Trident missing, seat of folk-deity desecrated at disputed heritage hillock in Mullaiththeevu

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 July 2020, 21:19 GMT]
Unknown persons have removed the trident of Aiyanaar folk-deity, and its seat from the hillock of Kurunthoor-malai, violating a court order that said nothing should be changed. The occupying SL military was using the recently imposed travel restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19 Kumuzha-munai villagers to restrict access to the hillock. Tamil villagers from Kumuzha-munai in Karai-thu'raip-pattu division in the district of Mullaiththeevu alleged that the SL Archaeology Department and Sinhala Theravada monks were behind the removal of the trident (Trisulam) at their heritage site.

Two years ago, a group of Sinhala youth, led by two extremist Theravada Buddhist monks, attempted to erect a Buddha statue at the hilltop of Kurunthoor-malai in September 2018. Two men in the group claimed they were from the SL Archaeology Department.

However, vigilant Tamil youth spoiled their move.

In a court case that followed, Mullaiththeevu Magistrate prohibited all construction activities, including the erection of a new Buddha statue at the locality.

The Magistrate allowed the Tamil villagers to proceed with their folk-deity ritual and the people mobilised staging a ‘Padaiyal’ ceremony to their village deity.

The Tamil villagers engaged in agriculture have been worshipping the folk-deity with Padaiyal rituals for centuries.

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