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class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Buried_city"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2.3</span> <span>Buried city</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Buried_city-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Historical_Sites" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Historical_Sites"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Historical Sites</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Historical_Sites-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Historical Sites subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Historical_Sites-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Thiruketheeswaram_temple" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Thiruketheeswaram_temple"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.1</span> <span>Thiruketheeswaram temple</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Thiruketheeswaram_temple-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Palavi_Tank" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Palavi_Tank"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.2</span> <span>Palavi Tank</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Palavi_Tank-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Ancient_port" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Ancient_port"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3.3</span> <span>Ancient port</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Ancient_port-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Transportation" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Transportation"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Transportation</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Transportation-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Notes" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Notes"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>Notes</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Notes-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" title="Table of Contents" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " 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<div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Town in Sri Lanka</div><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1043192559">.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement{width:23em;border-collapse:collapse;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement td,.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement th{border-top:1px solid #a2a9b1;padding:0.4em 0.6em 0.4em 0.6em}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .mergedtoprow .infobox-full-data,.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .mergedtoprow .infobox-header,.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .mergedtoprow .infobox-data,.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .mergedtoprow .infobox-label,.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .mergedtoprow .infobox-below{border-top:1px solid #a2a9b1;padding:0.4em 0.6em 0.2em 0.6em}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .mergedrow .infobox-full-data,.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .mergedrow .infobox-data,.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .mergedrow .infobox-label{border:0;padding:0 0.6em 0.2em 0.6em}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .mergedbottomrow .infobox-full-data,.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .mergedbottomrow .infobox-data,.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .mergedbottomrow .infobox-label{border-top:0;border-bottom:1px solid #a2a9b1;padding:0 0.6em 0.4em 0.6em}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .maptable{border:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .infobox-header,.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .infobox-below{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .infobox-above{font-size:125%;line-height:1.3em}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement .infobox-subheader{background-color:#cddeff;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement-native{font-weight:normal;padding-top:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement-other-name{font-size:78%}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement-official{font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement-caption{padding:0.3em 0 0 0}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement-caption-link{padding:0.2em 0}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement-nickname{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .ib-settlement-fn{font-weight:normal;display:inline}</style><table class="infobox ib-settlement vcard"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above"><div class="fn org">Manthai</div> <div class="nickname ib-settlement-native"><span title="Tamil-language text"><span lang="ta">மாந்தை</span></span><br /><span title="Sinhala-language text"><span lang="si">මන්තොට</span></span></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-subheader"><div class="category"><a href="/wiki/Town" title="Town">Town</a></div></td></tr><tr class="mergedtoprow"><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238443738">.mw-parser-output .locmap .od{position:absolute}.mw-parser-output .locmap .id{position:absolute;line-height:0}.mw-parser-output .locmap .l0{font-size:0;position:absolute}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pv{line-height:110%;position:absolute;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pl{line-height:110%;position:absolute;top:-0.75em;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pr{line-height:110%;position:absolute;top:-0.75em;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pv>div{display:inline;padding:1px}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pl>div{display:inline;padding:1px;float:right}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pr>div{display:inline;padding:1px;float:left}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od .pv>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od .pl>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od .pr>div{background:#fff!important;color:#000!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .locmap{filter:grayscale(0.6)}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data .locmap div{background:transparent!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .locmap{filter:grayscale(0.6)}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od .pv>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od .pl>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od .pr>div{background:white!important;color:#000!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data .locmap div{background:transparent!important}}</style><div class="center"><div class="locmap" style="width:250px;float:none;clear:both;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto"><div style="width:250px;padding:0"><div style="position:relative;width:250px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Location_map_Sri_Lanka_Northern_Province_EN.svg" class="mw-file-description" title="Manthai is located in Northern Province"><img alt="Manthai is located in Northern Province" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Location_map_Sri_Lanka_Northern_Province_EN.svg/250px-Location_map_Sri_Lanka_Northern_Province_EN.svg.png" decoding="async" width="250" height="245" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Location_map_Sri_Lanka_Northern_Province_EN.svg/375px-Location_map_Sri_Lanka_Northern_Province_EN.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/Location_map_Sri_Lanka_Northern_Province_EN.svg/500px-Location_map_Sri_Lanka_Northern_Province_EN.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="552" data-file-height="540" /></a></span><div class="od notheme" style="top:63.09%;left:28.323%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-3px;top:-3px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Manthai"><img alt="Manthai" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/6px-Red_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="6" height="6" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/9px-Red_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Red_pog.svg/12px-Red_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pr" style="width:6em;left:4px"><div>Manthai</div></div></div></div><div style="padding-top:0.2em"></div></div></div></div></td></tr><tr class="mergedbottomrow"><td colspan="2" class="infobox-full-data">Coordinates: <span class="geo-inline"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1156832818">.mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct,.mw-parser-output .geo-inline-hidden{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}</style><span class="plainlinks nourlexpansion"><a class="external text" href="https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Manthai&params=8_59_22_N_79_59_53_E_region:LK_type:city"><span class="geo-default"><span class="geo-dms" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location"><span class="latitude">8°59′22″N</span> <span class="longitude">79°59′53″E</span></span></span><span class="geo-multi-punct"> / </span><span class="geo-nondefault"><span class="geo-dec" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location">8.98944°N 79.99806°E</span><span style="display:none"> / <span class="geo">8.98944; 79.99806</span></span></span></a></span></span></td></tr><tr class="mergedtoprow"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/List_of_countries" class="mw-redirect" title="List of countries">Country</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Sri_Lanka" title="Sri Lanka">Sri Lanka</a></td></tr><tr class="mergedrow"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Provinces_of_Sri_Lanka" title="Provinces of Sri Lanka">Province</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Northern_Province,_Sri_Lanka" title="Northern Province, Sri Lanka">Northern</a></td></tr><tr class="mergedrow"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Districts_of_Sri_Lanka" title="Districts of Sri Lanka">District</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/Mannar_District" title="Mannar District">Mannar</a></td></tr><tr class="mergedrow"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Divisional_Secretariats_of_Sri_Lanka" class="mw-redirect" title="Divisional Secretariats of Sri Lanka">DS Division</a></th><td class="infobox-data">Manthai West</td></tr><tr class="mergedrow"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"> • Chairman</th><td class="infobox-data">(<a href="/wiki/Tamil_National_Alliance" title="Tamil National Alliance">TNA</a>)</td></tr><tr class="mergedtoprow"><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="/wiki/Time_zone" title="Time zone">Time zone</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/UTC%2B5:30" class="mw-redirect" title="UTC+5:30">UTC+5:30</a> (<a href="/wiki/Time_zone#UTC_.2B_6.2C_F" title="Time zone">Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone</a>)</td></tr></tbody></table> <p><b>Manthai</b> (<a href="/wiki/Tamil_language" title="Tamil language">Tamil</a>: <span lang="ta">மாந்தை</span>, <small>romanized: </small><span title="Tamil-language romanization"><i lang="ta-Latn">Māntai</i></span>) is a coastal town and an ancient harbor situated in the <a href="/wiki/Mannar_district" class="mw-redirect" title="Mannar district">Mannar district</a>, of the <a href="/wiki/Northern_Province,_Sri_Lanka" title="Northern Province, Sri Lanka">Northern Province</a> of <a href="/wiki/Sri_Lanka" title="Sri Lanka">Sri Lanka</a>. Manthai functioned as the main port of the <a href="/wiki/Anuradhapura_Kingdom" class="mw-redirect" title="Anuradhapura Kingdom">Anuradhapura Kingdom</a> throughout its history. </p><p>Historically known as <i>Manthottam</i> in <a href="/wiki/Tamil_language" title="Tamil language">Tamil</a> and <i>Manthota</i> or <i>Mahathiththa</i> in <a href="/wiki/Sinhalese_language" class="mw-redirect" title="Sinhalese language">Sinhalese</a>, it is an important religious site in the island for the <a href="/wiki/Hindus" title="Hindus">Hindus</a>, due to the <a href="/wiki/Ketheeswaram_temple" title="Ketheeswaram temple">Ketheeswaram Kovil</a>, one of the <a href="/wiki/Pancha_Ishwarams" title="Pancha Ishwarams">five Ishwarams</a> dedicated to <a href="/wiki/Shiva" title="Shiva">Shiva</a> in the island.<sup id="cite_ref-Arumugam_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Arumugam-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Etymology">Etymology</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Manthai&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Etymology"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The name Manthai does not occur in any of the early works and it is a recent name use for the ancient port of Mahatittha.<sup id="cite_ref-Indrapala1_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Indrapala1-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In early Sinhalese inscriptions and literature (5th century - 12th century), Mahatittha is referred to as Matota, Mahavoti, Mahaputu, Mahavutu, Mavatutota, and Mahapatana.<sup id="cite_ref-nicholas_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-nicholas-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-Indrapala1_2-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Indrapala1-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In the Tamil poems of about the 7th, 8th and 9th centuries and in the Chola inscriptions of the 11th century, the Tamilised form of Matottam has been used.<sup id="cite_ref-Indrapala1_2-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Indrapala1-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The present name Manthai is an abbreviation of Matottam.<sup id="cite_ref-Indrapala1_2-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Indrapala1-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The term Manthottam is mentioned in many ancient Tamil epics.<sup id="cite_ref-Perera_4-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Perera-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Sinhalese epics refer to both the town as well as the town of <a href="/wiki/Mannar,_Sri_Lanka" title="Mannar, Sri Lanka">Mannar</a> by the term Mahathittha. </p><p>The place was also known as <i>Rajarajapuram</i> when the northern part of <a href="/wiki/Sri_Lanka" title="Sri Lanka">Sri Lanka</a> was ruled by <a href="/wiki/Raja_Raja_Chola_I" class="mw-redirect" title="Raja Raja Chola I">Raja Raja Chola I</a> in the 10th century AD as mentioned in an inscription of the <a href="/wiki/Chola_dynasty" title="Chola dynasty">Cholas</a> found in Manthai.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Manthai&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: History"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Ancient_history">Ancient history</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Manthai&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Ancient history"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>During the ancient period, Manthai was a center of <a href="/wiki/International_trade" title="International trade">international trade</a> with trading contacts to the <a href="/wiki/Red_Sea" title="Red Sea">Red Sea</a>, <a href="/wiki/Persian_Gulf" title="Persian Gulf">Persian Gulf</a>, <a href="/wiki/East_Africa" title="East Africa">East Africa</a>, <a href="/wiki/Far_East" title="Far East">Far East</a> and <a href="/wiki/Greater_India" title="Greater India">Greater India</a> as testified with archeological excavations.<sup id="cite_ref-Cassie_Chetty_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Cassie_Chetty-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Coins of the <a href="/wiki/Pandyan_dynasty" class="mw-redirect" title="Pandyan dynasty">Pandyan dynasty</a> and <a href="/wiki/Chola_dynasty" title="Chola dynasty">Chola dynasty</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Sangam_period" class="mw-redirect" title="Sangam period">Sangam period</a> were discovered in Manthai.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> With the likes of <a href="/wiki/Arikamedu" title="Arikamedu">Arikamedu</a> and <a href="/wiki/Karaikadu" title="Karaikadu">Karaikadu</a> of <a href="/wiki/Tamil_Nadu" title="Tamil Nadu">Tamil Nadu</a>, Manthai was a major exporter of <a href="/wiki/Bead" title="Bead">beads</a> since the early first millennium AD.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The <a href="/wiki/Ku%E1%B9%9Funtokai" title="Kuṟuntokai">Kuruntokai</a> of <a href="/wiki/Sangam_literature" title="Sangam literature">Sangam literature</a> mentions the <a href="/wiki/Chera_dynasty" title="Chera dynasty">Chera</a> king <i>Kuttuvan</i> of Manthai. According to Dr. Paul E. Peiris, an erudite scholar and historian, <a href="/wiki/Ketheeswaram_temple" title="Ketheeswaram temple">Thiruketheeswaram</a> in Manthai was one of the five recognized Eeswarams of Siva in Lanka very long before the arrival of Vijaya in 600 B.C <sup id="cite_ref-paulEPeiris_11-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-paulEPeiris-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Rule_of_the_Cholas">Rule of the Cholas</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Manthai&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Rule of the Cholas"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>During the reign of the <a href="/wiki/Chola" class="mw-redirect" title="Chola">Cholas</a>, between the 10th and 11th Centuries C.E., the town had developed into a major port, with many highways and served as an important link between the island and the mainland <a href="/wiki/Chola_kingdom" class="mw-redirect" title="Chola kingdom">Chola kingdom</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-sastri_12-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-sastri-12"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>12<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>Somewhere around 1070, Manthai, which was a thriving Chola seaport town came under attack from Vijayabahu, a Sinhalese monarch leading a military campaign to expel the Cholas from the island. The Cholas, who by then had lost control of most of the island, withdrew from Manthoddam, thus ending their century-long rule in the island. Under the rule of <a href="/wiki/Raja_Raja_Chola_I" class="mw-redirect" title="Raja Raja Chola I">Raja Raja Chola I</a> and his son <a href="/wiki/Rajendra_Chola_I" class="mw-redirect" title="Rajendra Chola I">Rajendra Chola I</a>, was a <a href="/wiki/Shaivism" title="Shaivism">Shaivite</a> Hindu temple built known as <i>Rajaraja Ishwaram</i> <i>Kovil</i>, named after the king.<sup id="cite_ref-13" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-13"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>13<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Buried_city">Buried city</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Manthai&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Buried city"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Mathoddam is currently viewed as the only port on the island that could be called a "buried city," with much of the ancient ruins under sand today. The existence of the Thiruketheeswaram temple attests to the antiquity of the port. Manthoddam finds mention as "one of the greatest ports" on the seaboard between the island and <a href="/wiki/Tamilakam" title="Tamilakam">Tamilakam</a> in the Tamil <a href="/wiki/Sangam_literature" title="Sangam literature">Sangam literature</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Classical_antiquity" title="Classical antiquity">classical period</a> (600 BCE - 300 CE).<sup id="cite_ref-Perera_4-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Perera-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Historical_Sites">Historical Sites</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Manthai&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: Historical Sites"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1251242444">.mw-parser-output .ambox{border:1px solid #a2a9b1;border-left:10px solid #36c;background-color:#fbfbfb;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+link+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+style+.ambox,.mw-parser-output .ambox+.mw-empty-elt+link+link+.ambox{margin-top:-1px}html body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .ambox.mbox-small-left{margin:4px 1em 4px 0;overflow:hidden;width:238px;border-collapse:collapse;font-size:88%;line-height:1.25em}.mw-parser-output .ambox-speedy{border-left:10px solid #b32424;background-color:#fee7e6}.mw-parser-output .ambox-delete{border-left:10px solid #b32424}.mw-parser-output .ambox-content{border-left:10px solid #f28500}.mw-parser-output .ambox-style{border-left:10px solid #fc3}.mw-parser-output .ambox-move{border-left:10px solid #9932cc}.mw-parser-output .ambox-protection{border-left:10px solid #a2a9b1}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-text{border:none;padding:0.25em 0.5em;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image{border:none;padding:2px 0 2px 0.5em;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-imageright{border:none;padding:2px 0.5em 2px 0;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-empty-cell{border:none;padding:0;width:1px}.mw-parser-output .ambox .mbox-image-div{width:52px}@media(min-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .ambox{margin:0 10%}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .ambox{display:none!important}}</style><table class="box-More_footnotes_needed plainlinks metadata ambox ambox-style ambox-More_footnotes_needed" role="presentation"><tbody><tr><td class="mbox-image"><div class="mbox-image-div"><span typeof="mw:File"><span><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/40px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png" decoding="async" width="40" height="40" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/60px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg/80px-Text_document_with_red_question_mark.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="48" data-file-height="48" /></span></span></div></td><td class="mbox-text"><div class="mbox-text-span">This section includes a list of <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#General_references" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">general references</a>, but <b>it lacks sufficient corresponding <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources#Inline_citations" title="Wikipedia:Citing sources">inline citations</a></b>.<span class="hide-when-compact"> Please help to <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:WikiProject_Reliability" title="Wikipedia:WikiProject Reliability">improve</a> this section by <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:When_to_cite" title="Wikipedia:When to cite">introducing</a> more precise citations.</span> <span class="date-container"><i>(<span class="date">March 2020</span>)</i></span><span class="hide-when-compact"><i> (<small><a href="/wiki/Help:Maintenance_template_removal" title="Help:Maintenance template removal">Learn how and when to remove this message</a></small>)</i></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Thiruketheeswaram_temple">Thiruketheeswaram temple</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Manthai&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Thiruketheeswaram temple"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Ketheeswaram_temple" title="Ketheeswaram temple">Ketheeswaram temple</a> situated at Manthai, is one of the five major <a href="/wiki/Saiva" title="Saiva">Saiva</a> temples in the island and among the 275 <a href="/wiki/Paadal_Petra_Sthalams" class="mw-redirect" title="Paadal Petra Sthalams">Paadal Petra Sthalams</a> of Lord Shiva in the continent. The temple remains as a significant religious center for the Hindus in the country. </p><p>The shrine's initial installment is credited to the indigenous <a href="/wiki/Karaiyar" title="Karaiyar">Karaiyar</a> <a href="/wiki/Naga_people_(Lanka)" title="Naga people (Lanka)">Naga tribe</a>, The Karaiyars claimed to be related to several classical period public figures hailing from the international port town, including the creator of the oldest extant Tamil literature by a Sri Lankan Tamil, the Sangam poet <a href="/wiki/Eelattu_Poothanthevanar" title="Eelattu Poothanthevanar">Eelattu Poothanthevanar</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-14" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-14"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>14<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-15" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-15"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>15<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Though there has been no substantial confirmations regarding the temple's original date of construction, the shrine is believed to have existed for possibly more than 2400 years together, with inspirational and literary evidence of the <a href="/wiki/Postclassical" class="mw-redirect" title="Postclassical">postclassical</a> era ( 600BC - 1500AD) attesting to the shrine's classical antiquity.<sup id="cite_ref-paulEPeiris_11-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-paulEPeiris-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>The temple along with other major Hindu and Buddhist shrines of worship, was destroyed by the Portuguese conquests of the late 16th century and its very stones were used to build the Mannar fort, a Catholic church and the Hammershield Fort at Kayts. </p><p>The local Tamils under the urging of the famous Hindu reformer <a href="/wiki/Arumuka_Navalar" title="Arumuka Navalar">Arumuka Navalar</a> rebuilt the present-day temple at its original site. Since outbreak of the <a href="/wiki/Sri_Lankan_Civil_War" class="mw-redirect" title="Sri Lankan Civil War">Sri Lankan Civil War</a>, the town and the temple has come under the occupation of the <a href="/wiki/Sri_Lankan_military" class="mw-redirect" title="Sri Lankan military">Sri Lankan military</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Palavi_Tank">Palavi Tank</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Manthai&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Palavi Tank"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The Palavi Theertham is a tank situated near the Thiruketheeswaram temple. </p><p>The Palavi tank is prospered by the river Palavi, which had been the outlet of Matale waters via Malwattu Oya and other natural waterways of the extensive basin. The sacred Palavi Theertham which was described in ancient Tamil hymns as sacred as the river Ganges, is used by the Hindus to offer rites and rituals for their ancestors. </p><p>An effigy of Lord Ketheeswarar is immersed in the scared tank as a part of the ritual bath, during the annual temple festival. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Ancient_port">Ancient port</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Manthai&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Ancient port"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Manthai, known as Mahathiththa during ancient times, was situated north of the mouth of the <a href="/wiki/Malvathu_River" class="mw-redirect" title="Malvathu River">Malvathu River</a> (Aruvi Aru). There is evidence of an ancient river bed that ran close to the ancient port site that allowed for river traffic. This allowed for the development of Manthai as the main port of the <a href="/wiki/Anuradhapura_Kingdom" class="mw-redirect" title="Anuradhapura Kingdom">Anuradhapura Kingdom</a>, dating back at least to the 3rd century B.C.<sup id="cite_ref-16" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-16"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>16<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>During its early development Manthai likely traded predominantly with ports in India. After the 1st century A.D. Manthai appears to have developed into a regional hub soon becoming one of the most important ports in the maritime silk route. This is supported by various Persian, <a href="/wiki/Sassanid" class="mw-redirect" title="Sassanid">Sassanid</a>, Greco-Roman, Indian and Chinese artifacts and coins that have been found during excavations.<sup id="cite_ref-17" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-17"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>17<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>An excavation by an international team of researchers in 2010 found archaeobotanical evidence of <a href="/wiki/Black_Pepper" class="mw-redirect" title="Black Pepper">black Pepper</a>, <a href="/wiki/Cloves" class="mw-redirect" title="Cloves">cloves</a> and various cereals. In addition to these, pottery and semi-precious stones have been unearthed. These material were dated all the way from the 2nd century B.C. to the second millennium A.D., indicating a flourishing, cosmopolitan port.<sup id="cite_ref-18" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-18"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>18<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>While the Mahathiththa harbor and its river link to the city of <a href="/wiki/Anuradhapura" title="Anuradhapura">Anuradhapura</a> provided a valuable trade route, it also made the Anuradhapura Kingdom vulnerable to conquests with numerous South Indian invaders landing at Manthai and marching to the city along the Malvathu oya. The port seems to have diminished in importance with the collapse of the Anuradhapura Kingdom. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Transportation">Transportation</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Manthai&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Transportation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The town is situated on the A32 Highway that runs between <a href="/wiki/Mannar,_Sri_Lanka" title="Mannar, Sri Lanka">Mannar</a> and <a href="/wiki/Jaffna" title="Jaffna">Jaffna</a>. The town of <a href="/wiki/Adampan" title="Adampan">Adampan</a> is located 5 km east of Manthai. Other towns in close proximity are <a href="/wiki/Vankalai" title="Vankalai">Vankalai</a>, Uyilankulam, Achchankulam, Andankulam etc. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Manthai&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Kudramalai" class="mw-redirect" title="Kudramalai">Kudramalai</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Mannar,_Sri_Lanka" title="Mannar, Sri Lanka">Mannar</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Notes">Notes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Manthai&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Notes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist reflist-columns references-column-width reflist-columns-2"> <ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Arumugam-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Arumugam_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#Arumugam">Arumugam</a> pp-15</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Indrapala1-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Indrapala1_2-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Indrapala1_2-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Indrapala1_2-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Indrapala1_2-3"><sup><i><b>d</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite id="CITEREFIndrapala1965" class="citation book cs1">Indrapala, Karthigesu (1965). <i>Dravidian settlements in Ceylon and the beginning of the Kingdom of Jaffna</i>. London: Thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy, University of London.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Dravidian+settlements+in+Ceylon+and+the+beginning+of+the+Kingdom+of+Jaffna&rft.place=London&rft.pub=Thesis+submitted+for+the+Degree+of+Doctor+of+Philosophy%2C+University+of+London&rft.date=1965&rft.aulast=Indrapala&rft.aufirst=Karthigesu&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AManthai" class="Z3988"></span>pp. 33-34</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-nicholas-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-nicholas_3-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFNicholas1963" class="citation book cs1">Nicholas, C.W. (1963). <i>Historical topography of ancient and medieval Ceylon. Journal of the Ceylon Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society, New Series (Vol VI). Special Number</i>. Colombo: Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch).</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Historical+topography+of+ancient+and+medieval+Ceylon.+Journal+of+the+Ceylon+Branch+of+the+Royal+Asiatic+Society%2C+New+Series+%28Vol+VI%29.+Special+Number&rft.place=Colombo&rft.pub=Royal+Asiatic+Society+%28Ceylon+Branch%29&rft.date=1963&rft.aulast=Nicholas&rft.aufirst=C.W.&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AManthai" class="Z3988"></span>pp. 75-79</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Perera-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Perera_4-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Perera_4-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#Perera">Perera</a></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite class="citation book cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=8hpDAAAAYAAJ"><i>Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka</i></a>. Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka. 1992. p. 114.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Journal+of+the+Royal+Asiatic+Society+of+Sri+Lanka&rft.pages=114&rft.pub=Royal+Asiatic+Society+of+Sri+Lanka&rft.date=1992&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3D8hpDAAAAYAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AManthai" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-Cassie_Chetty-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Cassie_Chetty_6-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Cassie Chetty, Simon</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFJacq-Hergoualc'h2002" class="citation book cs1">Jacq-Hergoualc'h, Michel (2002). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=a5rG6reWhloC"><i>The Malay Peninsula: Crossroads of the Maritime Silk-Road (100 Bc-1300 Ad)</i></a>. BRILL. p. 277. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9004119736" title="Special:BookSources/9004119736"><bdi>9004119736</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+Malay+Peninsula%3A+Crossroads+of+the+Maritime+Silk-Road+%28100+Bc-1300+Ad%29&rft.pages=277&rft.pub=BRILL&rft.date=2002&rft.isbn=9004119736&rft.aulast=Jacq-Hergoualc%27h&rft.aufirst=Michel&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Da5rG6reWhloC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AManthai" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFLanka)KiruṣṇamūrttiVikramasiṃha2005" class="citation book cs1">Lanka), National Museum of Colombo (Sri; Kiruṣṇamūrtti, Irā; Vikramasiṃha, Senarat (2005). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=l4tGWVwqkaIC"><i>A Catalogue of the Sangam Age Pandya and Chola Coins in the National Museum, Colombo, Sri Lanka</i></a>. Department of the National Museums. p. 14. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9789555780179" title="Special:BookSources/9789555780179"><bdi>9789555780179</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=A+Catalogue+of+the+Sangam+Age+Pandya+and+Chola+Coins+in+the+National+Museum%2C+Colombo%2C+Sri+Lanka&rft.pages=14&rft.pub=Department+of+the+National+Museums&rft.date=2005&rft.isbn=9789555780179&rft.aulast=Lanka%29&rft.aufirst=National+Museum+of+Colombo+%28Sri&rft.au=Kiru%E1%B9%A3%E1%B9%87am%C5%ABrtti%2C+Ir%C4%81&rft.au=Vikramasi%E1%B9%83ha%2C+Senarat&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3Dl4tGWVwqkaIC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AManthai" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFHeitzmanHeitzman2008" class="citation book cs1">Heitzman, Associate Professor Department of History James; Heitzman, James (2008-03-31). <span class="id-lock-registration" title="Free registration required"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/cityinsouthasia0000heit"><i>The City in South Asia</i></a></span>. Routledge. pp. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/cityinsouthasia0000heit/page/82">82</a>. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781134289639" title="Special:BookSources/9781134289639"><bdi>9781134289639</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+City+in+South+Asia&rft.pages=82&rft.pub=Routledge&rft.date=2008-03-31&rft.isbn=9781134289639&rft.aulast=Heitzman&rft.aufirst=Associate+Professor+Department+of+History+James&rft.au=Heitzman%2C+James&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Farchive.org%2Fdetails%2Fcityinsouthasia0000heit&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AManthai" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFFrancis2002" class="citation book cs1">Francis, Peter (2002). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=zzZBdGQN_TIC"><i>Asia's Maritime Bead Trade: 300 B.C. to the Present</i></a>. University of Hawaii Press. p. 31. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780824823320" title="Special:BookSources/9780824823320"><bdi>9780824823320</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Asia%27s+Maritime+Bead+Trade%3A+300+B.C.+to+the+Present&rft.pages=31&rft.pub=University+of+Hawaii+Press&rft.date=2002&rft.isbn=9780824823320&rft.aulast=Francis&rft.aufirst=Peter&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DzzZBdGQN_TIC&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AManthai" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-paulEPeiris-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-paulEPeiris_11-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-paulEPeiris_11-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#paulEPeiris">PaulEPieres</a>, 1917</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-sastri-12"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-sastri_12-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#Sastri">Sastri</a>, pp 172–173</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-13"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-13">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFSeneviratnaDepārtamēntuva1998" class="citation book cs1">Seneviratna, Anuradha; Depārtamēntuva, Sri Lanka Purāvidyā (1998). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=DlNuAAAAMAAJ"><i>Polonnaruva, medieval capital of Sri Lanka: an illustrated survey of ancient monuments</i></a>. Archaeological Survey Dept. p. 34. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/9789559159032" title="Special:BookSources/9789559159032"><bdi>9789559159032</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Polonnaruva%2C+medieval+capital+of+Sri+Lanka%3A+an+illustrated+survey+of+ancient+monuments&rft.pages=34&rft.pub=Archaeological+Survey+Dept.&rft.date=1998&rft.isbn=9789559159032&rft.aulast=Seneviratna&rft.aufirst=Anuradha&rft.au=Dep%C4%81rtam%C4%93ntuva%2C+Sri+Lanka+Pur%C4%81vidy%C4%81&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fbooks.google.com%2Fbooks%3Fid%3DDlNuAAAAMAAJ&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AManthai" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-14"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-14">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Xavier, J.T. (1977). “The Land of Letters”. 8-13</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-15"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-15">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Muthuthampipillai. (1915). 56</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-16"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-16">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Bohingamuwa, W. 2017a. Ancient Mahatittha (Mantai) in Sri Lanka: a historical biography. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka 62(2): 23–50</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-17"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-17">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">An excavation in Mantai: city by the sea. Carswell, J., S. Deraniyagala & A. Graham. 2013. Aichwald: Linden Soft.ed</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-18"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-18">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">Kingwell-Banham, E., Bohingamuwa, W., Perera, N., Adikari, G., Crowther, A., Fuller, D., & Boivin, N. (2018). Spice and rice: Pepper, cloves and everyday cereal foods at the ancient port of Mantai, Sri Lanka. Antiquity, 92(366), 1552-1570. doi:10.15184/aqy.2018.168</span> </li> </ol></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Manthai&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239549316">.mw-parser-output .refbegin{margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul{margin-left:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{margin-left:0;padding-left:3.2em;text-indent:-3.2em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul,.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents ul li{list-style:none}@media(max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .refbegin-hanging-indents>ul>li{padding-left:1.6em;text-indent:-1.6em}}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .refbegin-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .refbegin{font-size:90%}}</style><div class="refbegin" style=""> <ul><li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="Sastri" class="citation book cs1"><a href="/wiki/K.A._Nilakanta_Sastri" class="mw-redirect" title="K.A. Nilakanta Sastri">K.A. Nilakanta Sastri, K.A</a> (2000) [1935]. <i>The CōĻas</i>. Madras: University of Madras.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=The+C%C5%8D%C4%BBas&rft.place=Madras&rft.pub=University+of+Madras&rft.date=2000&rft.aulast=K.A.+Nilakanta+Sastri&rft.aufirst=K.A&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AManthai" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><cite id="Arumugam"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222" /><cite id="CITEREFArumugam1980" class="citation journal cs1">Arumugam, S (1980). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thiruketheeswaram.com/">"The Lord of Thiruketheeswaram, an ancient Hindu sthalam of hoary antiquity in Sri Lanka"</a>. Colombo: 15. <a href="/wiki/OCLC_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="OCLC (identifier)">OCLC</a> <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/10020492">10020492</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=The+Lord+of+Thiruketheeswaram%2C+an+ancient+Hindu+sthalam+of+hoary+antiquity+in+Sri+Lanka&rft.pages=15&rft.date=1980&rft_id=info%3Aoclcnum%2F10020492&rft.aulast=Arumugam&rft.aufirst=S&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fthiruketheeswaram.com%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AManthai" class="Z3988"></span> <span class="cs1-visible-error citation-comment"><code class="cs1-code">{{<a href="/wiki/Template:Cite_journal" title="Template:Cite journal">cite journal</a>}}</code>: </span><span class="cs1-visible-error citation-comment">Cite journal requires <code class="cs1-code">|journal=</code> (<a href="/wiki/Help:CS1_errors#missing_periodical" title="Help:CS1 errors">help</a>)</span></cite></li> <li><cite id="paulEPeiris"> Dr.Paul E.Pieris declared in 1917, at a meeting of the Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch), there was in Lanka five recognized ‘Eeswararns’ of <a href="/wiki/Shiva" title="Shiva">Siva</a>, which claimed and received adoration of all India. These were <a href="/wiki/Ketheeswaram_temple" title="Ketheeswaram temple">Tiruketheeswaram</a> near Manthottam, <a href="/wiki/Munneswaram_temple" title="Munneswaram temple">Munneswaram</a>, <a href="/wiki/Tenavaram_temple" title="Tenavaram temple">Thondeswaram</a>, <a href="/wiki/Koneswaram_temple" class="mw-redirect" title="Koneswaram temple">Tirukoneswaram</a> and <a href="/wiki/Naguleswaram" class="mw-redirect" title="Naguleswaram">Naguleswaram</a>. <i>Royal Asiatic Society (Ceylon Branch)</i> </cite></li> <li><cite id="Perera">Perera, B.J. “Although Mahathitha (Mathoddam) is first mentioned in connection with the landing of Vijaya's second wife, a royal princess from the Pandyan Kingdom, there is no doubt that it was used as port by the Tamils long before the Aryan settlement in Ceylon. The existence of the Temple Tiruketheeswaram, the origin of which is not covered by existing records, is an indication of the antiquity of the port. Indeed Mahathitta is the only port in the Island which can be called a buried city. Mahathittha was a great port in the early centuries of the common era. Next we have the references in the Sangam literature of the Tamils describing Mahathitta as a great port.”</cite></li></ul> </div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?useformat=desktop&type=1x1&usesul3=0" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Manthai&oldid=1280221633">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Manthai&oldid=1280221633</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" data-mw="interface"><div id="mw-normal-catlinks" class="mw-normal-catlinks"><a href="/wiki/Help:Category" title="Help:Category">Categories</a>: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Towns_in_Mannar_District" title="Category:Towns in Mannar District">Towns in Mannar District</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Manthai_West_DS_Division" title="Category:Manthai West DS Division">Manthai West DS Division</a></li></ul></div><div id="mw-hidden-catlinks" class="mw-hidden-catlinks mw-hidden-cats-hidden">Hidden categories: <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_with_short_description" title="Category:Articles with short description">Articles with short description</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Short_description_matches_Wikidata" title="Category:Short description matches Wikidata">Short description matches Wikidata</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_containing_Tamil-language_text" title="Category:Articles containing Tamil-language text">Articles containing Tamil-language text</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_containing_Sinhala-language_text" title="Category:Articles containing Sinhala-language text">Articles containing Sinhala-language text</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Pages_using_gadget_WikiMiniAtlas" title="Category:Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas">Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:Articles_lacking_in-text_citations_from_March_2020" title="Category:Articles lacking in-text citations from March 2020">Articles lacking in-text citations from March 2020</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:All_articles_lacking_in-text_citations" title="Category:All articles lacking in-text citations">All articles lacking in-text citations</a></li><li><a href="/wiki/Category:CS1_errors:_missing_periodical" title="Category:CS1 errors: missing periodical">CS1 errors: missing periodical</a></li></ul></div></div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="mw-footer-container"> <footer id="footer" class="mw-footer" > <ul id="footer-info"> <li id="footer-info-lastmod"> This page was last edited on 13 March 2025, at 08:14<span class="anonymous-show"> (UTC)</span>.</li> <li id="footer-info-copyright">Text is available under the <a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_Creative_Commons_Attribution-ShareAlike_4.0_International_License" title="Wikipedia:Text of the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License">Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License</a>; additional terms may apply. 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