Arthiady Pillaiyar Temple

Arthiady Pillaiyar Temple was there when we were born and is there now. From then to now, the temple appears to remain unchanged except for minor facelifts and repairs. Time has taken its toll, and the very temple that we all revered in the past is in danger of falling apart.

Our forefathers planned the temple and the surroundings to ensure the development and wellbeing of our community. It was located in the most central position possible with adjoining lands to accommodate sports grounds on all its sides and a building where the youth can congregate and participate in literary and cultural activities. The “grounds” and the YMLA building had been the envy of the others.

We all prayed at this temple, and Arthiady Pillayar bestowed his blessings on all who prayed there. Our community generally led the way in peaceful coexistence. Once in the late sixties, Mr Nadarajah who had been Chairman of the Point-Pedro Urban council for many years told a public meeting, “In the history of the Magistrate’s court of Point-Pedro, there has not been a single criminal case arising out of Arthiady.” This is no doubt due to the divine guidance that we derived from Arthiady Pillayar.

Due to the unsafe political situation, even those of the present generation of our youth are unable to visit the place from where their parents emanated. Supposing sometime in the future, some people belonging to our succeeding generations were to go in search of their “roots” they would search for a land mark to begin with. The temple is that landmark that defines Arthiady!

That very same temple is now in an extremely bad condition and cannot go on for long unless people step in to remedy the situation. The temple management is not contemplating any fancy projects. They want people’s help to restore the temple so that the various religious activities can be performed in convenient and comfortable settings. The entire restoration program has been sub-divided into small but self-contained projects.

The temple management is seeking help from individuals, or a group of individuals, or families to undertake a project of their liking. In this matter, the executive committee of the Arthiady Pillayar Temple Society based in Toronto has come forward to coordinate the allocation of these projects. The temple management hopes that people of Arthiady living in Canada and other countries will endeavour to make the restoration program a success.

V. Shanmuganayagam
For Arthiady Pillayar Temple Society, Toronto