MARGINALIA:

A Chola Temple in Neduntheevu

K S Sivakumaran

We thought that the existence of a Hindu temple belonging to nearly 1000 years ago would be of interest to our readers. The ruined temple can be identified in a little island in the Yaalpaanam (Jaffna) peninsula. The islet is called Nedunthevu in Tamil (pronounced as Thamil) and Delft in English.

Archeologists from the south of the country have discovered this site a month ago and continue to do research on the subject. The Daily News carried this story early this month.

The Dean of the Faculty of History Prof P Pushparatnam at the Yaalpaanam (Jaffna) University giving details regarding this said that the structure of the temple has close resemblance to the Chola period architecture.

The length of the sanctum and the front view of the temple have affinity with the traditional arts and architecture of the Chola kings. It is also evident in the architecture of temples in the Polonnaruwa period in Lankan ancient history, and more importantly in the temple built by the Chola monarchs in Tamilnadu (Thamilnadu). There is evidence that this temple at Neduntheevu might have been built in either 10th or 11th century, he added.

Prof Pushparatnam further informed that in the south of the temple lies a road. It was built by the Hollanders (the Dutch) who ruled some parts of Lanka.

They construct red this road for the devotees to visit and pray at the Holy Laurence church.

Although the people in Neduntheevu talk about the temples and churches built by the Dutch and the British, they seemed to know nothing about the date in which this particular Hindu temple had been built.

They all believe it might have been built in antiquity.

During the 10th, 11th and 12th centuries there were an influx of a number of kings and the retinue from India. This was unprecedented.

Prof. P Pushparatnam quoting the Chulavamsa said that the dominance of the Kalinga king was evident in Oor Kavat Thurai (Kayts), Valigamam, Mannar and other places.

Presently he and his team had found the coins belonging to the Chola and Paandya periods in history. Further the activities in trade of Parakramabahu 1, had been centering on Nedubtheevu.

Various archaeological evidences have to be unearthed Therefore further research is necessitated.

Nearly half an acre of land has to be excavated. Some of the building materials had been stolen, he added.

The sculptures of Hindu deities have been recovered during the process of research by university students. Such statues resembled those in Thamilnaadu. The academic said the no coins were found in the temple but from the people living there.

Hat means the coins of the Cholas and Paandiyas were in use in Neduntheevu he surmised.

Neduntheevu is a treasure house for research, the learned professor described and felt that the government and the people should consider this for the good of everyone.

(Source: an article by D Charles Peters in Sunday Thinakutal of April 25, 2010).