The cult of Kannagi or Pattini is still popular in many parts of kerala and Tamilnadu. Pattini –the Goddess of chastity is also a popular folk deity of Sinhalese Buddhists and the Jains.It is also argued that Pattini cult was Buddhist and the goddess was assimilated into the Hindu Pantheon.
The cult had in fact a historical and sociological impact on the culture of South Asia.The pattini cult was best exposed in two Sangam works Shilapadikaram and Manimekhalai.The Epics consists of super natural elements but the bulk of the story is a human tale-the story of a chaste and devoted wife Kannaki who despite of her husbands betrayal remained loyal to him and avenged his death in the hands of the Pandyan King.The story of Manimekhalai is a continuation dealing with the life of the daughter of Kovalan to a courtesan Madhavi who embraced Buddhism and became a nun.King Senguttavan introduced the cult of Kannagi while his brother Ilongoadikal immortalized her with his masterpiece Shilapadikaram.Pattini cult became popular and was assimilated by Buddhism and in Manimekalai she appears as a Buddhist deity.There is also referred in this work about a shrine for Kannaki at Vanchi, the capital of the Cheras.This cult also spread to Srilanka probably Through contacts between Buddhist centers of Tamil country. According to Rajavaliya ,the cult was brought to Srilanka by king Gajabahu who had been to Vanchi to witness the consecration of the temple in honor of Kannagi and took back along with him the insignia of the Goddess. This story is also referred in the Buddhist work Mahavamsham. The first temple was established in Vattapalli near Mullaitivu
Vyanthimalaya is the first Sinhala treatise Written on Kannagi. Pattini-Hella Pandinaluwa are all Sinhala Buddhist Works. Until recently it was popular among the Sinhali Buddhist
and Hindu Tamils.The first historical reference was during the reign of Parakramabahu VI who built a shrine in the vicinity of his capital.Kannagi cult is popular in Tamil nadu and Kerala.She is also referred to as Mangala Devi , Mariamman etc in Tamilnadu and Bhagavathy in Kerala.
The cult had in fact a historical and sociological impact on the culture of South Asia.The pattini cult was best exposed in two Sangam works Shilapadikaram and Manimekhalai.The Epics consists of super natural elements but the bulk of the story is a human tale-the story of a chaste and devoted wife Kannaki who despite of her husbands betrayal remained loyal to him and avenged his death in the hands of the Pandyan King.The story of Manimekhalai is a continuation dealing with the life of the daughter of Kovalan to a courtesan Madhavi who embraced Buddhism and became a nun.King Senguttavan introduced the cult of Kannagi while his brother Ilongoadikal immortalized her with his masterpiece Shilapadikaram.Pattini cult became popular and was assimilated by Buddhism and in Manimekalai she appears as a Buddhist deity.There is also referred in this work about a shrine for Kannaki at Vanchi, the capital of the Cheras.This cult also spread to Srilanka probably Through contacts between Buddhist centers of Tamil country. According to Rajavaliya ,the cult was brought to Srilanka by king Gajabahu who had been to Vanchi to witness the consecration of the temple in honor of Kannagi and took back along with him the insignia of the Goddess. This story is also referred in the Buddhist work Mahavamsham. The first temple was established in Vattapalli near Mullaitivu
Vyanthimalaya is the first Sinhala treatise Written on Kannagi. Pattini-Hella Pandinaluwa are all Sinhala Buddhist Works. Until recently it was popular among the Sinhali Buddhist
and Hindu Tamils.The first historical reference was during the reign of Parakramabahu VI who built a shrine in the vicinity of his capital.Kannagi cult is popular in Tamil nadu and Kerala.She is also referred to as Mangala Devi , Mariamman etc in Tamilnadu and Bhagavathy in Kerala.
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