London Swaminathan speaking

WRITTEN BY LONDON SWAMINATHAN

Post No. 12,679

Date uploaded in London – –  –  6 November , 2023                  

Contact – swami_48@yahoo.com

Pictures are taken from various sources for spreading knowledge.

this is a non- commercial blog. Thanks for your great pictures.

tamilandvedas.com, swamiindology.blogspot.com

https://www.pustaka.co.in/home/author/london-swaminathan

Xxx

I was invited by the London Nagarathar Sangham to give a talk on Nagarathar’s role in reviving Hinduism in Sri Lanka . Their contribution to Hindu culture is documented  already in South East Asian countries, but not in Sri Lanka. I wanted to document it in respect of Sri Lanka as well. Occasional references only are available here and there but not a full report is tried so far.

Here is what I told the meeting of over 100 people on 28^th October, 2023 held at London Murugan Temple Hall in East London.

Several temples in Colombo and other towns are run by the Nagarathar community. They run Tamil schools and religious classes in temple premises ; this is a country where we see Chettikulam, Chettiar Street, Chettiar  temple etc.

Portuguese invaders and Dutch invaders destroyed hundreds of Hindu temples throughout the country and used the temple stones to build churches.  The government has listed nearly 4000 temples today. Four hundred years ago almost all the 500 temples in Jaffna area were completely demolished. Portuguese were the worst and Dutch allowed some Hindu activities after getting money. When British rule began Hindu revival also began. Saivite Scholar Arumuga Navalar inspired Hindus and made them rebuild the temples. But everything needs money, and this came from Nagarathar community

About 350 years ago, Chettiars (Nagarathar) came to Ceylon to do business. They have migrated to South East Asian countries earlier .

Vira Narayana Chettiyar

The manual of the Vanni, by J P Lewis (1895) has the following–  The  Division of  Cheddikulam is said to have been colonised in the  Kaliyuga 3348, about 247 CE ,by a chetti from Madurai, who with some Parava  pearl fishers had been ship wrecked on the coast of Ceylon (now called Sri Lanka). this is the account given of it:

“Vira Narayana Chetti came to Adankapattu , settled in   Cheddikulam, built or dug the keni called  Vavalai and erected a temple to Santhirasekaran. He buried a treasure in the well nearby and left a devil Chadamuni  to watch over it. Sixty elephants were used to carry the treasure. And local tradition has that this treasure will be revealed by the Muni to anyone who rebuilds the temple that was destroyed  by the Portuguese “.

xxxx

Thiruvilanga Nagarathar in Colombo

During the days of Dutch regime there was a little islet in this island and a man known as Captain received all the spices and loaded them on the outgoing vessels. He had quite a large gathering of an Indian Chetti community called Thiruvilanga Nagarathar, who were associated with him in this mercantile undertaking. When the Dutch rule finished, the business dwindled off.

However, during the heyday of the life of Nagarathars, they had established a Ganesh shrine. In 1817, Sivan Poothaparar, a devotee donated 5 and half acres of land for the Vinyakar/Ganesh Temple

During those years a Chettiyar couple had no issue. They made a vow to build a temple for Siva if they were blessed with a child. When they were blessed with a child , they built Kailasa Nathan Sivan Kovil. Thus, two temples came up in the Captain Gardens area of Colombo.  

Xxx

Chettiar Sivan Kovil in Jaffna

Vaitheeswara Sivan Kovil at Vannarpannai in Jaffna is also called Chettiar Sivan Kovil/temple.

Vaithilinga chettiar, son of Gopala chettiyar built this temple, obtaining special permission granted by the Dutch rulers of Ceylon in 1791. This is one of the few instances where Dutch Government eased their tolerance to other religions.

A .Mootootamby pillay, in his  Jaffna History,  had written that  Vaithilinga chettiyar, a leading merchant and one who enjoyed great influence with the government, obtained the release of  Nalla Mappana Vanniyan, Chief of Panakamam . Vannian was held by the government for treason. Chettiyar obtained his release and paid the necessary ransom money of 1200 rix dollars.

Later Vannian showed his gratitude by donating 20,000 palmyra trees to build the temple. He also donated a village with paddy fields and a tank to the temple. Following this. Chettiar built a proper temtemple. 

Mahara Nonbu Meeting beegan with Chief Priest Sri Naganatha Sivam shooting an arrow at the target

to be continued………………………..

Tags – chettiyar, nagarathar, in Sri Lanka, Vira Narayana, Vaithilinga,