is the Hindu Youth Men’s Association of the Glentilt Estate. It’s noteworthy that this entire setup was constructed within just a year.
