Thiruvaiyaru

Thiruvaiyaru
city

The Kaveri at Thiruvaiyaru
Thiruvaiyaru

Location in Tamil Nadu, India

Coordinates: 10°53′N 79°06′E / 10.88°N 79.1°E / 10.88; 79.1Coordinates: 10°53′N 79°06′E / 10.88°N 79.1°E / 10.88; 79.1
Country  India
State Tamil Nadu
District Thanjavur
Elevation 38 m (125 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 14,535
Languages
 • Official Tamil
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)

Thiruvaiyaru (also spelled as Tiruvaiyaru) (Tamil: திருவையாறு) is a panchayat town in Thanjavur District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thiruvaiyaru is situated on the banks of the river Kaveri, 13 km from Thanjavur. Thiruvaaiyaru has an old Siva temple dedicated to Panchanatheeswar. Though pilgrims flock to this temple throughout the year, Thiruvaiyaru is more renowned for its association with Saint Thyagaraja, who, along with Muthuswami Dikshitar and Shyama Sastri, comprised the Trinity of Carnatic music. Thiruvaiyaru means Five Rivers around the city. The Five Rivers are Arisilaaru, Vennaaru, Vettaaru, Kudamuruttiyaaru and Kaveriaaru.

Thiruvaiyaru is the headquarters of the Thiruvaiyaru taluk. Thiruvaiyaru is a small, quiet town. However, its modesty belies its importance as a pilgrim centre. On the highway from Thanjavur, you pass five bridges ' over the Vadavar, Vettar, Vennar, Kudamurutti and Cauvery, the five rivers from which Thiruvaiyaru gets its name (thiru = sacred; ai = five; aaru = river). The presiding deity of the Siva temple here, Panchanatheesvarar (in Tamil, Ayyarappan ' both mean the same thing, `the Lord of the Five Rivers') also gets his name from them. Thiruvaiyaru is considered as holy as Varanasi and bathing in the Cauvery here is as guaranteed to rid devotees of sins as bathing in the Ganges.

Near the Siva temple is the one-roomed house where Thyagaraja composed some of his greatest works. On the banks of the river is the samadhi of the saint composer and it is here that the greatest music festival in the country takes place annually. Nearby are the Samadhis of some of the other saints like Siva Prakasha Swamigal and Bangalore Nagarathanamma , who actually identified and rebuilt the samadhi of Sri Thyagaraja.

The Thyagaraja Aradhana festival is held in January when most of the leading exponents of Carnatic music come to perform and are watched by thousands of ardent fans of classical music. A huge complex is now under construction at this site to accommodate the large audience that come to the concert in ever increasing numbers every year.

History

The vast temple in this town, known as "Dakshina Kailasam" (Southern abode of Siva), built in an area of approximately 60000 square meters, boasts of 5 prakaram (outer precincts used for religious purposes) and many 'mandapams' (great halls). Several inscriptions in the temple affiliates the temple to the Cholas, Pandyas, and other rulers. Karikala Chola, Rajaraja the great, Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan, and Krishna Devarayar are associated with Thiruvaiyaru. The temple has two distinct divisions called 'Uttarakailasam' and 'Dakshinakailasam'. Uttarakailasam was built by Rajaraja Cholan's queen in the late 10th century who also made several endowments . Dakshina kailasam was renovated by Rajendra Cholan's queen. The tEvAram trinity (appar, sambhandar, and sundarar) have composed more than 100 songs on the presiding deity of this temple town mentioned as "aiyARu" (ஐயாறு) by them..[1] The Tiruvaiyaru temple has also a shrine for Aatkondar or Kala Samharamoorthy, which is unique in the world. A Homa Kund started by saint Shri Adi Sankara can be found outside the shrine of Aatkondar. In the Kund a sort of incense-like called "Kungaleyum" is dropped in it. It is believed this wards of scorpion stings or some such bites and also gives longevity of life. The Kungaleyum is available from vendors around there hand-packed in loose papers.

Geography

Thiruvaiyaru is located at 10°53′N 79°06′E / 10.88°N 79.1°E / 10.88; 79.1.[2] It has an average elevation of 38 metres (124 feet).

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[3] Thiruvaiyaru had a population of 14,535. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Thiruvaiyaru has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 70%. In Thiruvaiyaru, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Business

Agriculture (Rice,Sugarcane,Banana) more fertile land for cultivation

Schools

College

How to get there

By Air: The nearest airport to reach Thiruvaiyaru is at Tiruchirapalli, which is located at a distance of about 71 km. Regular flights are operated from this airport. Thus, the place is well connected to the major cities of the country by air.

By Rail: Nearest railway station is situated at Thanjavur, which is very well linked to the important cities such as Trichy, Madurai, Coimbatore, Nagore etc.

By Road: There is a direct bus service from Thanjavur, which lies at a distance of 13 km from Thiruvaiyaru.

Near Towns in the Thiruvaiyaru Taluk

Politics

Tiruvaiyaru assembly constituency is part of Thanjavur (Lok Sabha constituency).[4]

References

  1. ↑ Tiruvaiyaru Panchanadeeswarar -Aiyaarappar Temple - hivastalam
  2. ↑ Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Thiruvaiyaru
  3. ↑ "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. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  4. ↑ "List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies" (PDF). Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-10-12.
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