Sankarankovil
Sankarankovil is a second largest municipality in the Tirunelveli district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Sankarankovil is home to the famous Sankara Narayanar temple. It is situated at Tirunelveli District and 56 km away from Thirunelveli City. Sankarankovil is the second largest town in the district. It was formerly called Sankaranayinar kovil.
History
Sankarankovil is home to the famous Sankara Narayanan temple. It is situated at Tirunelveli District and 56 km away from Thirunelveli City. Sankarankovil is the second largest town in the district. It is very famous for "Adi Thabasu" festival. In older times, the city was called as Sankaranayinar kovil. Even now it is called as Sankaran Kovil.Once upon a time a "Devan" (Angel) called "Manikkeerivan" was cursed by Goddess Parvathi. Because of which, he had to come to earth and work as gardener in a beautiful garden. One day while he was clearing a snake pit, the snake tail was also cut. He found a Sivalingam next to the snake. He went and informed about this to his king Ukira Pandiyan. The king considered it to be the god's wish to stay there and constructed the temple and a city around.The Puthu Maan in the temple is taken as a holy sand which could cure lot of disease by all devotees.
The snake pit (Ant Hill) is called "Vanmeekam" (Tamil: வன்மீகம்). Hence the deity Sri Sankaralingar is also called "Vanmeeganadhar" (Tamil: வன்மீகநாதர்)
Like every other temple, Sankarankovil has its own interesting story. Once the devotees of Lord Hari (or Vishnu) and Lord Shiva quarreled with each other to determine whose god is powerful. Then Lord Shiva appeared as Sankaranarayanar to mark his devotees to understand that both Hari and Shiva are one and the same. So it is held sacred by Saivites and those Hindus who believe that Siva and Vishnu are a single deity one in one and accordingly, desire to worship the two gods into one form. Srivaishnavites of Tamil Nadu who worship Lord Vishnu only, have not accepted the mingling of Siva and Vishnu thus, and therefore, they reject this deity of this temple which depicts the concept of Hari and Haran being one God.
It was built by Ukira Pandiyan AC 900.It houses the deity by the name Sankara Narayanan, which is half Lord Shiva and the other half Lord Vishnu.
The deities of this temple are Sri Sankareswarar, Sri Gomathi Amman and Sri Sankara Narayanar.
Sankarankovil is also said to be home to the deity named Avudai Ambal-RR.
The general belief is that the Holy Sand "Puttrumann" (Puttru = Ant Hill, Mann = Sand) that one gets from this temple is capable of curing all the diseases. Devotees believe that Sankarankovil‘s Nagasunai (sacred tank) have been dug by serpent kings named Paduman and Sangam which has a miraculous power to heal those who bath there.Once a time a "Devan" (Angel) called "Manikkeerivan" was cursed by Goddess Parvathi. Because of which, he had to come to earth and work as gardener in a beautiful garden. One day while he was clearing a snake pit, the snake tail was also cut. He found a Sivalingam next to the snake. He went and informed about this to his king Ukira Pandiyan. The king considered it to be the god's wish to stay there and constructed the temple and a city around.
The snake pit (Ant Hill) is called "Vanmeekam". Hence the deity Sri Sankaralingar is also called "Vanmeeganadhar" .
Economy
There are many industries in Sankarankovil.Apart from agri business, this town is well known for its textiles. Nearly about 4000 powerlooms is directly involved in producing various kinds of textile products like Terry towel, Cotton Sarees, lungies, hand kerchiefs,vinayakar towel etc.There are many industries in Sankarankovil.Apart from agri business, this town is well known for its textiles. Nearly about 4000 powerlooms is directly involved in producing various kinds of textile products like Terry towel, Cotton Sarees, lungies, hand kerchiefs,vinayakar towel etc. The produced product are marketed all over India directly. Subbulapuram, a village 14 km away from sankarankovil, is popularly known as "TERRY CITY". TERYY TOWEL are largely manufactured in these places. By frankly saying that these are the places were cotton yarns are largely used.1.Weaving and sizing industries 2.Plastic Moulding industries 3.Spinning Mills 4.Oil Industries 5.Furniture manufacturing industries 6.More Leather & welding Works, etc....
Transportation
Sankarankoil has two bus stands to the needs of populations.The old bus stand on rajapalayam road is currently serves as the all buses used stop by.The new bus stand on thiruvenkadam road is where local buses only.But,currently not used.Reason for outer of town.The old bus stand serves as buses every 10 minutes from Sankarankoil to Tirunelveli via Devarkulam,Manur and every 15 minutes from Sankarankoil to Srivilliputhur via Rajapalayam and every 15 minutes from Sankarankoil to Kovilpatti via Kalugumalai and every 15 minutes from Sankarankoil to Tenkasi via Kadayanallur and vice-versa.There are also S E T C buses between From Shengottai To Chennai,Coimbatore and Bengalore,hosur,madhurai,trichy,tirunelveli,kanyakumari,tuticorin,krishnagiri,vellore via Sankarankoil. There are three daily passenger trains from Madurai to Shengottai that pass through Sankarankoil, and three daily passenger trains from Shengottai to Madurai.
Demographics
As of the census of India 2001, Sankarankovil had a population of 53,606 comprising 26,884 males and 26,722 females, making the sex ratio (number of females per thousand males) of the town to 994. A total of 6,387 people were under six years of age and the child sex ratio (number of females per thousand males under six years of age) stood at 908. The town had an average literacy of 76.55%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. A total of 11,571 comprising 24.5% of the population belonged to Scheduled Castes (SC) and 230 comprising 0.49% of the population belonged to Scheduled tribes (ST). There were are total of 12,121 households in the town.* Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%.* Sankarankovil has an average literacy rate of 68%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 77%, and female literacy is 60%.* In Sankarankovil, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.As of 2001, Sankarankovil had a total of 22,136 main workers: 333 cultivators, 1,611 agricultural labourers, 3,467 in house hold industries and 16,725 other workers. There was a total of 1,204 marginal workers: 5 marginal cultivators, 75 marginal agricultural labourers, 344 marginal workers in household industries and 780 other marginal workers.[1]
See also
References
- ↑ "Primary census abstract 2001". Directorate of Census Operations – Tamil Nadu. 2001. Retrieved 2012-12-29.
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