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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 villages 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. |
