HINDUISM

Point Pedro Arthiady Pillaiyar Temple :

Spiritual glory of Lord Ganesha

G. Arulanandan

Arthiady Pillaiyar temple which is dedicated to Lord Ganesha is situated at Puloly West, Point Pedro in Vadamarachchy area. This temple is the Guardian Deity of the devotees of Arthiady, Thambasiddy and surrounding areas. Further this temple which is dedicated to God Pillaiyar is a historical temple and the reconstruction and restoration took place a few years ago with the co-operation, assistance and support or the people of the area and several philanthropists and the board of trustees of this temple.

Pillaiyar is worshipped in all Hindu temples, Hindu homes and all Hindu ceremonies to invoke the blessings of Him.

Pillaiyar is worshipped in all Hindu temples, Hindu homes and all Hindu ceremonies to invoke the blessings of Him. Even the celestial beings are said to have worshipped him before embarking on any important functions or ceremonies.

God Ganesha holds a hatchet in one hand which symbolises the cutting away of vanity and false teachings. He also holds on ‘Ankusha” to cut through illusion and in another hand a noose (PASA) which represents, the restraining of passions and desires. In his fourth hand, he holds a sweet (Modakam) with the external tasteless past of rice flour and an internal tasty parts of taggary and coconut. They symbolise the universe where the outward worldliness has no worth, but in this is the Bliss'.

Significance

The bulky body of Pillaiyar stands for this cosmos in its entirety. The huge pot belly signifies space containing all things and beings of the world. He has a snake which indicates energy is all forms. The idea contained in the concept is that all things have this allotted place in the womb of native and they are all supported by the cosmic energy.

His trunk represents the sensitive reception of stimuli and cognition which signifies the faculty of discrimination. Further, he is single tusked. The broken tusk signifies that he has broken away from ignorance which hides the path of God. The single tusk also denotes single mindedness in action.The other tusk indicates highest knowledge.

His broad ears signify that he hears everything communicated to him. They indicate omniscience. The three eyes of Lord Ganesha represent the Moon, the Sun and Fire, which in turn indicate the three phases of creation, sustenance and destruction. The third eye is a symbol of intuitive knowledge.

Divinity

Lord Ganesha uses His little mouse as His vehicle. This signifies all beings high and low, big and small are the vehicles of divinity enshrined in the hearts. The little mouse also stands for time. God is beyond time. He is the controller of time and so he rides over the aspect of time. In fact, the mouse is the appropriate symbol of time. The mouse alas personifies the evil qualities like anger, pride and selfishness. Lord Ganesha riding the mouse shows that He keeps the evil passions always under check. Furthermore, a common form of worship of Lord Ganesha is rapping at the forehead with and pulling Earlobes with cross hands. This act helps in the purification or the Naadis.

God Ganesha or Pillaiyar worship is extremely popular in Indonesia, Sumatra and Java. Further, the Camphor that is burnt during poojas in front of God Ganesha signifies that we have to burn our illusion or Ego with the fire of time knowledge and leave no residue, so that we may merge with God.

Hence, let us pray to Arthiady Pillaiyar temple at Point Pedro and receive His Divine Blessings, His universal love and compassion so that we may be bathed by His spiritual glory and splendour to acquire spiritual attainments, everlasting peace, eternal prosperity and happiness.

Glories of Thiruketheeswaram

Chelvatamby Maniccavasgar

Thiruketheeswaram is an ancient and historical temple in Manthoddam situated in the Mannar District about seven miles north of the Mannar town. According to the legends, this temple is considered to be famous since “Kethu Bagavan” worshipped “God Shiva” or “Lord Eeswaram”. Hence the Holy Shrine acquired the name “Thiruketheeswaram”

According to the great historian Dr Paul Peiris that long before the arrival of Vijaya (6th century BC) there was in Ceylon five recognized Eeswarans of Lord Shiva which claimed and received adoration of Ceylon and India. These were Thiruketheeswaram, Munneswaram, Thandeswaram, Thirukoneswaram and Naguleswaram.

Even another well-known historian “Cassiechetty” had said that Manthoddam was a centre of International Trade. Thiruketheaswaram which is dedicated to the worship of the Supreme God Shiva has been the most venerated temple for centuries. This temple and the holy waters of Palavi Tank by its side are venerated in the sacred hymns of the two foremost Saiva saints namely “Thirugnanasampanthar” and “Sundadar” who lived in the 7th and 8th centuries respectively.

This great temple was completely destroyed by the Portuguese in the 16th centuries and the very stones of this temple were used by them to build the Fort of Mannar and the Churches.

In fact, Sri La Sri Arumuganavalar who was responsible for renaissance of Saivism in Sri Lanka in the 19th century made the Hindus to realize that they were duty bound to rebuild this historic temple. Following his appeal made in 1872, a small temple was reconstructed in 1903. In 1921, the Central shrine was constructed and the consecrvation ceremony was held.

Indeed, on 28th October 1948, a “Temple Restoration Society” was formed, which dedicated itself to the task of building a proper Shivan Temple in conformity with Saiva Agamas and with sculptured granite stones. Work was commenced on 28th November 1953 and it was completed on 14th September 1956. The consecration ceremony of the renovated temple was held on 31st October 1960 and further renovations were done by the Temple's Restoration society and the Maha Kumbabishekam was held on 4th July 1976.

Contribution

Eventhough, several devotees and philanthropists had done tremendous service for the restoration and renovation of this ancient temple, “Sir Kandiah Vaithyanathan” was the first person, who was a civil servant performed numerous restoration works for this temple.

Even the great Tamil and Saiva Scholar S Sivapathasunderampillai, who was born in Puloly, Point Pedro on 17.01 1878 rendered immense service to the Thiruketheswarm temple in various ways with the help and co-operation of eminent sculptor “Chella Kanna”.

Further, E Namasivayam who was the secretary and President of this temple restoration society for several years took all possible and positive steps for the betterment and improvement of this temple.

Saiva Periyas R Namasivayam, an Attorney-at-law and a Saiva scholar was born on April 11, 1912 in Atchuvely in an illustrious family, whose parents Rasapillai and Sithampara Nachchiyas were greatly involved in the development and promotion of Hindu Religions and Hindu Culture. He received his early education at Moolai Saivapragasa Vidyalayam, Siththankerney Hindu College and thereafter Jaffna Hindu College.

In fact, he received his higher education at Chulipuram Victoria College and entered the Law College in 1935 and passed out as a Proctor in 1941.

Eventhough, he practised as a Lawyer he was very much interested in Saiva Siddantam, Saiva Neri and Saiva Agamas.

Indeed Saiva Periyar Namasivayam's greatest contribution to Saivism was his service to the ancient Thiruketheeswaram's temple's restoration works.

Rare dynamism

Blessed with a seemingly in exhaustible supply of energy, enthusiasm, inspiration and quickness of thoughts, he accomplished several construction, restoration and renovation works at Thiruketheeswaram temple. Further, no field of endeavours was left untouched by the swaying amplitude of his imagination, the encompassing sweep of his thought, the penetrating, yet lucid felicitation of his words and the indefatigable zeal of his actions. Most of the works he performed were to give a new look to this ancient and historical temple Thiruketheeswaram and all were done by him with rare dynamism and exemplary zeal. He did everything with extra sense of devotion, , dedication, determination and commitment to provide better facilities to the numerous devotees who frequently visit this temple to receive the divine blessings of Lord Shiva.

“Saiva Periyar” Namasivayam has written several articles pertaining to Thiruketheeswaram temple and its ancient glory.

In fact, “Saiva Periyar” Namasivayam was also the Vice President of Colombo Tamil Sangam from 1970-1975 and rendered yeoman service for the betterment of the Tamil Sangam. In appreciation and recognition of his religious works particularly in relations to the restoration and renovation work he did at Thiruketheeswaram temple, the “Thiruvavaduthurai Aatheenam conferred him with the title “Shivappani Chelvar”.

Furthermore, the Express Newspapers of (Ceylon) Ltd has made elaborate arrangements to release a Book on “Life and Times of “Saivapperiyar” R Namasivayam and his contribution to the restoration of Thiruketheeswaram written by the great historian and religious scholar and former Professor of History in the University of Peradeniya Prof S Pathmanathan. In fact, Kumar Nadesan, Managing Director of ENCL and Dr Rajan Namasivayam have taken all possible steps to release this book on 25.04.2013 at Bambalapitiya Saraswathy hall at 5.30 pm. The Art work and designing were done by the ENCL-ICT Department Manager M S T Thayalan in a shortest possible time and he deserves our congratulations.

Significance of Nanthi Flag and Thevaram recital

G Arulanandan

In the history of the world every five nation has stood for a particular idea which it has sought to weave into the fabric of the lives of the people. The Germans made the concept of beauty essentially their own, the rule of law moulded the pattern of the Britishers. Likewise long before the Greeks and Britishers, the Hindus were told to govern their lives by the norms of Dharma which comprehends for an ideal humanity.

Further, Dharma is an internal discipline by which a given social order is protected. It is by Dharma that civilization is maintained. Therefore, Dharma may be defined as social norms or moral law. Since Nanthi or the Sacred Bull is said to be the vehicle of Lord Shiva, it also means that Dharma is the vehicle of Lord Shiva.

To an ordinary Hindu, Nanthi represents the physical of Lord Shiva in the form of a Bull. Lord Nanthi is a manifested energy or dynamic motion that is felt in the invisible and partly visible nature of the micro or micro cosmos and in the visible objective nature it is a vehicle.

Indeed, there is a flag for every nation, every religion and every political party without any exception. They hoist their flags during all important occasions and celebrations and the whole world comes to know their respective celebrations on account of their flag hoisting ceremony. But, there is no such flag common to Hindus hoisted during festivals or ceremonies anywhere in the world.

Significance

Further, Nanthi stands for sacrifice, devotion, detachment, perception, tolerance, humility, service and what is more, it is hailed as God himself. Therefore, the Nanthi flag singifies all such lofty values of Saivities. That really is the significance of the Nanthi flag.

Whenever and wherever Lord Shiva appeared before his ardent devotees to bestow a boon, he gave Dharshan as appearing on his vehicle, Nanthi. When Saint Tirugnanasambanthar had Lord Shiva Dharshan for the first time in his infancy, what he saw was Lord Shiva with his consort on his vehicle Nanthi. It has been so with all saints and devotees.

Furthermore, in Hinduism every God has an associated vehicle. For example, Lord Ganesha has the rat, Goddess Saraswathy has the Swam and Lord Muruga has the peacock. In fact, the flag hoisting ceremony in temples indicates that the discended Kundalani Sakthy at Moolatharam of our spinal chord should rice to the head.

Flag lowering ceremony

The flag lowering ceremony indicates that the Supreme Consciousness descends down from the head to the body (creation) and reach the end of the spinal chord (Moolathanam). Besides, the hoisting of the Nanthi Flag at the top of the Rajagopuram of the temple or in any other religious functions will undoubtedly explain the principles and philosophy of saivism to achieve the goal of life.

“Vidaikodi Chelvar” Dr. Sinnadurai Dhanabalaa is seen presenting the book titled “Nanthi Kodi Atreet! Kodik Kavi Paadeer!” to the heads of Aatheenams in India namely “Thavaththiru Sadu Shanmuga Adikalar, “Thulavoor” “Thavaththiru” Gnanapirakasa Swamigal and “Thavaththiru Maruthasala Adikalar.

Realizing the significance and importance of Nanthi Flag, the “Vidaikodi Chelvar”, Dr Sinnadurai Dhanabalaa compiled a book and published on “Significance and the glories of Nanthi Flag” a few years ago, which was distributed not only in Sri Lanka, but throughout the world among Hindus and saivitis with the Blessings of the heads of all Aatheenans in India.

Recently, he published a book titled “Nanthi Kodi Atreet! Kodik Kavi Paadeer”. In this book, most of the articles on Nanthi Flag were written by eminent personalities and great scholars and educationists. In fact, they have highlighted the importance of hoisting Nanthi Flag and how it should be hoisted during the Temple festivals and religious ceremonies. In fact, during the Thiruvembavai festival which is usually held in the month of December in Shivan Temple in “Chithambaram” in India.

This festival always commences with the Flag hoisting ceremony by “Thillai Vaal Anthanar” But, on the occasion of the flag hoisting ceremony the “Thillai Vaal Anthanar” took tremendous effort to hoist the Flag. They could not succeed in hoisting the Flag. Indeed, they were thoroughly disappointed and disillusioned. But, to their surprise there was a voice from the air, asking them to approach “Umapathysivam” who was living in a village called “Kottravan” in India. When, “Thillaivaal Anthanar” explained to “Umapathyshivam” all what really happened, he went to the temple and started reciting “Thevarams” with utter devotion and the Flag was hoisted without any difficulties and all were extremely happy.

Recently, “Vidaikodi Chelvar” Dr Sinnadurai Dhanabala went to India and participated at Thavaththiru Sathu Swamigal Thirumada 100th Anniversary celebrations and Thavath Thiru Sathu Sanmuga Adikalar's Diamond Jubilee celebrations and distributed Nanthi Flags with the Blesings of the heads of Aatheenams in India.

Hence, in all temple festivals and religious functions, let us hoist Nanthi Flags with reciting Thevarams and receive the blessings of God Shiva.