Reconnecting With the Ancient Tiruketeeswaram Temple

Tiruketeeswaram is one of the Pancha Eswaram temples dedicated to Lord Siva and venerated by Saivites throughout the world. Its famous tank, the Palavi tank, is of ancient antiquity and was restored from the ruins more recently. Literary and scriptural evidence in the Tirumurai dates this temple back to the 300BC to 1500AD when the temple was well kept by the Pallava, Pandyan and Chola Dynasties. Tirunyana Sambandhar sang about the greatness of this Temple, as did the 8th century Nayanar, Sundarar during the Sangam period. The Portuguese destroyed the temple in 1589 and for over 400 years this ancient edifice remained dormant in the scriptures and Tirumurai songs. Through these references, the original site was rediscovered in 1894. A Hindu reformer named Arumuka Navalar came to revive and rebuild the Temple at the request of the local Tamil people. The current restoration work is tremendous and will restore the greatness of this ancient Saivite abode. Aum Namah Sivaya.

From the main sanctum, Siva Lingam found in ruins will still stand within the Temple proximity in an enclosed area. Due to a chip, the original Lingam will not be reinstalled upon completion of the Temple

Bodhinatha stands with the Lingam, from a shrine more than 2400 years old

Satguru and Paramacharya lead the way to visit the work site

A new granite temple slowly taking shape

Rishi Thondunatha gives a tour around the construction site

The Tiruketeeswaram Temple is yet another grand project of Selvanathan Stapathi who is also running the Iraivan Temple work concurrently

Adaikalam, one of the silpis that previously worked for the Iraivan Temple project

Kumar, was the main cook at Kauai Aadheenam for a time. He rushes forward to meet Bodhinatha, the monks and the Innersearch pilgrims. On his right Segar Sthapati is the current supervisor at this project.

Some intricate works soon to be seen completed

The golden canopy of Konrai flowers is a befitting cover for Satguru Bodhinatha Veylanswami as he walks to the temporary shrine area for prayers

The side entrance is a quick way to get through the construction zone

The front entrance Gopuram

Going in from one of the entrances of the Temple

Rishi Thondunatha gives some history of the Temple prior to its destruction

Innersearch pilgrims arrive at the current makeshift temple where all the deities are kept temporarily

The waters of the Palavi tank, glorified in the Thevaram, right before our eyes.

Innersearch pilgrims gathered water from the Palavi to perform abhishekam to Lord Keteeswarar

Mrs. Abirami Kailasapillai (left) came all the way from Colombo to host Satguru and feed everyone today

Arathi for Satguru as a welcome

Lunch was wall timed, fueling our Innersearch pilgrims before continuing their journey to Trincomalee

Later in the day Satguru and the pilgrims arrived at Amaranthe Hotel in Trincomalee

The hotel staff prepared a grand welcome

A welcome dance performance for Satguru and the Pilgrims

A scene of Siva Parvathy blessing everyone before rest time and dinner. Aum Namah Sivaya.

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