Uduvil

Uduvil உடுவில் උඩුවිල්
—  Town  —
Uduvil
Coordinates: 9°44′0″N 80°0′0″E / 9.733333°N 80°E / 9.733333; 80
Country	Sri Lanka
Province	Northern
District	Jaffna
DS Division	Valikaamam South

Uduvil (Tamil: உடுவில்) is an agricultural village of about 32.7 square kilometers situated along the KKS Road at about five miles to the North of Jaffna city, Sri Lanka. It is surrounded by the villages Chunnaakam, Kantharoodai, Sanguveeli, Maanippaay, Suthumalai and Inuvil. KKS Road and Kaithady - Maanippaay Road intersect at Uduvil and the Junction is called 'Maruthanaar Madam' Junction. The name 'Maruthanaar Madam' came into use because of the public resting place (Madam) situated at the North - Western corner of the junction. The old building that still exists is not in use nowadays. Two main roads, the Kaithady - Maanippaay Road and the branching Dutch Road cut through the village. The fork point is called 'Uduvil Junction.' A cross road connects the Dutch Road and the Puttuur - Chankaanai Road that passes through Chunnaakam Junction. It is called Uduvil - Kantharoodai Road. The nearest town to Uduvil is Chunnaakam.

The meaning of the Tamil word 'Uduvil' has been a problem for the historians and linguists. Various explanations have been given by them. On the other hand, political situation in Sri Lanka has made the Sinhala extremists to claim that the name 'Uduvil' is actually a Tamilized Sinhala word 'Uduvila.' We find such claims in the web sites of the Sinhala 'Theeravaada' Buddhists also.

But the composite word 'Uduvil' is purely Tamil. The composite written word 'Uduvil' could be broken down in two ways: (i) 'Udu' + 'il'; (ii) 'Udu' + 'vil.'

In Tamil language, the words 'udu,Il,' and 'vil' exist. When the basic sounds 'u' and 'i' combine, we get the compound sound 'vi.' Thus, 'udu' + 'il' becomes 'Uduvil.

According to the Tamil dictionaries, the word 'Udu' means: a star; an arrow; the point or barb of an arrow; a goat; imp. dress, attire, put on cloths;a boatman's pole; ditch round a fort; a tree- Mimosa etc.

In Tamil, 'Il' means a place; a house and some others.

The word 'Vil' means: light; a bow; imp. sell, put in sale.

But the words 'Udu,' 'il' and 'Vil' have some other meanings also. Linguists have not understood how a Tamil written word gets its meaning.Tamil grammarian Tolkaappiyan had said: "Molipporul Kaaranam vilippath thoonraa." Though the Commentators of Tolkappiyam: Theivachchilaiyaar, Nachchinaarkkiniyar and Seenaavaraiyar had explained this in their Commentaries, Tamil linguists failed to understand what Tolkaappiyan had said and they are not in a position to know all the meanings of a particular Tamil word.

The Tamil word 'Vil' could also mean a park or a village. The word 'udu' could also mean Shining, enlightened.

Thus the composite word 'Uduvil' could mean 'Enlightened (Udu) place or house (il)' and 'Place of people with cloth.'

Therefore, 'Uduvil' could mean: the place or village of Buddha Dhamma or where the Buddhist Monks live'!

This may make the Sinhala 'Theeravaada' Buddhist extremists to come to a hurried conclusion that the Sinhala 'Theeravaada' Buddhists only lived in the village at ancient time.

But,it is very important to note here that the Tamils were 'Mahaayaana' Buddhists and later adhered to Saivaism, the perfected 'Mahaayaana' Buddhist philosophy. This is the reason why we find a number of Kannaki Koovils in the North and East of Ceylon. In 'uduvil' also there existed an ancient Kannaki Kovil situated at 'Sitthaawatthai,' Uduvil. Later it was converted into Saivaite Amman Temple. The land adjoining on the eastern side of the temple is now called 'Puuthar Walavu.' It should have been 'Putthar Walawu.'

'Silappathikaaram' is a Mahaayaana Buddhist epic. The epic 'Silappathikaaram' emphasizes the married life and the epic 'Manimeehalai' the renounced life. Renounced life has no meaning and possibility without the existence of married life. Thus, 'Mahaayaana' Buddhism emphasises these two. That was the reason why the 'Mahaayaana' Buddhist Monk 'Thiruvalluvan' in his 'Kural' placed the main chapter 'Domestic Virtue' at the beginning. The three small chapters 'the Praise of God,' 'the Might of Virtue, and 'the Greatness of Ascetics' placed at the beginning of 'Kural' praise the Triple Gem.

Also, the four stanzas placed at the beginning of 'Silappathikaaram' praise Buddha (1st stanza), Dhamma (second and third) and Sanga (fourth). In the Sinhala literature 'Vayanthimaalaya' that describes the early life of Kannaki and Koovalan also, we find stanzas that praise Buddha, Dhamma and Sanga placed at the beginning. There are a number of Sinhala literature that praise the Triple-Gem at the beginning.

Symbolizing a literature or a book by praising the Buddhist Triple Gem is the literary symbolization of Buddhism.

It is very important to note here that the 'Theeravaada' Buddhism rejects completely the Puranas, literature, symbolization, symbolization of Lord Buddha and Buddhism, music, dance, and other forms of fine arts. 'Mahaayaana' Buddhism only utilised these to propagate Buddhism and assist all the people to practice Buddhism and attain Nibbaana.

However, one of the Tamil historians Dr. Ragupathy has given the explanation that 'Uduvil' means 'acacia pond.' 'Acacia' is a thorny bush. In Tamil it is called 'Udai' and in Sinhala 'Uda.' His interpretation is based on breaking 'Uduvil' as 'Udu + vil.'

Before the establishment of Police Station at Chunnaakam in 1947, village administration of Uduvil was under 'Police Vidaane.' After the establishment of Police Station, it was administered by 'Village Headman.' From 1963, 'Grama Sevaka' and later 'Grama Niladary' took over the village administration.

Vettiveelu Abimanasingham of Sitthaawatthai, Ufuvil, served continuously as the 'Police Vidaane' and 'Village Headman' of Uduvil for a period of 33 years from 1930. In the mid-'30s, because of violent clashes between two communities of Chunnaakam village, nobody from Chunnaakam village or any other part of the Jaffna Peninsula was prepared to assume the duty of 'Police Vidaane' of Chunnaakam, on the request of the British Crown Administrator of the Jaffna Peninsula, Mr. Vettiveelu Abimanasingham took over the charge of the Chunnakam village also for two years and brought normalcy in the village.

A total of 3604 families live in Uduvil. Out of the total population of 10, 277, male population is 4704 and the females 5573.

Presently, Uduvil village is divided into five administrative 'Grama Niladary' Divisions.They are Uduvil North, Uduvil North centre, Uduvil Centre, Uduvil South East and Uduvil South west.

Uduvil comes under the jurisdiction of the Mallaakam Court. It comes under the 'Vali - South' Administrative Division and 'Vali South' local government body.

Uduvil has a long stretch (about 1 1/2 km) of wide (about 3/4 km) agricultural field in the North, running East - West.Its soil is fertile. In its Northern field, underground water is available at 5 1/2 to 6 feet. There is a large tank along its Kantharoodai boundary in the North-west. All types of vegetables, lentils, grains and tobacco are cultivated. The Mango, Jack, plantain, coconut and palmyrah trees grow freely.

Availability of underground water, tank, fertility of the soil, long stretch of agricultural field etc. could have made Uduvil as one of the ancient agricultural settlement in the Jaffna peninsula.

Uduvil has a stretch of agricultural field in the south also. However, underground water is available 15 - 25 feet only. Thus, there is no surface tank here. Tobacco, onion and other vegetables are cultivated here. No paddy cultivation is carried out in this field.

The Saivites, Protestant Christians and Catholics live in harmony for generations. Compared to other populated villages of the Jaffna peninsula, there are only a few big Saiva Koovils and Churches. There are only three big Saiva koovils. The oldest is the Uduvil Amman Temple situated at 'Siththaawatthai' along the field. It is visible from Uduvil - Kantharoodai Road. It was earlier a 'Kannaki' Temple. The stone image of Kannaki is placed in front of the Kody sthambam. The old 'Kali Koovil' of the artisans is situated at about a quarter of a kilometer from the Amman Koovil. The other two big temples are Katpakkunai Pillaiyaar koovil (on Uduvil - Kantharoodai Road) and Pillaiyaar Temple on Kaithady - Maanippaay Road (near Uduvil Girls' College). These two temples were built in the early part of the 20th century. The Murugamoorthy Koovil situated at Malvam and the Pillaiyaar Kovil in the North of Uduvil Girls' College were built recently.

Apart from these koovils, in almost all the lands where particular families live, small koovils are found. Most of these small Koovils are called 'Vairavar Koovils.' In these Koovils, we find straight limbed 'Tiri-suula.' In the ancient Buddhist coins of the North, this symbol was used in combination with some other symbols to symbolize 'the Triple Gem' of Buddhism. Daily Lamp Lighting in these Koovils are carried out by the family members.

There are two old Catholic churches (one in the North-Uduvil and the other in Malvam) and one old Protestant Church (Uduvil Girls' College)in Uduvil. Very recently a church was built in between Maruthanaar Madam Junction and Uduvil- Dutch Road junction.

A few Buddhist archaeological finds were discovered in Uduvil in 1917. But in the adjoining Eastern part (Kallaakkadduwan), Northern part (Kotthiyaawatthai) and Western part (Kantharoodai), archaeological studies have revealed that Mahaayaana Buddhism existed there. The Sinhalese who claim themselves as 'Theeravaada' Buddhists failed to study 'symbolization' in Mahaayaana Buddhism. This made them come to a wrong conclusion that Buddhist sites mean Sinhala 'Theeravaada' Buddhist sites!

Uduvil Girls' College, an important landmark in Uduvil was the first ladies boarding school in Asia. This school was first established in 1824 by the American Mission. The college currently has over 2000 students. There are several primary and other secondary schools in Uduvil.

Popular secondary schools near Uduvil are Raamanaathan College, Maanippaay Memorial College and Skandavaroodaya College. Raamanaathan Academy of Fine Arts (part of University of Jaffna) is also located in the neighbourhood of Raamanaathan College.

The Vali - South Pradesha Saba main public library is located at Periya-mathavady (Uduvil) and a Branch library is located at Maruthanaar Madam Junction, Uduvil.

The inhabitants of Uduvil (also called 'Uduvilaar') are proud of their strong educational and cultural base. Udvilaars are mainly professionals, government servants, teachers and farmers.

From time to time Sinhala as well as Muslim traders have come to Uduvil and lived peacefully with the mainstream inhabitants. A lot of wealthy businessmen from other parts of Jaffna too have chosen to live in Uduvil for the purpose of giving better education for their children.

The Valikaamam South Divisional Secretariat is situated near Periya-mathavaddy in Uduvil North. The Police Station, Post Office, main Railway Station and Vali South Pradeesha Sabaa Head Office are in the Chunnaakam town. A new building to house the Vali-South Pradeesha Dabaa is being under construction in Uduvil (between Maruthanaar Madam and Roddyaalady on the KKS Road). The Education Department Office for the Uduvil Division is situated near the Raamanaathan College on the Kaithady - Maanipaay Road.

Uduvil has a big vegetable market at Maruthanaar Madam Junction. In Chunnaakam also, there is a big vegetable, fish and meat market.

There are no hotel facilities, cultural centre, sport stadium and cinema theatre in Uduvil.

230 Volts Electricity supply is available in the whole village. Electricity is supplied by thermal power station at Chunnaakam.

There is no pipe borne central water and central gas supply. Underground water from wells is used by the householders and business and other establishments.

There are three fuel filling stations along the K.K.S Road: one at the Maruthanaar Madam Junction, the other at Roddiyaalalady (Uduvil) and the third near Periya-mathavady (Uduvil). There is an automobile service station between the Maruthanaar Madam Junction and Roddyaalady along the KKS Road.

The Point Pedro-Navaaly, Vaddukkooddai bus (No 766,767) and Jaffna - Uduvil (771) double decker buses were very popular bus services operated via Uduvil for a long time until the mid-eighties. All the other bus services operate along the K.K.S. Road.

Bicycle is the main mode of transport. Taxi cabs are not in service. Only three-wheel autos are available for normal hire.

Uduvil, during the 1980s & '90s, has felt a heavy presence of the government army. The headquarters of the '513 Brigade' is located near Uduvil Girls' College. The area is still patrolled by armed soldiers and unarmed policemen.

Coordinates: 9°44′N 80°00′E / 9.733°N 80°E / 9.733; 80