The village of Thondaimanaru is located on the northern tip of the Jaffna Peninsula in the Vadamarachi district of Sri Lanka. Known today as the site of the sacred Selvasannithy temple, this tiny coastal village has deep ties to the ancient history of the Tamil people. Many significant historical events, dating as far back as the 2nd Century A.D., have taken place in Thondaimanaru.

Situated at the edge of the sea, the village was an ideal access point for travelers and merchants. Recognizing the advantages of its location, Emperor Mamallan and later the great army commander Thondaiman developed the village�s Valli River into a seaport for the ancient city of Nagadeepam. This port was used to export goods to Tamil Nadu, and was even used as a vantage point for many historic battles against invaders of the Tamil Kingdom. Hence, the people of Thondaimanaru, who are direct descendants of the defenders of the Tamil Homeland, take pride in preserving the Tamil language and culture today.

But perhaps the most intriguing characteristic of this village is the legend of the Selvasannithy temple and how it came to be situated in Thondaimanaru. It is said that Lord Murugan � a Tamil God- desired his temple to be located in a land that reflected the five forms of the Tamil language. Uniquely, the physical make up of Thondaimanaru consists of five different geographic landscapes � mountainous regions, wooded lots, fertile plains, stretches of desert land, and coastline. Thus, many believe that Lord Murugan chose Thondaimanaru as his home because of these parallels between land and language.

Thondaimanaru and its people played an important role in the rich history of Tamil culture, making notable contributions in the areas of trade, religion, and patriotism. Learn more about the past, present and future of this remarkable village.