| Sethiyathope | |
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| Coordinates | |
| Country | India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District(s) | Cuddalore |
| President | Mr.KPD.Elanchezhiyan,BBA., |
| Population | 7,962 (2001[update]) |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+05:30) |
| Website | http://www.sethiyathope.com/ |
Sethiathopuu (pronounced [ˈsetiaːtopu]) is a panchayat town in Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated on the crossroads of Chennai - Tanjore (NH-45C) Highway. Sethiyathope was established as a civilian town by the Cholas in the 11th century C.E. According to Tamil Scholars, Sethiyathope was formed as a settlement when the famous Chola King Rajendra moved his capital from Tanjavoor to Gangaikonda Cholapuram which lies 20 km South. Sethiyaar, a landlord use to own this piece of woodlands (Thoppu) on the banks of river Vellar and thus derives the name Sethiyarthoppu (Sethiathope).There are close to 60 villages around this town largely agrarian communities.
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As of 2001[update] India census,[1] Sethiathoppu had a population of 7962. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Sethiathoppu has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 64%. In Sethiathoppu, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Veeranam Lake, located 2 kilometres South of Sethiathope is the second largest lake in the state of Tamil Nadu. The lake located 235 km from Chennai, India, is one of the important water reservoirs that supplies drinking wate to Chennai. Veeranam Lake was created during Chola period in the tenth century, built from 1011 to 1037 AD[3] and is an 16 km (9.9 mi) long dam in northern Tamil Nadu.
Arutprakasa Vallalar Chidambaram Ramalingam (Tamil: அருட்பிரகாச வள்ளலார் சிதம்பரம் இராமலிங்க அடிகள்), (5 October 1823 – 30 January 1874), whose pre-monastic name was Ramalingam, is commonly known in India and across the world[1] as Vallalar (Tamil: வள்ளலார்). He was one of the most famous Tamil Saints and also one of the greatest Tamil poets of the 19th century[2] and belongs to a line of Tamil saints known as "gnana siddhars" (gnana means higher wisdom). The Suddha Sanmarga Sangam[3] was spread and passed on by him not only in theory but mainly in practice by his own way of living which was itself inspiration for his followers. Through the notion of Suddha Sanmarga Sangam, the saint endeavored to eliminate the menace of caste.[4] According to Suddha Sanmarga, the prime aspects of human life should be love connected with charity and divine practice leading to achievement of pure knowledge.
Ramalinga Adigal was the youngest child of Ramiah Pillai and his sixth wife Chinnamaiar, who lived in Marudur in South Arcot district, a village 7 km north of Sethiyathoppu in the National Highway 45C.
Gangaikonda Cholapuram (Tamil: கங்கைகொண்ட சோழபுரம்) was erected as the capital of the Cholas by Rajendra Chola I, the son and successor of Rajaraja Chola, the great Chola who conquered a large area in South India at the beginning of the 11th century C.E. It occupies an important place in the history of India. As the capital of the Cholas from about 1025 C.E. for about 250 years, the city controlled the affairs of entire south India, from the Tungabhadra in the north to Ceylon in the south. The great temple of Siva at this place is next only to the Brihadisvara temple at Thanjavur in its monumental nature and surpasses it in sculptural quality.
Gangaikonda Cholapuram is located 15 km south of Sethiathoppu in the National Highway 45C. Gangaikonda Cholapuram can be reached by taxi and bus from Sethiathoppu.
Sri Guru Raghavendra Swamy (1595–1671) is an influential 16th century Hindu saint who advocated Vaishnavism (worship of Vishnu as the supreme God) and Sri Madhvacharya's Dvaita philosophy. He ascended Brindavana at Mantralayam in present day Andhra Pradesh in 1671. Sri Raghavendra Swami was born as Sri Venkanna Bhatta, the second son of Sri Thimanna Bhatta and Smt. Gopikamba on Thursday, Sukla Saptami of Phalguna month in 1595, when the moon was in Mrigashirisha Nakshatra, at Bhuvanagiri, near present-day Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu.
Bhuvanagiri is about 11 Kilometers east of Sethiathoppu on the National Highway 227. Bhuvanagiri can also be reached from Sethiathoppu by State Highway 70.
The ancient Chidambaram Temple (Tamil: சிதம்பரம் கோயில் ) is dedicated to Lord Shiva in His form of the Cosmic Dancer (Nataraja நடராசர்) . It is one of the five Dancing Halls (Sabha) of Nataraja and the most famous one. Chidambaram hosts the most ancient set of 108 Karana stone carvings, the key dance movements of Nataraja. The temple complex is spread over 40 acres (160,000 m2) in the heart of the city. Many thousands of devotees come to this auspicious temple to pay homage to the Dancing Siva.
Chidambaram is located in the Kollidam River valley about 11 km from the Bay-of-Bengal coast, 20 km east of Sethiathoppu in NH 227 and 240 km south of Chennai by rail
Pichavaram the second largest Mangrove forest in the world, near the temple town of Chidambaram, is one of the unique Eco-tourism spots in South India. The backwaters, inter connected by the Vellar and Coleroon river systems, offer abundant scope for water sports, rowing, Kayak and canoeing. Pichavaram mangroves are considered among the healthiest mangrove occurrence in the world. Pichavaram consists of a number of islands interspersing a vast expanse of water covered with green trees. The area is about 2,800 acres (11 km2) and is separated from the sea by a sand bar which is a patch of extraordinary loveliness. Pitchavaram is located on the Bay-of-Bengal coast about 20 km east of Sethiathoppu.
Sethiathope hosts the weekly farmers market every Wednesday. Farmers from nearby villages bring their produce and livestock to the market. Foods grains, Pulses, Saplings, Cattle and Hand crafted materials from nearby villages are few of the items brought to the market. In the evening lot of cultural activities takes place near the market.
Boothangudi is another village close to Sethiyathoppu In fact Arulmigu Theepaindha Nachiyar temple is in revenue limits of Boothangudi only. Recently Paavadairayan temple, Periyanayagi-Periyandavar Temple and Ayyanar temples have been newly constructed in Boothangudi and Kumbabishegam performed on 19 April 2010.
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