Kottaiyur
| Kottaiyur | |
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| Coordinates | 10°07′23″N 78°49′15″E / 10.122932°N 78.8208°ECoordinates: 10°07′23″N 78°49′15″E / 10.122932°N 78.8208°E |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District(s) | Sivaganga |
| Population | 10,595 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Area |
• 77 metres (253 ft) |
Kottaiyur is a panchayat town in Sivaganga district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.
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[edit] Geography
Kottaiyur is located at 10°07′23″N 78°49′15″E / 10.122932°N 78.8208°E.[1] It has an average elevation of 77 metres (252 feet). kottaiyur is located close to karaikudi on the karaikudi - trichy highway.
[edit] Demographics
As of 2001[update] India census,[2] Kottaiyur had a population of 10,595. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Kottaiyur has an average literacy rate of 75%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 71%. In Kottaiyur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
[edit] Educational institutions
- haritha higher school
- Chidambaram Chettiar girl's higher secondary school
- Muthiah Alagappa matriculation higher secondary school
- Thanjavur Arunachalam Chettiar School
- Subbiah Ambalam Matriculation School
- Board High School
- Sanadhana Dharma Vidyalaya Aided Elementary School
- Achis Matriculation school
The Sanadhana Dharma Vidyalaya Aided Elementary school was established by Thiru.Alagappa Chettiar of the K.V.S.V.AL.CT family in the year 1940. It stands for the quality of education and the ultimate aim, the founder had was to spread the goal of education and prevent illiteracy free of cost. It is still in effect. The Chettiars are renowned for three things, their money, food and their Dharma. He stood for Dharma till his last breath. Its is worth mentioning that all those Nattukkottai Chettiars of Kottaiyur who went to the Straits Settlements (Malaysia,Singapore) in the first half of the 20th century where accountants and clerks. But its was this great man Thiru.Alagappa Chettiar who went as a businessman and returned to India with the same designation.
[edit] Temples
- Sri Kottainachi Amman Temple (Native God)
- Sri Shivan Temple (Biggest Temple in Kottaiyur)
- Sri Ayyappan Temple
- Sri Oorkaavalar Temple (God cited under the Tamarind Tree located beside the Sri Kottainachi Amman Temple; people believes & prays him as a Kaaval Theivam of Kottaiyur)
- Ooranikarai Pillaiyar Temple
These are all the main temples where different kinds of people worships, apart from these temples there are several temples located which are belongs to the particular community of people and these temples are being called as Kulasami Kovil of that particular community
[edit] Festivals
The main festivals of Kottaiyur is being celebrated are,
1. Kottaiyur Sevvai
This is the biggest festival which is being celebrated once in a Year for 10 days during the month of April for Sri Kottainachi Amman. During this festival the Urtchava Moorthy of Sri Kottainachi Amman will be taken around the village for twice a day as Kaalai Veedhi Ulaa (By Men) and Iravu Veedhi Ulaa (In Sakadai by Bulls) At the 9th Day (which would be a Tuesday - In Tamil "Sevvai"), there will be a Ther Thiruvizha (Chariot Festival) in which the Urtchava Moorthy of Sri Kottainachi Amman will be taken to her Mother's Home called as Kaattu Amman Kovil which is located at the distance of about 2 ~ 3 km from Kottaiyur during Night Time. At the 10th Day, the Amman will be bring back to Kottaiyur in Chariot during Day Time and the festival is mainly ending at Night after "Manchal Neer"
2. Poo Choridhal
This is the another main festival which is being celebrated once in a year for Sri Vinayagar in Ooranikarai Pillaiyar Temple. During this festival the Urtchava Moorthy of Sri Vinayagar will be taken around the Ooranikarai in Tri-Cycle which is decorated by variety of Flowers (In Tamil - Poo)
3. Elur Sevvai
This is also one of the main festivals which is being celebrated once in a year in Kottaiyur along with the other 6 nearby villages (Total 7 Villages - In Tamil Elu Oor). During this festival the ladies from the 7 villages will bring the Madhu (A bunch of Tender coconuts buds [Thennam Paalai] placed in a Stainless Steel or Silver Pot filled with few Paddy and Milk) and that has been poured to the Peedam in Sri Vainatchi Amman Temple located in Velangudi Village which is 2 ~ 3 km from Kottaiyur
[edit] Famous Personalities
- Dr.Alagappa Chettiar, a great philanthropist and the founder of the now famous Alagappa University hails from this small Village.
- Thiru.K.V.S.V.Alagappa Chettiar, was a great philanthropist,donor, pious and flamboyant personality. He also performed the Kumbabishekam of the Tiruvannaamalai Annamalaiar temple in 1944. The festival gained him fame. It was celebrated with great enthusiasm and pomp. He is perhaps still known for a deed. The fact that he went to the Koviloor Madaalayam, a few weeks before his death with a prediction of his death is worth mentioning.
- Roja Muthiah Chettiar, a great Bibliophile and founder of one of world famous Libraries hails from this small village. His collection includes printed materials such as books and journals in classical literature, medicine, folklore, cinema, women's studies and materials such as theatre playbills, wedding invitations and popular songbooks that normally do not find a place in a conventional library. Includes rare 19th century books with about app 10000 first editions. His collection was later acquired by the University Of Chicago in 1994 (after his demise in 1992)and is currently operating from Tharamani, Chennai as Roja Muthiah Research Library. Several newspapers and magazines have published several articles on Roja Muthiah and his collections during and after his lifetime. Parisal Puthuga Nilayam (Maatruvezi)has published a book on Roja Muthiah Research Library in 2010 (ISSN 0976-1667). Chettiar sacrificed his life to acquire and save these materials from insects and natural calamities. Interestingly, Chettiar is a neighbour of another important personalty - A.K.Chettiar,Ulagam Sutriya Tamilar, who produced the first and only documentary on Mahathma Gandhi.
[edit] External links
- Roja Muthiah in Frontline
- Roja Muthiah in Frontline
- Roja Muthiah in the University of Chicago Magazine
[edit] References
- ^ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Kottaiyur
- ^ "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 2004-06-16. http://web.archive.org/web/20040616075334/http://www.censusindia.net/results/town.php?stad=A&state5=999. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
