Thiruvarur

Template:Good article Template:Use dmy dates Template:Template other Thiruvarur () also spelt as Tiruvarur is a municipality in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the administrative headquarters of Thiruvarur district and Thiruvarur taluk. The temple chariot of the Thyagaraja temple, weighing and measuring tall is the largest temple chariot in India. Thiruvarur is the birthplace of Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri, popularly known as the Trinity of Carnatic music of the 18th century CE. Thiruvarur Thiyagarajaa Swaamy temple is older than Tanjore big temple.

Thiruvarur was a part of Thanjavur district until 1991. The Odambokki river passes through the centre of the town.Template:Sfn Thiruvarur covers an area of and had a population of 58,301 as of 2011.Template:Sfn Out of total population of Tiruvarur, 1,403,348 in the district, 257,795 are in urban area and 1,006,482 are in rural area. 65,220 households are in urban, 261,999 are in rural area. It is administered by a selection grade municipality. The town is a part of the Cauvery delta region and agriculture is the major occupation. Roadways are the major means of transportation with a total of of district roads including three national highways passing through the town. The town was one of the five traditional capitals of the Chola empire, with one of the emperors of the dynasty, Kulothunga Chola I, having it as his capital. The town is believed to be of significant antiquity and has been ruled, at different times, by the Medieval Cholas, Later Cholas, Later Pandyas, Vijayanagar Empire, Thanjavur Nayaks, Marathas and the British. The town is known for the Thyagaraja temple, and the annual Asian biggest chariot festival held in the month of April.

Etymology

The historic name of the town was Aaroor (Arur) and it finds mention in the seventh century saiva canonical work, Tevaram.Template:Sfn It was also called Śrīnagara in Sanskrit.

The term Thiru is added to all temple cities that are mostly revered by the verses of Tevaram, which is the case of Arur becoming Thiruvarur. Another name of Thiruvarur is Kamalaalayasetra, meaning the "holy place that is an abode of lotuses"; the town is also referred so due to the presence of the Kamalaalayam tank and the temple deity, Kamalambigai.Template:Sfn During the British Raj, the town was termed Tiruvalur,Template:Sfn Tiruvaloor,Template:Sfn and Thiruvalur.Template:Sfn As per the district and municipality websites, the district has the spelling "Tiruvarur", while the town has it as "Thiruvarur".Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

History

outer courtyard of a temple with two temple towers

Thyagaraja Temple – an important landmark of the town and one of the largest temples in Tamil NaduTemplate:Sfn

As per folk legend, Thiruvarur is mentioned as the capital town of a legendary Chola king, Manu Needhi Cholan, who killed his own son to provide justice to a cow.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

Thiruvarur was one of the five traditional capitals of the Chola empireTemplate:Sfn and the history of town revolves around the Thyagarajaswamy temple.Template:Sfn Thiruvarur is mentioned in the saiva canonical work, Tevaram by Thirugnana Sambanthar, Tirunavukkarasar and Sundarar, the foremost Saivite saints of seventh–eighth century CE and classified as Padal petra stalam.Template:Sfn Tirunavukkarasar mentions several traditions of the temple like Marghazhi Aathirai Vizha, Panguni Uttirai Perunaal and Veedhivitakanin Veedhi Panni. The granite structure of the temple was first constructed by Aditya Chola I (871–907 CE) in the ninth century CE and revamped during the reign of Rajaraja Chola I (985–1014 CE).Template:Sfn The temple was upgraded and rebuilt with stone by Rajendra Chola I (1012–44 CE). The temple has inscriptions from both the emperors, later Cholas and Pandyas.Template:Sfn The temple is believed to be an inspiration for Rajaraja Chola to build the Brihadeeswarar Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Template:Sfn

Inscriptions from the temple indicate Thiruvarur as the capital of Kulothunga Chola I (1070–1120 CE), during which the town emerged a centre of saivism.Template:Sfn After the fall of Cholas during the reign of Rajendra Chola III in the 13th century CE, the town was caught under a power struggle between the Pandyas and Hoysalas.Template:Sfn The royal patronage continued and the town flourished as a cultural centre during the rule of the Nayaks, Vijayanagar kings and Marathas.Template:Sfn During the period of Marathas, the town became a temporary home to the Nataraja of Chidambaram temple.Template:Sfn The town was briefly captured by French troops led by Lally (1702–66 CE) in 1759 CE.Template:Sfn The Thyagarajar temple was ransacked in a failed attempt to discover hidden treasure.Template:Sfn During the attempt, six members of the temple, suspected to be spies of the British, were killed in an encounter.Template:Sfn The province and Tanjore were annexed by British after the failed attempt of the French to attack the King of Tanjore.Template:Sfn After independence, Thiruvaur continued to be a part of the Thanjavur district and Nagapattinam district until 1991 and 1997 respectively.Template:Sfn Thiruvarur was made the headquarters of Tiruvarur district when it was carved out of Nagapattinam district in 1997.Template:Sfn In modern days, Thiruvarur regarded as the origin of Carnatic music because of the birth of great three musicians of Carnatic music (Tyagaraja, Muthuswami Dikshitar and Syama Sastri - The trinity of Carnatic Music).Template:Sfn

Geography

Thiruvarur is located at .Template:Sfn The town is bounded by Sukumar river in the north, Valaiyar river in the south while the Odambokki river flows through the centre.Template:Sfn The town has an average elevation of from the sea level.Template:Sfn The municipality covers an area of Template:Sfn Thiruvarur is situated at a distance of 300 km from Chennai, from Nagapattinam, from Karaikal, from Mayiladuthurai and from Thanjavur.Template:Sfn The town along with the district receives an annual rainfall of .Template:Sfn The town experiences tropical climate during summer; from March to May. The proximity to sea results in high humidity throughout the year and peaks 70% from August to May.Template:Sfn The town has a plain terrain of alluvial soil consisting of sand, silt and clay.Template:Sfn Vennar and Vettar, the tributaries of river Cauvery are the major water bodies around the town.Template:Sfn Surface water canals contribute 89% to irrigation, while the rest 11% is accounted by dug wells and tube wells.Template:Sfn Paddy is the major crop while the others being black gram, green gram, ground nut and gingely.Template:Sfn

Demographics

Religious census
Religion			Percent(%)
Hindu			84.38%
Muslim			14.13%
Christian			1.39%
Sikh			0.02%
Buddhist			0.01%
Jain			0.02%
Other			0.05%
No religion			0.01%

During 1901, the population of the town stood at 15,436.Template:Sfn According to 2011 census, Thiruvarur had a population of 58,301 with a sex-ratio of 1,053 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.Template:Sfn A total of 5,779 were under the age of six, constituting 2,888 males and 2,891 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 32% and .66% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 82.%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.Template:Sfn The town had a total of 14997 households. There were a total of 18,953 workers, comprising 672 cultivators, 960 main agricultural labourers, 318 in house hold industries, 15,596 other workers, 1,407 marginal workers, 47 marginal cultivators, 261 marginal agricultural labourers, 52 marginal workers in household industries and 1,047 other marginal workers.

As per the religious census of 2011, Thiruvarur had 84.38% Hindus, 14.13% Muslims, 1.39% Christians, 0.02% Sikhs, 0.01% Buddhists, 0.02% Jains, 0.05% following other religions and 0.01% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference.

The population growth rate was higher during the decade of 1981–90 due to increased provision of social, economic and recreational facilities that caused the rural population to migrate to urban areas.Template:Sfn The overall growth rate had declined over the last two decades due to poor returns in agriculture and increased migration of agricultural labourers to other urban centres.Template:Sfn The population density of the town is high in the centre and low in the peripheral regions.Template:Sfn

The town has 55% employed people; 12.7% are involved in primary occupations like agriculture, 2.8% in secondary occupations related to industries and 85% in tertiary occupations such as agricultural trading and tourism.Template:Sfn About 33% population of the town is involved in agriculture and most of them are involved in trading activities.Template:Sfn As per a survey conducted in 1997 by the Tamil Nadu Urban and Town Planning Department, 30 slums were identified in the town constituting 41% of the total population of the town.Template:Sfn

Economy

Thiruvarur lies in the Kaveri River basin and the main occupation of the inhabitants of the town and surrounding regions is agriculture.Template:Sfn More than 70% of the workforce is involved in agriculture; 14% being cultivators and rest are agricultural labourers.Template:Sfn Paddy is cultivated in three seasons namely Kuruvai (June–August), Samba (August–January) and Thaladi (January–March).Template:Sfn The daily wages of the agricultural labourers is more than the rates fixed by the Tamil Nadu government, but due to the decline in number of days of work, the income levels are lower.Template:Sfn As of 1998, the male labourers were employed 150 days a year, while the female labourers for 120 days.Template:Sfn A government report in 2006 put these numbers at 120 and 100 days respectively.Template:Sfn Due to the discontinuity in the working days, the labourers migrate to other states or countries. They also shift to other professions like construction industry in the urban centres and textile industry in the district.Template:Sfn There are no industrial estates in the town and the district – as of 2012, a government proposal is formulated to develop one at Vaippur village.Template:Sfn Modern agricultural tools like hullers have replaced labourers and reduce the profit margin of small traders and labourers.Template:Sfn There are no co-operative societies who acquire the farm products and the District Purchasing Centre, operated by the government of Tamil Nadu is the major procurer.Template:Sfn

Being an agricultural town, the predominant industries are agriculture based like modern rice milling, palm oil refinery, poultry, live stock and coir based.Template:Sfn Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation operating a modern rice mill and South India Edible Oil involved in refining oil are the large scale industries in the town.Template:Sfn There are small service enterprises involved in automobile servicing, hotels, hospitals, boat repairing and nylon fishnet repairing.Template:Sfn There is a weekly market at Thanjai Salai and a daily market maintained by the municipality, where vegetables and fish are sold.Template:Sfn

Nationalized banks such as State Bank of India, Indian Bank, Central Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and private banks like ICICI Bank, City Union Bank have their branches in Thiruvarur.Template:Sfn Kumbakonam Co-operative Bank, Tiruvarur Co-operative Bank and Primary Agriculture Bank are the cooperative banks that have their branches in the town.Template:Sfn All these banks have their Automated teller machines located in various parts of the town.Template:Sfn

Transport

File:Thoovainathar Temple (9).jpg

Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation

Thiruvarur municipality accommodates 94.06 km of roads: 54.9 km of BT roads, 10.91 km of metal roads, 9.48 km of cement roads and 18.75 km of highways.Template:Sfn Thiruvarur is connected by three national highways, NH 45A to Viluppuram, NH 67 to Coimbatore.Template:Sfn And KSRTC also operating buses from Ernakulam, Cherthala, Changanasserry to Velankanni via Thiruvarur. Thiruvarur having the direct bus services to the following Cities of the State are Chennai, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Kanchipuram, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Coimbatore, Tiruchirapalli, Madurai, Salem, Karaikudi, Hosur, Erode, Tiruppur, Kodaikanal, Palani, Dharapuram, Pudukkottai, Sivagangai, Rameshwaram, Ramanathapuram, Theni, Tiruchendur, Puducherry, Karaikal and other local services to Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Mannargudi, Mayiladuthurai, Sirkazhi, Pattukkottai, Vedaranyam, Ariyalur, Jayankondam etc. Through the state highways SH 23 from Mayiladuthurai to Thiruthuraipoondi, SH 67 from Thanjavur to Kodikkarai, SH 65 from Thiruvarur to Kumbakonam, SH 66 from Kumbakonam to Adiramapattinam, SH 67 from Nagore to Nachiyar Koil, SH 146 from Mannargudi to Sethubavachatram, SH 147 Kumbakonam to Karaikkal, SH 202 Tiruvarur - Mannargudi - Muthupet, SH 151 Kilvelur to Kachanam.Template:Sfn The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation operates close to 300 daily services connecting various cities to Thiruvarur.Template:Sfn Most of the buses via Thiruvarur are operated by the corporation ply between Tiruchirapalli and Velankanni.Template:Sfn The corporation operates a computerised reservation centre in the municipal bus stand of the town.Template:Sfn It also operates 40 town buses satisfying the local transport needs of Thiruvarur and the neighbouring villages.Template:Sfn The State Express Transport Corporation operates long-distance buses connecting the town to Bangalore, Coimbatore, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram and Marthandam.Template:Sfn

Thiruvarur railway junction is a four way junction connecting Thanjavur in the west, Mayiladuthurai in the north, Nagapattinam in the east and Thiruthuraipoondi in the south.Template:Sfn Gauge conversion between Mayiladuthurai and Thiruvarur was completed in August 2012 and the inaugural train ran from Bangalore to Nagore via Thiruvarur.Template:Sfn There are passenger trains to Tiruchirapalli, Thanjavur, Mayiladuthurai, Karaikal, Mannargudi and Thiruthuraipoondi.Template:Sfn Gauge conversion between Thiruvarur and Karaikudi is completed now so daily trains are available to Karaikudi and manamadurai. There is a daily express train to Chennai via Mayiladuthurai and Ernakulam. There are two trains from Mannargudi to Tirupathi and Velankanni to Goa, operated three times a week that pass through Thiruvarur.Template:Sfn The nearest airport to Thiruvarur is Tiruchirappalli International Airport, which is located from the town.Template:SfnThe nearest seaport is located at Nagapattinam which is about Template:Cvt from the town.

Education and utility services

As of 2001, Thiruvarur has a lower literacy rate compared to other part of the state.Template:Sfn There are three government high schools out of a total of 15 schools in the town.Template:Sfn The Central University of Tamil Nadu, established by an act of parliament in 2009, provides collegiate education in the fields of arts and science.Template:Sfn There are five other arts and science colleges, one teacher training institute, three polytechnic colleges and two Industrial training institutes (ITI) in the town.Template:Sfn

Electricity supply to Thiruvarur is regulated and distributed by the Thiruvarur circle of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB).Template:Sfn Water supply is provided by the Thiruvarur Municipality from Odambokki river; the distribution through water tanks located at Madapuram, Thendral Nagar, Kidarakondan, Kattapomman street, Mettupalayam, IP Koil street, Maruthapttinam and Weekly Shandy having a total capacity of .Template:Sfn About of solid waste is collected from the town everyday; 56% domestic wastes and 40% commercial wastes.Template:Sfn Thiruvarur municipality is implementing underground drainage and the current sewerage system for disposal of sullage is through septic tanks and public conveniences.Template:Sfn Roadside drains carry untreated sewage out of the town to let out raw into the sea or accumulates in low-lying area.Template:Sfn

Thiruvarur comes under the Thiruvarur Telecom circle of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India's state-owned telecom and internet services provider. Apart from telecom, BSNL also provides broadband internet service.Template:Sfn There are three government hospitals in the town; the largest of them is the District Headquarters Government Hospital.Template:Sfn There are 11 private hospitals and numerous medical shops catering to the healthcare need of the town.Template:Sfn

Municipal administration and politics

Municipality officials
Chairman	vacantTemplate:Sfn
Commissioner	vacantTemplate:Sfn
Vice Chairman	vacantTemplate:Sfn
Elected members
Member of Legislative Assembly	Poondi K KalaivaananTemplate:Sfn
Member of Parliament	SelvarajTemplate:Sfn

Until 1860, Thiruvarur was the headquarters of a taluka of the same name.Template:Sfn It was declared a third grade municipality in 1914 during the rule of British.Template:Sfn It was promoted to a first grade municipality in 1978.Template:Sfn The municipality has 30 wards and there is an elected councilor for each of those wards.Template:Sfn The municipality has seven revenue villages: Vilamal, Vijayaruram, Thiruvarur south, Thiruvarur North, Keelakavadhukudi, Ramage, Sundaravilakam and Kidaramkondan.Template:Sfn The functions of the municipality are devolved into six departments: general administration/personnel, engineering, revenue, health, town planning and information technology (IT).Template:Sfn All these departments are under the control of a municipal commissioner who is the executive head.Template:Sfn The legislative powers are vested in a body of 30 members, one each from the 30 wards. The legislative body is headed by an elected chairperson assisted by a deputy chairperson.Template:Sfn Tiruvarur district was created in January 1997 and Tiruvarur town became the district headquarters.Template:Sfn

Thiruvarur comes under the Thiruvarur assembly constituency and it elects a member to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly once every five years.Template:Sfn Till 2006, the constituency was reserved for SC (Scheduled Caste) candidates. From the 1977 elections, the assembly seat was won by DMK for five times during 1977, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011 elections and Communist Party of India for four times during 1980, 1984, 1989 and 1991 elections.Template:Sfn The former MLA of the constituency is Muthuvel Karunanidhi, ex-chief minister and the leader of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).Template:Sfn

Thiruvarur is a part of the Nagapattinam (Lok Sabha constituency) – it has the following six assembly constituencies – Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Vedaranyam, Kilvelur (SC) and Nannilam.Template:Sfn The current Member of Parliament from the constituency is Dr. K. Gopal from the AIADMK.Template:Sfn From 1957, the Nagapattinam parliament seat was held by the Indian National Congress for four times during 1957–1961,Template:Sfn 1962–67,Template:Sfn 1967–71Template:Sfn and 1991–96.Template:Sfn CPI won the seat for 5 times during 1971–77,Template:Sfn 1977–80,Template:Sfn 1989–91,Template:Sfn 1996–98Template:Sfn and 1998 elections.Template:Sfn DMK won 4 times during 1980–84,Template:Sfn 1999–2004,Template:Sfn 2004–09Template:Sfn and 2009-2014 elections. AIADMK won the seat two times during 1984–89 and 2014.Template:Sfn

Law and order in the town in maintained by the Thiruvarur sub division of the Tamil Nadu Police headed by a Deputy Superintendent.Template:Sfn There are three police stations in the town, one of them being an all-women police station.Template:Sfn There are special units like prohibition enforcement, district crime, social justice and human rights, district crime records and special branch that operate at the district level police division headed by a Superintendent of Police.Template:Sfn

Culture

The Thyagaraja temple

bronze idols showing two images in sitting posture

Worship of Lord Thyagaraja is associated with the Somaskanda depiction of Lord(s) Shiva, Skanda and Parvathi.

The ancient Thyagaraja Temple at Thiruvarur is dedicated to the Somaskanda aspect of Shiva. Thygaraja is the iconic form of Somaskanda and is believed to have spread widely from the tenth century CE, the period coinciding the reign of Raja Raja Chola.Template:Sfn The temple complex spanning over an area of has shrines dedicated to Vanmikanathar, Thyagaraja, Kamalaamba and numerous other deities.Template:Sfn Vanmikinathar is believed to have arisen from an anthill and from the trumpet flower, Bignonia Chelenoides.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The Kamalalayam temple tank covers around , making it one of the largest in the country. The temple chariot is the largest of its kind in Tamil Nadu.Template:Sfn Thyagaraja is believed to have performed 364 miracles in Thiruvarur similar to the 64 performed at Madurai Meenakshi Temple.Template:Sfn Pilgrims take a holy dip in the tank during Hindu auspicious occasions like equinox and eclipse.Template:Sfn The temple is also classified as Saptha Vidangam, meaning the seven temples having unique dance moves by Thyagaraja.Template:Sfn The Chola inscriptions refer Thyagaraja as Vidhividangar and the name "Thyagaraja" is believed to have emerged during the 15–16th century CE.Template:Sfn

Music, dance and literature

Historically Thiruvarur has been a centre of eminent people in religion, arts and science. Sundarar, an eighth-century Saivite saint, mentions "I am the slave of all those born in Thiruvarur" in his works in Tevaram.Template:Sfn Two of the 63 nayanmars of Saivite tradition namely, Kalarsinga Nayanar and Tandiyadigal Nayanar were born in Thiruvarur.Template:Sfn The Periyapuranam, a 12th-century Saiva canonical by Sekkizhar, dedicates a chapter to those born in Thiruvarur including these two saints.Template:Sfn The town was a traditional centre of music and dance – the inscriptions from Rajaraja Chola associates a large body of dancers associated with the temple.Template:Sfn Thiruvarur is home to Trinity of Carnatic music namely Thyagaraja (1767–1847 CE), Muthuswami Dikshitar (1775–1835 CE) and Shyama Shastri (1762–1827 CE).Template:Sfn Muthuswami Dikshitar has sung eulogies of the temple deities of the Thyagarajaswami temple.Template:Sfn There was large influx of the acumen of South Indian culture to the town during the 17th century CE due to the political unrest in Thanjavur and increased patronage of the Maratha kings to Thiruvarur, resulting in developments in music and dance.Template:Sfn A unique musical instrument called Panchamuga Vadyam with each of its five ends ornamented differently is used in the temple. A type of nadaswaram (pipe instrument) called Barinayanam is also a unique instrument found only in Thiruvarur.Template:Sfn

Chariot festival

a temple car drawn by a lot of people

Thiruvarur temple chariot festival depicting the largest temple chariot in World

Kulothunga Chola II (1133–50 CE) enlarged the temple ritual to have fifty six festivals, some of which are followed in modern times.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The annual chariot festival of the Thygarajaswamy temple is celebrated during April – May, corresponding to the Tamil month of Chitrai.Template:Sfn The chariot is the largest of its kind in Tamil Nadu and also No.1 Place of Biggest Chariot in the World weighing 360 tonne with a height of 96 feet.Template:Sfn The chariot comes around the four main streets surrounding the temple during the festival.Template:Sfn The event is attended by lakhs of people from all over Tamil Nadu.Template:Sfn The chariot festival is followed by the "Theppam", meaning float festival. The Carnatic music festival celebrated every year also garners large audience.Template:Sfn The town has 10 parks, with the Somasundaram Park at Panagal Road and Municipal Park at Thendral Nagar being the most prominent of them.Template:Sfn

Notable people

• Bakthavathsalam – Mridangam player
• K. Balachander – Tamil film maker and director
• Muthuswami Dikshitar – Carnatic classical composer and part of trinity
• M. Karunanidhi – Five term chief minister of Tamil Nadu
• Syama Sastri – Carnatic classical composer and part of trinity
• Rajan Somasundaram – Music composer, multi-instrumentalist that created first ever music album on Sangam period poetry
• Tyagaraja – Carnatic classical composer and part of trinity

Notes

Footnotes

• ^ The official spelling, as per the municipality website is "Thiruvarur".

External links

• Thiruvarur municipality official website
• Tiruvarur district official website