 | This article possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (May 2019) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Municipality Administration in Tamil Nadu, India
| Thirukovilur Thirukoilure Thirukkovalur Tirukkoyilur | |
|---|---|
| Municipality Administration | |
 Ulagalantha Perumal Temple | |
| Nickname(s): Koval, Temple City | |
  ThirukovilurLocation in Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Coordinates: 11°58′03″N 79°12′20″E / 11.96750°N 79.20556°E / 11.96750; 79.20556 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Kallakurichi district |
| Named for | Temples And Heritage Town |
| Government | |
| • Type | Municipality Government Of Tamilnadu |
| • Body | Commissioner Government |
| Area | |
| • Total | 11.99 km (4.63 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 73 m (240 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 60,212 |
| • Density | 5,000/km (13,000/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Speaking | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| Vehicle registration | TN-32, TN-15" |
| Website | https://www.tnurbantree.tn.gov.in/tirukovilur/ |
Tirukoilur also spelt as Tirukkoyilur or Tirukovilur is a city and the headquarters of Tirukoilur taluk in Kallakurichi District, Tamil Nadu, India. The town is located on the southern bank of Thenpennai River and famous for the Ulagalantha Perumal Temple, the Veerateeswarar Temple and the Kabilar Kundru. Tirukoilur is located on the highway connecting cities of Tiruvannamalai and Vellore with Southern Tamil Nadu. The town is served by Tirukoilur railway station (formerly, Arakandanallur Thirukovilur railway station).
Vanavan Mahadevi, the mother of Rajaraja Chola I, was born as a Tamil princess of Chera dynasty in Tirukoilur.
Demographics
As of 2011 India census, Tirukkoyilur had a population of 60212. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Tirukkoyilur has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 73%. In Tirukkoyilur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Transport
Thirukoilur had widely bus facilities as both same as Rail facilities. The city well connected by State highways the major highways are below:
SH9 Cuddalore-Thirukovilur--Vellore
SH-7 Thirukoilur-Villupuram
SH-211 Thirukoilur Bye-Pass Road -Kandachipuram
SH68 Cuddalore-Thirukovilur-Sankarapuram
SH-137 Thirukoilur-Elavanasurkottai-Asanur-Trichy
MDR-1014 Thirukovilur-Manalurpet-Tiruvannamalai
MDR-812 Thirukoilur-Veerapandi-Vettavalam
MDR-784 Thirukoilur-Rishivandiyam-Thiyagadurugam- Kallakurichi
MDR-785 Thirukoilur - Thagadi
Significance
Tirukoilur is famous for the Ulagalantha Perumal Temple. This temple has a very big raja gopuram and is the 3rd longest gopuram in Tamil Nadu. The statue of Vishnu is so beautiful with varnakalapam. There is a sanathi even for Vamana. As per Hindu legend, Vishnu appeared to the mudhal Alvars (first three Alvars) at Thirukkoilur. The temple plays a special part in Vaishnavism as it is where the first three Alvars sang the first three Thiruvandadhis compiled in Naalayira Divya Prabandam, the Sri Vaishnava canon. Thirumangai Alvar, another Alvar saint also revered the deity in his verses compiled in Nalayira Divya Prabandam . Ashta Veeratanams, Ashta – eight Veeratanam – Place of Bravery. As per legends, Shiva is believed to have destroyed eight different demons namely Andakasuran, Gajasuran, Jalandasuran, Thirupuradhi, Kaman, Arjunan, Dakshan and Taaragasuran. There are eight temples built signifying each of his victories in the war, and also as places where he is believed to have performed with fury.
The eight temples are:
- Tiruvadigai Veerattaaneswarar Temple at Thiruvadigai
- Tirukkovilur Veerateshwarar Temple at Tirukoilur
- Veerateswarar temple at Korukkai or Thirukkurukkai
- Amirtagateswarar Temple at Thirukadaiyur
- Vazhuvur Verateswarar Temple at Vazhuvoor
- Keelaparasalur Veerateswarar Temple at Tirupariyalur
- Kandeeswarar Temple at Thirukkandiyur
- Tiruvirkudi Veerataneswarar Temple at Thiruvirkudi. Shiva in all these temples are described to have used bow and arrow, trident and spear.
- Ulagalantha Perumal Temple or Trivikrama Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu located in Tirukkoyilur, Tamil Nadu, India. As per Hindu legend, Vishnu appeared to the mudhal Alvars (first three Alvars) at Thirukkoilur. The temple plays a special part in Vaishnavism as it is where the first three Alvars sang the first three Thiruvandadhis compiled in Naalayira Divya Prabandam, the Sri Vaishnava canon. Thirumangai Alvar, another Alvar saint also revered the deity in his verses compiled in Nalayira Divya Prabandam.
- Kabilar Kundru (or Kabilar rock) is a hill rock in the middle of the Ponnaiyar River in Tirukoilur. It is known for Tamil poet Kapilar did Vadakirrutal (fast unto death) here, after his friend Vēl Pāri was killed in a battle. It is one of the protected monuments in Tamil Nadu by the Archaeological Survey of India.
- Shri Raghuttama Teerthar was one of the greatest saints of Shri Uttaradi Matha. Shri Raghuttama Teerthar entered the Brindavana at Manampundi, near Tirukoilur
- Gnananandagiri Swamigal, established his modest ashram "Sri Gnanananda Thapovanam", which is a quiet place, situated on the northern banks of Pennar river, near Thirukovilur in Tamil Nadu. Thapovanam meaning "forest of penance" is today a place of pilgrimage.
Anecdote
While on a visit to Ceylon, the ancient female Tamil poet Avvaiyar was caught up in a torrential rain, and took shelter in the house of two women, Angavay and Sangavay. These women took care of Avvai with great kindness and promised that they will be given in marriage to the King of Tirucovalur. On hearing this the King agreed to take the women in marriage if they were given away by the Chera, Chola and the Pandya. Avvai then makes an invocation to Ganesha for making the invitation on a palmyra leaf, on which Ganesha appears before her. On receiving the invitation the three kings come for marriage and give away Angavay and Sangavay in marriage (pp. 57–59). There is a mention of this time period in Ponniyin Selvan.
References
- "Census of India 2014: Data from the 2014 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.
- P., Karthigayan (2016). History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu. Notion Press. p. 388. ISBN 9789352065523.
- Madhavan 2014, p. 145
- R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 458–9.
- Edward Jewitt Robinson (1873). Tamil Wisdom; Traditions Concerning Hindu Sages, and Selections from their writings. London: Wesleyan Conference Office.
External links
- http://www.thirukovalur.org (Official Devasthanam Website)
- http://www.tirukoilur.com