Restoration work begins at Kanniya Nadesar temple

[TamilNet, Saturday, 06 September 2003, 02:34 GMT]
Restoration work of the Kanniya-Sivayogapuram Nadesar Temple, destroyed by the Sri Lanka security forces and Sinhala mobs 20 years ago during the 1983 July pogrom, commenced Friday. The only temple for Lord Nadesar in the island is located along the Trincomalee-Anuradhapura road, about 5 km northwest of the Trincomalee town, sources said.

The restoration work commenced Friday with special pooja in the destroyed temple by Bramma Sri S.Ravichchandrakurukkal. Trincomalee district parliamentarian Mr.R.Sampanthan and the North East Provincial Rehabilitation and Resettlement Secretary Mr.S.Sivathasan were among the devotees who attended the event, sources said.

Kanniya is a traditional Tamil village where the historic seven hot wells are located. According to Hindu scriptures, Tamil King Ravaneswaran several centuries ago had dug these hot wells to do the last rites of his mother, sources said.



Damaged Gopuram of Nadesar temple


The Nadesar temple was constructed in 1969 and was consecrated in 1972. Swamiji Gengatharanandaji, founder of the Siva Yoga Samaja Ashram in Trincomalee in 1955 who is revered by the Hindus in the country, was instrumental in constructing the temple, sources said.

Tamil residents fled Sivayogapuram, Kanniya when government troops and Sinhala criminal elements entered the village during the 1983 July pogrom and destroyed houses belonging to Tamils. The Nadesar temple was also completely destroyed in the violence. Since then, the temple has been in ruins without daily poojas, sources said.

With the signing of the ceasefire agreement, internally displaced Tamils are now returning to Sivayogapuram to resettle. The management of the temple has now taken steps to restore the destroyed temple with available funds. The temple management says that it needs several thousand rupees to complete the restoration and to the consecration of the temple, sources said.

Temple management expects financial help from Hindus to complete the restoration work, the sources said.



Nadesar temple in ruins




Brmmasiri Ravichandrakurukkal with Kumbam before commencing restoration work