July 1984
Lanka's Troubles Keeping Siddhanta Post Empty
Kandasamy, R.
Jaffna University is still
searching for a qualified person to fill its recently created Endowment
Chair for Saiva Siddhanta. Though 80% of the 1/2 million rupees
(U.S.$25,000) needed to finance the chair have been donated since 1982
when the idea was born, and the vacancy has been advertized locally and
internationally, only three candidates have applied for the post so far.
Not even a single application was received from a foreigner, explained Mr.
V.N. Sivaraja, University Registrar. Sri Lanka's simmering
ethnic/political strife, fueled by terrorism and army retaliation, is
suspected as a major factor, and many thousands of the educated Hindus
have left the country.
But the search continues; life goes on.
Jaffna is, after all, an orthodox stronghold of Saivism, a natural center
for the Chair. Tamils, most of whom are Saivites, form the majority of the
population. Saivite religion, philosophy, culture and tradition have been
kept pure, despite the many religious onslaughts and suppressions the
Saivites suffered for centuries when Jaffna came under foreign rule. Sages
such as Kadaitswami, Chellappaswami and Siva Yogaswami lived here and
inspired great devotion in the people. Temple festivals and religious
celebrations like Maha Sivarathri are held regularly.
The primary
duty of the scholar who occupies the chair is research in Saiva Siddhanta.
The University seeks a man of high intellectual calibre, scholastic
attainment and extensive knowledge in the field. Great treasures lie
buried in the 28 Saiva Agamas (written in Sanskrit) and the 14 Meykandar
Shastras (written in Tamil), expressed Mr. Sivaraja. "There treasures have
to be unravelled, investigated and researched. The outcome of this
endeavor should be made available to the world."
The idea of
creating the Saiva Siddhanta Chair was first conceived at the Saiva
Siddhanta Conference held at the Tellippalai Durgai Amman Temple in 1982.
The resolution inspired Mr. Vallipuram Nadarajah to make a very generous
contribution of Rs. 30,000. The Tellippalai Temple Devasthanam added
another Rs. 50,000 which was matched by the Parameshwara Trust. The
Ministry of Hindu Affairs granted Rs. 25,000.
Interested
individuals feel certain that under the guidance and leadership of the new
Chancellor, Professor Thambiah Nadaraja, the new Chair will enrich the
work of the University and the society at large, and one day develop into
a full department of Saiva Siddhanta.
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