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).

Thirukovilur
Thirukoilure Thirukkovalur Tirukkoyilur
Municipality Administration
Ulagalantha Perumal Temple
Nickname(s): 
Koval, Temple City
Thirukovilur
Thirukovilur
Thirukovilur
Location 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
StateTamil Nadu
DistrictKallakurichi district
Named forTemples And Heritage Town
Government
 • TypeMunicipality Government Of Tamilnadu
 • BodyCommissioner Government
Area
 • Total11.99 km2 (4.63 sq mi)
Elevation
73 m (240 ft)
Population
 (2011)
 • Total60,212
 • Density5,000/km2 (13,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • SpeakingTamil
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Vehicle registrationTN-32, TN-15"
Websitehttps://www.tnurbantree.tn.gov.in/tirukovilur/

Vanavan Mahadevi, the mother of Rajaraja Chola I, was born as a Tamil princess of Chera dynasty in Tirukoilur.

Demographics

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As of 2011 India census,[1] 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

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Thirukoilur had widely bus facilities as both same as Rail facilities. The city well connected by State highways the major highways are below:[citation needed]

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

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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,[2] and also as places where he is believed to have performed with fury.[3]

The eight temples are:

Anecdote

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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).[5] There is a mention of this time period in Ponniyin Selvan.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ P., Karthigayan (2016). History of Medical and Spiritual Sciences of Siddhas of Tamil Nadu. Notion Press. p. 388. ISBN 9789352065523.
  3. ^ Madhavan 2014, p. 145
  4. ^ R., Dr. Vijayalakshmy (2001). An introduction to religion and Philosophy - Tévarám and Tivviyappirapantam (1st ed.). Chennai: International Institute of Tamil Studies. pp. 458–9.
  5. ^ Edward Jewitt Robinson (1873). Tamil Wisdom; Traditions Concerning Hindu Sages, and Selections from their writings. London: Wesleyan Conference Office.
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