A DIRGE FOR OUR DEAR DEPARTED
Our Honorable Priests from the inception……….
“Viyakara Siromani” ShivaSri Poornanandha Thigararajah Kurukkal -B.A (Hons) Annamalai University – India. His Good Life period 26.06.1931 – 01.10.2016
He was an erudite priest and well known as an eminent scholar in Sanskrit even in Sri Lanka. Until his demise at a ripe old age, he was the guiding force behind most of our ritual worship activities at the Montreal Thirumurugan Temple. He was also the Chief of Consecration during Maha Khumbhabishekam of 2006. We certainly poorer for the demise of liturgical master. He had taught priesthood lessons in Sri Lanka, Canada, UK, USA. Founder of Sanskrit and Hindu Civilization chapter at Batticaloa/Sri Lanka Sivananda Maha Vidyalayam. Formerly the Chief Priest of Trincomalee/Sri Lanka Villoondi Kandasamy Temple. His son Sivasri Poornananda Kurukkal is the assistant priest of the Thirumurugan Temple.
Shivasri Aappathorana Govindarajah Kurukkal (popularly known as Venu Iyah) joined in Oct 1986 and performed all religious activities since then. He was our first permanent priest. The depth of his knowledge of rituals and the rationale behind each of those rituals were phenomenal. His philosophical and historical understanding of our religion and its cultural underpinnings were truly remarkable. Talk about the truly astonishing qualities of a person who did not speak much! He did offer his very valuable insights but only when sought out; otherwise remained calm, contended and beyond reach. He had sometimes served as the relief priest for a Temple in Concord in California – USA. He got married from a well respected Brahmin family of Tamilnaadu/India. She is a University graduate Lady and they were blessed with a son who is now a qualitied Engineer and living in Toronto and he serves as the visiting priest for any special and annual festivity functions at the Montreal Thirurumurugan Temple. He passed away in his prime. His departure is an irreplaceable loss to the Congregation in more than one way. His younger brother Sivasri Venkateswara Kurukkal is the present Chief Priest.(more profile details and picture will be inserted soon)
Honoring our past officials who had contributed to our History. May their souls rest in peace
- Dr. Krishna Sivaraman. Ph. D
- First Patron of Saiva Mission of Quebec. Professor Sivaraman was appointed as the first Chair in Hindu Studies at Concordia in 1989, a position he occupied until his passing in 1991. His roots are from Tamilnaadu/India. You may watch his inaugural speech at Concordia University, Montreal – Canada
- Mr. B. Paramsothy
- He was the President of Saiva Mission of Quebec in 1986 and was reelected many times until 2000 by popular demand. Quite an ardent volunteer since the inception and continued until his health condition became poor. He beautified the front garden of the First temple “Balalayam” (Provisional Temple) from his own initiatives and continued on an annual basis with many types of flower garden arrangements. He was always at the Temple kitchen in ensuring that food is prepared and reedy to those volunteers who weer engaged in many of the Temple Projects and services and also to the devotees as well. He was very fondly called as “PETHA”
- Mrs. B. Paramsothy – His wife also needs to be mentioned here as she was quite involved in the Temple’s weekly activities along with other woman group of our Temple. They both will be sorely missed. Their roots are from Valvettrithurai/Sri Lanka.
More names needs to be added with their profiles and pictures. We shall update soon.