Tirukoilur
Tirukoilur also spelt as Tirukkoyilur or Tirukovilur is a Town and the Headquarters of Tirukoilur taluk in villupuram District, Tamil Nadu, India. This 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.
Vanavan Mahadevi, the mother of Rajaraja Chola I, was born as a Tamil princess of Chera dynasty in Tirukoilur.
Demographics
India census, Tirukoilur had a population of 60212. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Tirukoilur 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 Tirukoilur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.Transport
Tirukoilur is well-connected by road and rail. Many state highways pass through this municipality.State Highway 9 |SH9 Cuddalore-Thirukovilur--Vellore
SH-7 Thirukoilur-Villupuram
SH-211 Thirukoilur Bye-Pass Road -Kandachipuram
State Highway 68 |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 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 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 is a hill rock in the middle of the Ponnaiyar River in Tirukoilur. It is known for Tamil poet Kapilar did Vadakirrutal 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, 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.