Tirukkoyilur

Tirukkoyilur
—  city  —
Tirukkoyilur Location of Tirukkoyilur in Tamil Nadu and India
Coordinates	11°57′N 79°12′E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District(s)	Viluppuram
Population	21,080 (2010)
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)
Area • Elevation	• 73 metres (240 ft)

Tirukkoyilur is a panchayat town in Viluppuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Etymology

'Tiru' + 'Kovil + 'oor' = holy temple village/place in Tamil.

thiru + kai + vellore = muruganin thiru kayilerunthu purapatta vellal oruvaana oor in Tamil which means the place which was created by Lord Murugan using his Vel.

In olden days it was called as Nadunaadu (center city).

Thiruvikraman + kovil + oor =tirukovilur.

History

Tirukoilur chief Malayaman ruled from this place around the 13th century. Tirukoilur chiefs were friendly with the Kadavas and Magadai mandalam chiefs. Malaiyaman is related to the Cholas through marriage.

Lord Vishnu in the name Thiruvikkrama Swamy & Pushpavalli Thaayaar (Vaamana Avathaaram) temple is located in the center of the town. Town evolves around the temple. Tirukkovalur is the birth place of dravida vedam or Naalaayira Divya Prabhandham. This temple is one of the Nadu Naatu Tiruppathi temples comes under 108 Divya Desams and one among the pancha krishnaaranya kshetrams. To have a complete view of the temple one may visit the website www.thirukovalur.org. East of the town has the Sivan Temple situated on the banks of River Ponnaiyar (South Pennar River). Near to the temple, inside the river, there exists Kabilar(Saint) Kundru (tiny mountain).

Tirukoilur is a place of historic importance. King Malayaman, who is famous for his war and administrative skills ruled from here. "Vallal" Pari's(Vallal - patron king, Pari is one of the 7 patron kings who supported "poets" and scholars. They are famous for their charitable activities.) daughters Angavai and Sangavai were married to Malayaman's son Deivegan and the marriage ceremony took place in a place called "Manam Poondi"[manam - wedding, poondi - lock/bond; place where the wedlock happened). Tirukoilur, is a place where not only Vaishnavites(Worshipper's of Lord Vishnu) and Shivites( Worshipper's of lord Shiva) co-existed with peace and harmony, knowing that Hari and Shiva are the different forms of same almighty.

Tirukoilur is one of the "Ashta Veeratanams" [Ashta - eight Veeratanam - Place of Bravery].

Lord Shiva took various forms(incarnations) to destroy evil and establish justice, of which eight Avatars(forms) are very famous and Tirukoilur is one of them. Ambal (meaning Mother) [better half of lord Shiva],is called as "Brhan nayaki" [Brahan - universe Nayaki - Leader/Queen]. She is called the Queen of the Universe/ Mother of all beings in the Universe.

Lord Shiva's temple has a separate sannadhi[sacred room] for Lord Ganesha, which has historical and epic importance. Here is the place where "Avvaiyar"[Tamil Poetess - Tamil king's court had many Women Poetess, Ministers and Warriors] got the blessings of Ganesha and wrote the famous verse "VINAYAGAR AGAVAL" , which has wonderful Yoga Techniques and has lot of Meta-Physics in it. Tirukoilur had scholars in all fields of Science and Arts and has an important place in South Indian History.

Tirukoilur is also a very regarded place for madhwas (followers of Dvaitha philosophy of Sri Madhwacharya). Manampoondi is a small village located located between Tiruvanamalai and Tirukoilur. Manampoondi is 36 km away from Tiruvannamalai. It is at a distance of 2 km from Tirukoilur. On the banks of River Pinakini we can find the Moola brindavana of Sri Raghuutthama Teertha (1595 A.D) a very eminent pontiff of Uttaradi Mutt and Sri Satyapramoda Teertha (1997).

Archaeological Importance

It has a number of temples both Vaishnava and Saiva sects, was once a capital of an important chieftain Malayaman of Sangam age datable to 3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE. To corroborate this, a Tamil Brahmi inscription at Jambai (Tirukkoyilur) mentions about the king Athiyaman Neduman Anchi as Sathiya Puto Atiyan Neduman Anjihi Itta Pali. Malaiyaman Tirumudi kaari was the illustrious ruler of this dynasty. The Sangam works speak of the invasion of Tirukkoilur and defeat of Malayaman Tirumudikkari by Neduman Anji, king of Takadur (modern Dharmapuri) who is said to have offered Avvaiyar, the celebrated poetess (of that period), a myrobalan (gooseberry) fruit to increase her longevity.

Tirukkoilur seems to have been as important a religious center as Kanchipuram in Tondaimandalam. There is ample evidence to prove that Vaishnavism, Saivism and Jainism had flourished at this center. It is said the Mudal Alvars, the first three Alvars, (Poigai, Butham and Pei) were made to meet by the grace of Almighty in one place at Tirukkoilur and in ecstasy they sang poems on Ulagalanda perumal; these songs were known as Divyaprabhandam. The presiding deity of the temple Tiruvikrama Perumal is still a wooden image and this retains its ancient character.

Tirukkoilur, which is also famous for Saivism, was sung by the Saiva saints as one of the Ashtavirattanams.

Kabilar rock stands in south pennar river.It was named after Kabilar, a sanga poet who is friend and guide of parivallal. source[1]

Geography

Tirukkoyilur is located at 11.95°N 79.2°E / 11.95; 79.2. It has an average elevation of 73 metres (239 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census, Tirukkoyilur, Tamil திருக்கோவிலூர் had a population of 2,71,080. 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.

Temples

Tirukkoyilur has many temples built prior to the 12th century. Many great saint poets visited these temples and wrote many poems in praise of the Gods. Tirukkoyilur Sri Veerateshwarar Temple is one of the famous ashtaveeratanam temples in Tamil Nadu. Another famous temple is the Thiruvikramaswamy Temple, one of the temples from the 108 divya desams AThere is a Kabilar Kundru—a temple built on a rock located in the center of the river Thenpennai. This temple was built by poet Kabiler and he died here by fasting "vadaku irundhu oyer vidudhal" after he conducted marriage for Angavai and Sangavai(twin daughters of King Vel-Paari of Parambu Malai) with thirukovilur king Malaiyamaan Kaari's twin sons Thirukkannan and Deiveegan respectively.

Some of the ancient temples nearby are Adhi Thiruvarangam, Brindhavanam and Thapovanam (an ashram built by Swami Gnanananda Giri).

Sri Veerateshwarar Temple

Sri Veerateshwarar Temple. Courtesy: Saro Creatives

Sri Veerateshwarar Temple is situated in Kizhaiyur. Buses are available to this place. Before the main terminal of the bus stand, there is a stop, the [Govt. Hospital]. One can take a share autorickshaw from there or just walk from there [it would take just 5 minutes]. The temple has been sung in praise by several nayanmars. There is Lord shiva [Sri Veerateshwarar] and his Parivarangals in this temple. This is one of the veerattanams, wherein Lord Shiva destroyed Andhasuran, a demon. It is said that while Goddess Parvathi once playfully closed the eyes of Lord Shiva, the whole universe became dark and during this period the said Andhasuran was born and hence he is depicted as Maya or Ignorance and Lord Shiva destroyed his ignorance and enlightened him, and therefore it is a belief that here Lord Shiva will destroy our ignorance and lead us to enlightenment. Legends say that from here, poet Avvayaar was taken to the himalayas by Periya Pillayar. Avvayaar wrote the famous "Vinayagar Agavel" from here. In this temple, the Goddess Durgai Amman has white eyes. Near the temple, there is a Samadhi of Meyporul Nayanaar

College

Tirukkovilur Arts and Science college is near Sandaipet which is affiliated with Thiruvalluvar University and has good infrastructure facilities. Tirukoilur Government Polytechnic College(construction works going on). Government Arts & Science College,Tiruvennainallur,Tirukoilur.TK,(construction works going on). Valliammai Arts & Science College For Womens.

School

1. Sri Vidya Mandir Higher Secondary School(CBSE Syllabus) up to 10th and in +2 (state board)
2. Gnanananda matriculation higher secondary school. (MATRICULATION ) up to 10th and in +2
3. Kabilar govt boys higher sec school.
4. Govt girls higher sec school.
5. Manakula Vinayagar School.

Transportation

Tirukkoyilur is well connected by State Road Transport & Southern Railways.

Road

You have direct buses from Chennai ,Trichy ,cuddalore,villupuram,vellore,tiruvannamalai, and from bangalore too. Also there are couple of direct buses from Pondicherry. From Pondicherry you can reach Tirukoilur via Villupuram. From Villupuram for every 5 to 10 minutes and from Tiruvannamalai every 5 minutes you will get buses to Tirukoilur.and from cuddalore every 10 to 15 minutes you will get buses to tirukoilur.every 10 to 15 minutes from vellore you will get buses to Known as Tirukoilur situated on the North bank of South Pennar River. It is placed 33 km from Tiruvannamalai in East-South direction,40 km from Villupuram in West-South Directions.many buses are came tirukoilur and went to other states(karnataka,andra).cuddalore to chitoor state highways are here,and thoothukudi to arcot national highways are here.

It also nearer to Ulundurpet , Sanakarapuram, Kallakurichi. All have same kilometers between 30 to 40 kilometers from Tirukoilur. All places consist of frequent buses.

Rail

A railway line between Vellore and Villupuram passes through Tirukoilur and reaches Tiruvannamalai, where passengers can board a passenger train to Vellore(up) or Villupuram(down). The nearest major railway stations are at Villupuram(40 km).

Air

The nearest airport is at Chennai and Triuchi.