Thirukkeditcharam

“Meru Nadu Nadi Mikkdai Pinkalai
Koorumivvanin Ilakai Kuruyuru
Saarum Thillai Vanathan Ma Malayathu
Odaerum Sulunai Meavai Sivapoomiyae”

Thus, says Thirumanthiram about thiruketheeswaram alias Svia Boomi, which is of many Sivan Temples in the famous Eela Nadu.

This temple contains all the 3 Moorthy, Thalam and Theerththam which are a must for a temple, this temple was worshipped in the past, by Kaethu, Mayan, Maha Thuvadda, Mandothari, Raman Ahathiyar etc, and they were blessed to the full, Also they say that daily the Arththasamapoojas were conducted by Devarkal on the month of September. Sathurthasi Thithy. Also it is said because Kaathu worshipped this in the North Chanthira Sekara Eshwaran Kovil in the south, Koneswaran temple in the east and Thiruketheeswaram temple in the west of Sri Lanka. History says thus.

The place where Thiruketheeswaram is known as “Mathoddam” The reason is that Soorpathuman’s wife’s father’s name was “Thuvadda” for a long time they had no children and so he worshipped Thiruketheeswaram temple bathed in the Palavi reiver and requested God to bless him with children and God. Fulfilled his request with a bady out of great joy King Viyayan cleared the whole area and made it into a town and as in course of time the name Thuvadda got the full name as Mathoddam.

All hermits and Devarkal who worshpped the Mummoorthy Sivalingam were blessed with wide knowledge wealth, prosperity and divinity. So the Moorthy of this temple is specially mentioned for his Arul.

This temple also pocess “Thalavisesham” because here the devotees worshipped Thiruketheeswarar, before their death were blessed with “Pranavaupathesam”

The river – Theerththam Palavi has its special importance as the proper spot) the river bank) for performing Pithirkadan which is equal doing at Gaya. Also bathing in this Palavi River and attending Pooja will help the devotees to get rid of Piramakeththy Thosham. Thus this Thalam blessed with both Thala Visesham and Theerthta Visesham.

The earliest citizens of our country Nagar aslo worshipped this holy Thalam. Owing to this the Moorthy of Thalam is also named a Naganathan. This proves the seniority of this Thalam and also the Nagar rule.

The two famous Sivaanupoothy Chelvarkal Gnana Sambandar and Sundaraswamikal has sung Thevara Thirupathykankal on this famous Thalam. In short Thiruketheeswara Thalam proves the seniority and Hindu activities of our country and the purity of itself.

It is great to quote the following of descriptions of Apparswamikal, Suntharar and Sakilar in his Periyapuranam about the holiness and the Arul of Ketheeswarar as follows:

“Poothyani Ponniraththar” in Apparswamikal’s Thiruveelimikela Thiruththandakam, “Eeelanaadu Mathoddam” in Suntharar’s Thirunadduththokai and “Annagaril Amirnthu Ankan in and “Mannum Rameswaraththu in Saekilar is Priya Purnanam. These are the specialties of Thiruketheeswaram. This Thalam has been appreciated by Cholars and Pandvas and the King who ruled Jaffna at that period. The Cholas and Pandiars have done immense Thiruppanikal to this temple and the Kings of Jaffna have regularity and sincerely conducted the daily Poojas festivals etc. Such a holy Thiruththalam with its seniority pride and a religious taken of Eela Tamil during a certain period went to ruins but it didn’t continue own to the Arul of the Thala Moorthy Thiruketheeswaraththar.

This is the famous and Arul Thalam is in Vanni Nadu. The area of which is 3000 square miles. Apart from the above mentioned Thalam other various Thalankal were also found, round about this area. The researchers say so. They also mention Thiruketheeswaram was at that time mentioned as “City of Temples” more such temples were hidden in ruined stage among the crowd and thick forests of Vanni says Archeological researchers.

In the harbor the sea waves rises up to hill height. There were also granary building store rooms at the south coast of Palavi. This is very spot is there even today in the name of “Vankalai” Vankam plus Kalai means place of spot where ships are launched.

In those days there were found places on high lands and they were named “Malikai Thidal and the places where Bharamins stayed were named as “Paappa Mooddai” The pond which supplied water to the temple land were named as Koilkulam. Even today there remains still as the same.

It is said that there was also another temple there, named as Thiruviramesuvara Mudai Mahadevan Temple.

During the 10th and 11th Chlola Kings used the name for Thiruketheeswaram as Raja Rajeshwara Mahadevan Kovil.

To save guard from enemies, the owner brought it all the way to our country and stayed one night in a temple and that particular temple is Thiruketheeswaram says this researchers.

According to the cut stone in Chithambaram it is said that this very temple was renewed by one King named Sundara Pandian decorated it in different ways with beautiful statues etc.

A bad time come when the Portuguese demolished his temple and took away the statues and used them as stones put in the foundation area of the temple which they build later.

For three centuries the temple Thiruketheeswaram was nowhere. It was really a sorrowful event for all Hindus. But thank God Shreela Sri Navalar appeared on the scene and he was bent on bringing Saivaisam to its best stage. So he was ready to do anything and everything for the above mentioned plan and he immediately issued a notice on the Heading “The situation of religion in Jaffna” ie “Yalppanaththu Saiva Nilai”. At this the Saivaists named Colombo Thambaiya Muddaliyar, Subathar Vaithilingham Matalai Asasippillai came to the help of Navalar Peruman. But owing to the political situation that occurred in 1887 they could not bring their plan to success.

So, in 1890 according to the request of same that particular land was handed over to the Saivaists.

For three years, this temple remained in absence with no building no poojas, no festivals only it lived, rather prevailed in Thevara forms say for 3 centuries. In short the Thiruketheeswaram Peruman was in the form of Thevara songs alone.

One devotee who lived at Vidaththal Theevu, near Thiruketheeswaram heard all above what happened and came forward to do something for the renewals of such a temple.

This was followed by the Thiruketheeswaram Thiruppanisabai for which Navalar Peruman landed the foundation and this was practically done by Saiva Paribalana Sabai must be mentioned here.

According to the acceptance of the Jaffna Mayar on the Vijaya year Nov. 29th (13/12/1893) Wednesday at Avidda Natachaththiram, land where was the so called temple pluse some areas surrounded this temple area was bought by one Palaniappla Chettiyar for Rs. 300/= The area contained 43 acres and some were lands surrounding.

In 1894 January month, owing to the sincere efforts of Pasupathy Muthaliyar, Dr.Ramuppillai, V.Aarumugam Pillai and Ragavapillai, on the 13th of June 1894 at first a holy well named as Theeratha Kinaru, plus one temple Pirathidda Lingham idol of Thirunanthy along with the idols of Somakandar. Ganeshar were found with all these a small temple was was built on 25.6.1963 a Sunday the necessary rites were conducted at the Kamarai alais Moolastharam an idol of Sivalingham from Kasi Thalam was fixed at the auspicious hour and Pooja started says history. More and more Hindu religious services were carried out on AC 1910 and 2nd Thirumulukku Abidekam too to place on a grand scale Pasupathy Chettiyar owning to his sincerity and piety continued there holy services to the temple with a sincere and pious heart.

Inspite of the services done to this temple from time to time this particular temple faced ruins and disasters. According to such situation in the year 1948 Oct. 3rd on the request of devotees of the particular temple the meeting of the Saiva Maha Nadu was held and many Hindu scholars and devotees attended the Mahanadu. The following induviduals one Mr. V.K. Sellappeswamy founder of Thiruketheeswara Aalaya Sabai was formed. The 1st and the foremost head of this Saba was none but Saiva Periyar S. Sivapathasundaram Inn one Mr. Saravanamuthuswamikal and lawyer, S. Sivasubramaniam.

Even after the familiar of the Thirusabai the rites of the so called temple were in the hand in of Naddukoddai Nakaraththan. According to the meeting held on 1956 once again the regular Poojas Arathanai, Abidekamkal and other religious rites were brought back and went on well the temple service, were given in charge of the Thirupanisabai and the Accounts section went into the hands of the Saba.

THIRUPPANI

According to the decision taken by the Thiruppanisaba, the following responsible and sincere devotees of the Thiruketheeswaram temple namely M. Sellakkanu and M. Vaiththiyanathasthapathy planed the picture plane of the temple and Kasivasi Sivashree Esana Sivacheriyar Atchuveli Sivasree Eesana Sivachariyar Atchuveli Sivasree Cumarasamy Kurukkal, Saiva Periyar S. Sivapathesundaram Pillai Building Engineer one Mr. V Narasimman supervised the plan picture gave sanction to the above mentioned plan. According to which, swami and Ambal Karuvaraikal upto Arththa Mandapam were built in Karunkal and other sections eg. The Rajakopuram and Vinayaga Parivarangal were met by devotees found all over the world in places such as Malaysia Singapore south India as the result of all there. The main grand temple which we see at present came to existences. The Thiru Manjanam of this very temple took place on 4th July 1976 Nalavarusham (year) The Thiruppani started on 1971.6.6. The present Gowri Amman Karunkatkoil was fully built by Malaysian Brank Sabai.

Most of the statue found in this temple now are fully the work of Tamil Nadu Mamellapura Sitpakalai College.

This new temple with all its specialties attracts all devotees from all parts of the island. Statue of Samaskanthar made of Impon Thirumurai Koio doing with Santhananasariyar temple contributes to specially and success of Thiruketheeswaram.

After the establishment of the Temple Thirupani Sabai in the year 1952 in the month of August Thirukudamulukku was conducted. The expenses of it were met by Mathurai Srilasree Somasundara Paramasaria Swamikal and Kulesekerapaddinam KVS Suntharam. Following the old idols which were found underground that of Mahalingham Vinayakar Subramaniam Nadarayar and Sandeswarar were also placed at the necessary holy rooms and on the 31st of October 1960, The Thirukkudamulukku also took place on a grand scale.

On the 19th of August 1968 the temples Rajakopura Thirukuda Thirumandchanam too took place. Also the Pirathidda holy function for the following Mourthya Somaskandar Mahavishnu, Panchalingham Arumukaswamy Chandran and Palliarai, Mahaluxmi took place.

In this situation we must be thankful to Sir Kandiah Vaithiyanathan and Engineer S. Arumukam for what all services that contributed to bring back the idol position of Thiruketheeswaram its soundings and holy and pure river Palavi.

At present all the necessary Poojas and festivals are being well conduced up today specially the Maha Sivarathiri Pooja and festival that occurs in the month of February is conducted on a grand and regular manner with all Pooja rites and musical Kalai items and true to say that people from all over the world visit this holy temple on this special auspicious day worship Thiruketheeswarathar and spend the entire night time there. It is believed that devotees are sure of getting rid of their sins if they held in the holy Palavi river worship the Peruman and spend the entire night there itself.

During the years 1887. 1925, 1928 and 1950 Archeologist researches were done all over the surrounding of the so-called holy temple Thiruketheeswaram.

After all this happenings today the present Hindus, almost all the Saiva its are fully aware of the importance of the same temple.

Now, in order to meet the needs of the devotees who visit the holy temple very many comfortable inns are built around the temple. The inns are named with the following names as Thirugnanasambanthar Madam (inn) Suntharar Madam, Thiruvasaka Madam Appar Madam, Navalar Madam, Amma Madam, Nagaraththar Madam, Sivrathri Madam, Thiruppathy Madam, Gowri Madam and Nadarasan Madam.

Along with these there are the following such as the post office, pipe systems, dispensary electric supply, library village committee and other facilities.

Here the Moorthy’s name is Ketheswaranathar, Ambal’s name is Gowri the name of the Theerththam is “Palavi”

Thala Viduchcham (Tree) is Vanni. The book, Thadchaina Kailaya Manmiam and Maanthaippallu givers details about this temple. Recently certain books about this temple can be mentioned as follows:- In verse form can be mentioned Thirukketheechara Nathar Thiruppathikam (1949), Nayina K. Ramachandran, Thiruketheswara Nathar, Pillai Vidu Thoothu (1963), Punkudu Theevu Paerarasan S.R. Cumaraswamipillai, Thiruketheechara Puranam (1970), Atchuvely Sivashree S.K. Vaitheeswarakkurukkal, Thiruketheeswara Gowri Nayaki Pillaithamil (1976), by Punkudu Theevu Paerarasan S.R. Sathasivam Pillai and so on.