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by K S Sivakumaran

One of the well known Lankan historians is K Indrapala. He now lives in Sydney, Australia. He was a lecturer in history at the University of Peradeniya for 15 years from 1960 t0 1975. In the University of Yaalpaanam he became the Foundation Professor of History in 1975. During 1977/78 he was a Japan Foundation Fellow and Visiting professor at the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. And in 1984 he became the Foundation Professor of South East Asian Studies at the Thanjavoor Thamil University in Thamilnadu.

Two years ago Vijitha Yapa Publications in Colombo brought out a Revised Second Edition of his well documented research work titled The Evolution of an Ethnic Identity. The first edition was published by Kumaran Book House of both Colombo and Chennai.

The purpose here is to show some notes relating to Hinduism in early Lanka. In fact the book speaks about the Thamils in Sri Lanka C.360 BCE to C 1200 CE. What I am doing in this column is to gather facts from the book and retell them for the benefit of readers who may not be aware of the historical aspects of the Hindu religion.

* Saivaism clearly was one of the two main elements in the evolution of the Sri Lankan Thamils, the other being the Thamil language (P 225)

* The worship of Siva was prevalent in Sri Lanka from even before the mission of Mahinda in the 3rd century BCE(P 226)

* Soon after the invasion of the Choala emperor Rajaraja towards the end of the 10th century, a Siva temple at Padaviya was named as Ravikulamanikka Iswaram, after the emperor (P 228). The ruins of this temple are still there at Padaviya. The ruins of more Saiva temples have also been found. (P 228)

* Besides the temples of Matota (Maanthottam) and Gokarna (Thirukoanamalai), there were no doubt other Siva temples in the island. (P 231)

* Saivaism continued to be practiced in the Sinhalese kingdom. Saiva temples were venerated in many places predominantly settled by Sinhala Buddhists. Two of the most venerated temples dedicated to Siva were the Nagarisa kovil at Devinuvara and Munnisavaram temple at Chilapam ( Chilaw) ( P 291)

To know about the Saiva bronze sculptures of Lanka, please read Appendix 111 in the book ( PP 320-323) For inscriptions please read pages332 -338. Pages 342 to 402 are also must be read to know more about Lankan history and the importune of Saivaism in the country. In the same way notes on plates, and also the photographs substantiate the author’s balanced viewpoints.

Books such as this will also enlighten us about religions and history of the island. Hinduism and Buddhism are connected to each other in many ways. And all religions like Islam and Christianity (includes Catholicism) also stress the importance of spiritual values.

In a shrinking world remaining in watertight compartments may not help us very much. We must respect all religions while practicing one’s own religion.

ks.sivakumaran@yahoo.com

A slide presentation of Thirukoneswaram; and Thiruvasagam rendered by ‘Isaignani’ Ilaiyaraja and Bhavadharani, with Budapest Symphony Ochestra

Awareness rally by Tamils being held near the US Consulate in Toronto is featured in an article and video by the Toronto Star of Oct 11th:

It is, quite possibly, one of the lengthiest demonstrations Toronto has ever seen. Every day, rain or shine, a small group of Tamils protests outside the US consulate – and it’s been going on six months. The Star’s Jim Rankin takes us there:

Related Article: Toronto Tamils: ‘We are people asking for help’

Inspired by the plight of children held inside Sri Lanka camps for the displaced:

Bright red pottu
Every morning
Never missed.
The point of your finger
Right here between our eyebrows
For both of us.

Amma puts hers first
Then she puts mine.
Remember me insisting
Me first, me first!

That day Dad give me a biggest hug, squeezed so tight,
Lifted me so high, laughing so loud.
At midnight he went out of the bunker.
Amma must have known he wasnt coming back
But still she smiled at me.

The day she went out of the bunker
Her pottu was still shining between her eyebrows.
Then her pottu went right into her head
And red blood came all down her calm, loving face.

Before then I only knew how to cry.
Then I knew how to shriek, to scream
Holding on to your body, Amma,

Scream!
Scream!
Scream!

Here too our school is under the trees
But they dont take the register.
I dont mind, Im used to it.
The only thing different is
There are no bunkers here.
Sometimes my heart beats so hard
Its louder than the gunshots
And tears just shoot out when I think about you.

Please dont ask me about pottu
If Amma cant put it on me I dont want it.
And please dont teach us about parents,
I dont want to hear about them.

Its not only me; none of us want to hear it.

Poem by Mahesh Munasinghe
Translated by Prasanna Ratnayake

The incident at Menik Farm on September 26 when Tamil refugees were fired at is reminiscent of the days of East Berlin, when people were shot trying to cross to West Berlin.

V. Anandasangaree, leader of the moderate Tamil United Liberation Front has made this comparison of the days of East Berlin, relating to the Tamil internally displaced persons held against the will in Sri Lanka Army run camps and being shot recently.

His comments appearing in a report in the Colombo newspaper-The Sunday Leader of Oct 4th as follows:

V. Anandasangaree

There is absolutely no need for the government to keep these people in camps…

Speaking to The Sunday Leader V. Anandasangaree denounced the incident at Menik Farm on September 26, in which an altercation erupted between Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) “detained” at the Menik Farm IDP camp at Cheddikulam and members of the Sri Lanka Army deployed in the area.

“While a large part of the army must be commended for handling the IDPs in a very humane manner — there are however some bad eggs” Anandasangaree asserted, reiterating that the incident on September 26 spoke volumes for the “fast deteriorating and very sad situation concerning the IDPs.”

He insisted the army personnel involved in this particular incident “were entirely to blame” for what happened on September 26, where even an eight year old child was shot and seriously wounded.

While reiterating that the entire army could not be held responsible as a whole, for such “unwarranted incidents” he insisted that what happened on September 26 was “unforgivable.”

Reminiscent of the days of East Berlin, when people were shot trying to cross to West Berlin, the former Tamil MP said “There is absolutely no need for the government to continue holding these people.”

Adding that “the hardcore LTTE cadres have already escaped” what remains are “civilians” he said, maintaining that if vast areas of land still remained to be cleared of mines “there were plenty of family, friends including Sinhalese in border villages who have offered to keep the displaced persons with them until such time they could return to their former homes.”

Emotional and angry Anadasangree said, “These are our people — they are not traitors. They are not imbeciles. They are defenceless and homeless. They need to be treated as human beings, not cattle.”

Anandasanagaree dismissed claims that “the IDPs” who were shot at on September 26 had been trying to escape.

“This is absolute rubbish” he said, adding, “already some 20,000 have escaped these camps together with the help of some groups supporting the government — there was no need for this small group to try some foolhardy attempt when there are easier, safer ways of leaving those camps — provided one has the money to pay for it.”

He charged that, “most of the key LTTE cadres have escaped the camps and fled to India after paying some pro government para-military groups large sums of monies.” “Even the government is aware of this but have not been able to prevent it,” he said.

“It is only the poor civilians who cannot speak out or are unable to do anything for themselves and remain trapped in these camps are being forced to endure and suffer under very trying and terrible conditions.” [thesundayleader.lk]

Actor-turned-politician and chief of DMDK Vijaykant observed a fast at the Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Tuesday, Sep 29th to highlight the issues faced by Indian fishermen with Sri Lankan Navy:

NDTV Reports:

by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai

“Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success, that is way great spiritual giants are produced.”

~Swami Vivekananda, (Indian Spiritual leader of the Hindu religion (Vedanta). Disciple of the famous 19th century mystic-saint Sri Ramakrishna of Calcutta. Founder of the Ramakrishna Order of Monks. 1863-1902)

At the end of Navarathri festival, Maanam Poo or Vazhai Vettu (destruction of Aanavam and killing of the Mahisasuran) is celebrated today-September 28th 2009.

Temples are decorated and devotees thronged the temple in the twilight. Goddess is taken on an elaborate procession to destroy “Aanavam” (ego and ignorance). Mahisasuran, a demon. He who was causing untold hardships to the Thevars.

The horse carries the Goddess and the men carry the horse

According the mythology the Goddess fasted for ten days, and at the end of the tenth day she destroyed the demon king. It marks the ending the rule of evil force. The Mother Goddess is called Mahisasura Marthini after defeating the demon king. Cutting of the Banana tree denotes the end of evil-Mahisasuran.

The objective of celebrating the Navarathiri festival is to remind us of the need to destroy all negativity within us, and thus achieve bliss.

The chief priest of Naattukottai Nagaraththaar (New Kathiresan) temple Nagarajah Kurrukkal of Naattukottai Nagaraththaar New Kathiresan temple in Bambalapitty is dressed in white Dhoti with red and gold border and red shawl wrapped around his waist walked along with the Goddess.

He led the procession while carrying a metal saw with a lime stuck on its top. He started to chop the leaves of the Banana tree one by one, while the beautifully dressed up Goddess was taken around the four corners by men, and surrounded by the devotees.

The Sun began to set, and the cloudy sky changed its colour to orange. Once the culmination ended rain poured and blessed us all.

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HumanityAshore.org ~ Email: dushi.pillai@gmail.com