200 Year Old Annadhanam Chathiram in Nattarasankottai, Sivaganga District, Tamilnadu

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We are delighted to announce that the Guru Krupa Foundation (GKF), a private foundation based out of New York, has made a generous donation to support our efforts at alleviating food insecurity to approximately 12,000 people, annually, in the rural district of Sivaganga.

The Sivaganga district, one of 38 districts in Tamil Nadu, faces a high level of poverty and is one of the poorest districts in Tamil Nadu.  Individuals – the poor, seniors, orphans and individuals with leprosy – gather around temples looking for basic sustenance.  This is why we have chosen to provide ‘Annadanam’ (providing free meals to those who need it) at two temples, the Sri Kannathal temple and Sri Sowmya Narayana temple, where large numbers of people seek food assistance everyday.

The Sri Kannathal temple, built in the mid-18th century, is located in the ancient village of Nattarasankottai in the district of Sivaganga.  This popular temple is dedicated to the goddess Kannudaya Nayaki and this deity is known for giving the gift of eyesight and healing other ailments.  It is famous for its beautiful architecture and spacious halls.  A unique festival known as Kaliyaattam is celebrated for 48 days every 12 years.

Another popular temple in the district also constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the Sri Sowmya Narayana temple, is located by the Sivaganga Thiruppathur highway.  Legend has it that, at this location, Ramanuja, the champion of the Vashishtadvaita philosophy, preached the holy prayer ‘Om Namo Narayanaya’ to everyone, regardless of caste.  The halls that currently accommodate the underprivileged were built by kings from the communities of Pandyas, Vanathirayars and Nayakkars of Tanjore.

GKF’s timely donation significantly contributes to our efforts at addressing this critical issue of food insecurity.  We thank the Guru Krupa Foundation for making a life-changing commitment to the most underprivileged and vulnerable populations in Tamil Nadu.

Raising funds for building construction work for this project.

5 Years of Kannathal Foundation