Srivilliputhur

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Srivilliputhur
city
Srivilliputhur Divya Desam temple
Srivilliputhur
Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 9°30′58″N 77°37′48″E / 9.5161°N 77.63°E / 9.5161; 77.63Coordinates: 9°30′58″N 77°37′48″E / 9.5161°N 77.63°E / 9.5161; 77.63
Country  India
State Tamil Nadu
District Virudhunagar
Government
 • Municipality Chairman Sendilkumari
 • M L A

V. Ponnupandi

footnotes =
Elevation 146 m (479 ft)
Population (2001)
 • Total 73,131
Languages
 • Official Tamil
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 626125
Telephone code 04563
Vehicle registration 'TN-67
Sex ratio 1:1 ♂/♀

Srivilliputhur is a semi-urban town and a municipality in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Srivilliputtur is one of the old historical town, a 1000-year-old temple, 200-year-old Hindu School, 135-year-old Pennington Public Library are remarkable historical evidence for this culturally important town. Thiruppavai, one of the important constituent of devotional Tamil literature period was from this temple town.

The remarkable landmark of Srivilliputhur is 11-tiered tower structure dedicated to the Lord of Srivilliputhur, known as Vatapatrasayee. The tower of this temple rises 192 feet high and is the official symbol of the Government of Tamil Nadu. It is said to have been built by Periyaazhvar, believed to be the father-in-law of the Temple Deity, with a purse of gold that he won in debates held in the palace of Pandya King Vallabhadeva. Another wonder in Srivilliputtur is Chariot which runs on AdiPuram. Srivilliputhur is well known for its ancient heritage and devotional contributions.[1]

It is on the Virudhunagar - Shenkottai line of the Southern Railway, about 74 km south of Madurai and connected by road and rail with Madurai, Sivakasi, Tenkasi & Shenkottai, Thirunelveli and Sattur.

Etymology

As per Hindu legend, the land around Srivilliputhur was under the rule of Queen Malli. The queen had two sons called Villi and Kandan. While the two were hunting in a forest, a tiger killed Kandan. Unaware of this, Villi searched for his brother, got tired and fell asleep. In his dream, divinity narrated to him what happened to his brother. By divine orders, Villi founded a city. The city is originally named after its founder, Villi forming the word Sri-Villi-Puthur. Thiru is the Tamil salutation and an alternative to Sanskrit word "Sri" and that is why Srivilliputhur is also called Thiruvilliputhur.[2]

History

Srivilliputtur Andal Temple Tower in Tamil Nadu's Emblem

The history of Srivilliputhur centres around the Srivilliputhoor Temple, dedicated to Andal (8th century or earlier),[3] the only female Alvar of the 12 Alvar saints of South India. She is credited with the Tamil works of Thirupavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi that are still recited by devotees during the Winter festival season of Margazhi. Andal is known for her unwavering devotion to god Vishnu, the God of the Srivaishnavas. Adopted by her father, the Alvar saint Periyalvar who found her as a baby, Andal avoided earthly marriage, the normal and expected path for women of her culture, to "marry" Vishnu, both spiritually and physically. In many places in India, particularly in Tamilnadu, Andal is treated more than a saint and as a form of god herself and a shrine for Andal is dedicated in most Vishnu temples.

During the reign of Thirumalai Naikar (1623–1659) and Rani Mangammal (1689–1706), this city became very popular. Thirumalai Nayak renovated the temples of this city. From 1751 to 1756 A.D., Srivilliputhur came under the rule of Nerkattumseval palayakkarar Puli thevar and was a maravarpalayam. Later the Fort of Srivilliputtur was ruled by Periyasami Thevar.[4] Then it fell into the hands of Mohammed Yousoof Khan. Until 1850, Sri Andal temple was under the care of the king of Trivancore. The British ruled the country till India attained freedom in 1947.

Geography

Shenbagathoppu's calm and serene forest

Srivilliputhur is located at 9°30′58″N 77°37′48″E / 9.5161°N 77.63°E / 9.5161; 77.63. The town is located at the foot hills of the Western Ghats 77 km (48 mi) south west of Madurai. It has an average elevation of 137.2 metres (450 ft) above mean sea level. There are no notable mineral resources available in and around the town. Srivilliputhur receives scanty rainfall with an average of 811 mm (31.9 in) annually, which is lesser than the state average of 1,008 mm (39.7 in). The South west monsoon, with an onset in June and lasting up to August, brings scanty rainfall. Bulk of the rainfall is received during the North East monsoon in the months of October, November and December.[5][6]

Shenbaga Thoppu is a forest located 8 km (5.0 mi) west of Srivilliputhur. These forests are found on the eastern slopes of the Western Ghats. Many rare and endemic varieties of flora and fauna are found along the mountain slopes. A wildlife sanctuary, spread over 480 km2 (190 sq mi) was established in 1989 at Shenbaga Thoppu. The sanctuary is contiguous with the Periyar tiger reserve on the south-western side and the Megamalai reserve forest on the north-western side. The sanctuary is home to the endangered, arboreal Grizzled Giant Squirrel (Ratufa macrora). The sanctuary also hosts birds, mammals, reptiles and butterflies. Resident and migratory elephants are common. Other animals sighted are tiger, leopard, Nilgiri thar, spotted deer, barking deer, sambar, Wild Boar, porcupine, Nilgiri langur, lion-tailed macaque, common langur, slender loris, bonnet macaque, sloth bear,Gaur (Indian Bison) and flying squirrel.

As of the census of India 2001, Srivilliputhur had a population of 73,183; 36,411 males and 36,772 females. The sex ratio of the town stood at 1010, which was higher than the state average of 982 in 2001. There were a total of 18,911 households. A total of 4,425 people constituting 6.81% of the total population belonged to Scheduled Castes (SC) and 31 people constituting 0.05% of the population belong to Scheduled tribes (ST). Srivilliputhur had an average literacy rate of 80.79%: with 28,988 literate males and 23,527 females. A total of 12.58% of the population of the town was under 6 years of age. There were a total of 33,416 workers: 437 cultivators, 2,364 agricultural labourers, 4,222 in house hold industries, 24,453 other workers, 1,940 marginal workers, 32 marginal cultivators, 130 marginal agricultural labourers, 300 in marginal workers in household industries and 1,478 other marginal workers.[7] As of 2001, 15 slums were identified in the town and a total of 14,191 people resided in the slums. The slum population remained at 20% as of 2001.[8] The decadal growth of population during the 1991–2001 period reduced to half of the previous decade due to migration to industrialized cities.[9]

As of 1994, a total 255.11 ha (630.4 acres) (45%) of the land in Srivilliputhur was used for residential, 17.89 ha (44.2 acres) (3%) for commercial, 15.04 ha (37.2 acres) (3%) for industrial, 30.808 ha (76.13 acres) (5%) for public & semi public, 12.677 ha (31.33 acres) (2%) for educational and 238.61 ha (589.6 acres) (24%) for non urban purposes like agriculture and irrigation.[10]

Economy

Hand loom Weaving and farming are the primary occupations in Srivilliputhur. Virudhunagar district has four clusters of handloom weavers — Rajapalayam, Srivilliputhur, Aruppukottai and Sundarapandiyam. The looms account for 25% of the state handloom produce for free distribution.[11] Srivilliputhur is known for a milk sweet called as Srivilliputhur Palgova. The Srivilliputhur Milk Producers Cooperative Society Ltd. and other local vendors started the production of the sweet from 1977 after the white revolution in the 1970s. The industry provides employment to the citizens of the town.[12]

The occupational pattern of the town is predominantly in teritiary sector that includes sub-sectors such as handloom weaving, trade and commerce, transport, storage and communication and related services. Primary and secondary sectors such as agriculture, livestock, manufacturing and construction reduced during the decade of 1991.[13]

All major nationalized banks such as State Bank of India, Canara bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank and private banks like Tamil Nadu Mercantile bank, Karur Vysya Bank, City Union Bank and Srivilliputhur Cooperative Ban, have their branches in Srivilliputhur.[14]

Municipal administration and politics

Municipality officials
ChairmanV. Senthilkumari[15]
CommissionerP. Subbalakshmi[16]
Vice ChairmanN. Saroja[17]
Elected members
Member of Legislative AssemblyV. Ponnupandi[18]
Member of ParliamentP. Lingam[19]

The Srivilliputhur municipality was established in 1894 during British times. It was promoted to a first-grade municipality in 1984. The municipality has 33 wards and there is an elected councillor for each of those wards.[20] The functions of the municipality are devolved into six departments: general administration/personnel, Engineering, Revenue, Public Health, city planning and Information Technology (IT). All these departments are under the control of a Municipal Commissioner who is the executive head.[21] The legislative powers are vested in a body of 33 members, one each from the 33 wards.[22] The legislative body is headed by an elected Chairperson assisted by a Deputy Chairperson.[23] The municipality covers an area of 5.718 km2 (5,718,000 m2)[6]

Srivilliputhur comes under the Srivilliputhur assembly constituency and it elects a member to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly once every five years.[24] From the 1977 elections, the assembly seat was won by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) once during 1989 elections, Communist Party of India (CPI) twice during 2006 and 2011, and All India Anna Dravid Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) for five times during 1977, 1980, 1996 and 2001 elections.[25] The current MLA of the constituency is V. Ponnupandi from CPI.[18]

During the 1957 elections, Srivilliputhur was a part of Srivilliputhur constituency and was held by the Indian National Congress party and an independent.[26][27] The town was a part of Virudhunagar Lok sabha constituency during the 1967 elections and was held by the Swathanthara Party.[28] The constituency was held by DMK during the 1971 elections, INC during the 1977 elections and ADMK during the 1980, 1984, 1989 and 1991 elections, CPI during 1996 and MDMK during the 1998, 1999 and 2004 elections.[29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38] Srivilliputhur is now part of the Tenkasi (Lok Sabha constituency) – it has the following six assembly constituencies – Sankaranayanarkoil (SC), Vasudevanallur (SC), Kadayanallur, Tenkasi, Srivilliputhur and Rajapalayam. The current Member of Parliament from the constituency is P. Lingam from the Communist Party of India.[39][40]

Law and order in the town is maintained by the Srivilliputhur sub division of the Tamil Nadu Police headed by a Deputy Superintendent. There are three police stations in the town, one of them being an all-women police station. 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.[41]

Virudhunagar District court is in Srivilliputtur. This town receives drinking water supply from Thamirabarani river, an additional water resource.

Education and utility services

There are 19 elementary, six middle, one high, one matriculation and six matriculation schools in Srivilliputhur. There are no colleges in the town.[42] Electricity supply to Srivilliputhur is regulated and distributed by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB). The town along with its suburbs forms the Srivilliputhur Electricity Distribution Circle. A Chief Distribution engineer is stationed at the regional headquarters.[43] Water supply is provided by the Srivilliputhur Municipality from two sources, namely Peyanar river and deep bore wells. During the period 2000–01, a total of 3.125 million litres of water was supplied everyday for households in the town. The present water supply scheme from Peyanar and catchment area were implemented in 1955 and 1984 respectively. The water supply by the municipality has a coverage of 50%.[44]

About 24 metric tonnes of solid waste are collected from Srivilliputhur every day by door-to-door collection and subsequently the source segregation and dumping is carried out by the sanitary department of the Srivilliputhur municipality. The coverage of solid waste management had an efficiency of 100% as of 2001.[45] There is no underground drainage system in the town and the sewerage system for disposal of sullage is through septic tanks, open drains and public conveniences.[46] The municipality maintains storm water drains along 92.4 kilometres (57.4 mi) of surfaced roads and 8.7 kilometres (5.4 mi) along unlined roads. A total of 12.05 kilometres (7.49 mi) of roads in town have no drainage.[47]

There are one maternity hospital, one government health centre and various private clinics in the town that take care of the health care needs of the citizens.[48] There are a total of 2,072 street lamps: 222 sodium lamps, one mercury vapour lamps, 1,748 tube lights and one high mast beam lamp in the town.[49] Uzhavar Santhai, operated by the municipality and Pennington Market, operated by a private committee are the two markets located in the centre of the town that cater to the needs of the town and the rural areas around it.[50]

Transportation

The Srivilliputhur municipality maintains a total of 54.576 km (33.912 mi) of roads. The town has 15.63 km (9.71 mi) concrete roads, 38.526 km (23.939 mi) bituminous roads and 0.4 km (0.25 mi) earthern roads. The national highway NH 208 that connects Madurai and Kollam passes through the town and connects surrounding urban centers like Rajapalayam and Tenkasi.[51]

Srivilliputhur is served by town bus service, which provides connectivity within the town and the suburbs. There are private operated mini-bus services that cater to the local transport needs of the town.[52] The main bus stand covers an area of 2,830 m2 (0.70 acre) and is located in the heart of the town.[53] There are regular inter-city bus services to the town. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation operates daily services connecting various cities to Srivilliputhur. The State Express Transport Corporation operates long distance buses connecting the town to important cities like Chennai and Madurai. The major inter city bus routes from the town are to cities like Madurai, Chennai, Erode, Coimbatore, Theni, Karaikudi, Dindigul, Trichy, Ramnad, Tanjore,Sankarankovil, Sengottai, Rajapalayam, Tenkasi, Kovilpatti, Tuticorin, Tiruchendur, Nagercoil and Tirunelveli. The town bus routes to surrounding villages are to Krishnankoil, Watrap, Koomapatti, Maharajapuram, Koonampatti, Vanniampatti junction, Thalavaipuram, Athekulam, Natchiyarpatti and Chathirapatti.[54]

Srivilliputhur railway station is located in the rail head from Madurai to Tenkasi and Sengottai. It connects Tamil Nadu with Kerala through Rajapalayam and Sengottai. The Podhigai Express connects Srivilliputhur to Sengottai and Chennai Egmore in either directions. All other express trains ply from Virudunagar station. There are also passenger trains running either side from Madurai to Tenkasi.[55] The nearest local and international airport is Madurai International Airport, located 74 km (46 mi) away from the town.[54]

Culture

Paddy field and western ghats in the background

Srivilliputhur Andal Temple is the most popular landmark of Srivilliputhur. It is a Hindu temple dedicated to Vishnu and one of the 108 Divya Desams, temples that are revered in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham, the 8th-10th century Vaishnava canonical literature. It is the birthplace of two of the most important Azhwar saints in the Vaishnavite tradition, Periyazhvar and Andal.

Vatapatrasayi temple is a Vishnu temple dedicated to Vatapatrasayi or Rangamannar. The deity rests on a banyan tree leaf known as Vatapatram.[56] Madavar Vilagam Vaidyanathar temple, enshrining a six feet high monolithic image of Nataraja, is another prominent temple in the town.

Thiruvannamalai, also known as Thenthirupathi, is a temple dedicated to Vishnu and is located 5 km (3.1 mi) away from Srivilliputhur,surrounded by western Ghats. Kattalagar Koil is another Vishnu temple located 9 km (5.6 mi), west of Srivilliputhur over the Mantuga Hills. Sathuragiri Hills is an abode of siddhar (Tamil sages), and home of two temples, namely Sundra Mahalingam temple and Sandhana Mahalingam temple. The place known for rare medicinal plants and the medicinal value of 275 plants has been recorded and reported. The forest also has a rich variety of orchids and ferns.[56] Pennington Public Library, established in 1875, is one of the oldest privately run public libraries in India. Pilavakkal is a dam in watrap village and is one of the picnic spots of Srivilliputhur.

Thousands of people from the state participate in the "Aadi Pooram" festival celebrated in the Andal Temple. After early morning special pujas, the presiding deities, Sri Rengamannar and Goddess Andal are taken in decorated palanquins to the car. The festival marks the adoption of presiding deity, Andal, by Periyazhwar after he found her near a Tulsi plant in the garden of Vadabadrasai Temple at Srivilliputhur on the eighth day of the Tamil month of Adi.[57][58] Very cultural classical local festival named mulaipari is famous in four streets Perumalpatti, Arrachipatti, Kamapatti and Mangapuram.

Notes

  1. ↑ "Divine home of the Saint poetess". October 17, 2003. 
  2. ↑ Urban Infrastructure Report 2008, pp. 8-9
  3. ↑ Das, Sisir Kumar (2006). A history of Indian literature, 500-1399: from courtly to the popular. Sāhitya Akādemī. pp. 48–50. ISBN 9788126021710. 
  4. ↑ http://princelystatesofindia.com/Polegars/srivilliputtur.html
  5. ↑ Urban Infrastructure Report 2008, p. 8
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "About city". Srivilliputhur municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  7. ↑ "Primary census abstract 2001". Directorate of Census Operations  – Tamil Nadu. 2001. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  8. ↑ Urban Infrastructure Report 2008, pp. 35-36
  9. ↑ Urban Infrastructure Report 2008, p. 9
  10. ↑ Urban Infrastructure Report 2008, p. 16
  11. ↑ "Relief package a boon to Srivilliputtur weavers". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 2002-09-22. Retrieved 2013-02-19. 
  12. ↑ Rangan, Baradwaj (2012-07-23). "In search of Srivilliputhur Palgova". The Hindu (Chennai, India). Retrieved 2013-02-19. 
  13. ↑ Urban Infrastructure Report 2008, p. 12
  14. ↑ "Banks in Srivilliputhur". Srivilliputhur Municipality. Retrieved 2012-07-02. 
  15. ↑ "Chairman of municipality". Srivilliputhur municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  16. ↑ "Commissioner of municipality". Srivilliputhur municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  17. ↑ "Vice Chairman of municipality". Srivilliputhur municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "MLA of Srivilliputhur". Government of Tamil Nadu. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  19. ↑ "General Elections to Lok Sabha, 2009, name and address of the elected members of parliamentary constituencies in Tamil Nadu". Government of Tamil Nadu. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  20. ↑ "About the municipality". Srivilliputhur municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  21. ↑ "Commissionerate of Municipal Administration". Commissionerate of Municipal Administration. 2006. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  22. ↑ "Councillors of municipality". Srivilliputhur municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  23. ↑ Economic and political weekly, Volume 30. Sameeksha Trust. 1995. p. 2396. 
  24. ↑ "List of Assembly Constituencies". Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu state government. 2010. Retrieved 2012-12-28. 
  25. ↑ "Partywise Comparison Since 1977". Election Commission of India. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  26. ↑ "Key highlights of the general elections 1957 to the Second Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  27. ↑ "Key highlights of the general elections 1962 to the Third Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 49. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  28. ↑ "Key highlights of the general elections 1967 to the Fourth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 67. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  29. ↑ "Key highlights of the general elections 1971 to the Fifth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 71. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  30. ↑ "Key highlights of the general elections 1977 to the Sixth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 80. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  31. ↑ "Key highlights of the general elections 1980 to the Seventh Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 79. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  32. ↑ "Key highlights of the general elections 1984 to the Eighth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 73. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  33. ↑ "Key highlights of the general elections 1989 to the Ninth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 81. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  34. ↑ "Key highlights of the general elections 1991 to the Tenth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 51. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  35. ↑ "Key highlights of the general elections 1996 to the Eleventh Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 86. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  36. ↑ "Key highlights of the general elections 1998 to the Twelfth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 85. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  37. ↑ "Key highlights of the general elections 1999 to the Thirteenth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 85. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  38. ↑ "Key highlights of the general elections 2004 to the Fourteenth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 94. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  39. ↑ "Members of Parliament from Tamil Nadu". Government of Tamil Nadu. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  40. ↑ "Virudhunagar Parliamentary segment comes into being in place of Sivakasi". The Hindu. 2008-07-18. Retrieved 2013-02-18. 
  41. ↑ "Srivilliputhur Police". Srivilliputhur municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  42. ↑ "Educational Institutions". Srivilliputhur municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  43. ↑ "Important Address" (PDF). Indian Wind Power Association. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  44. ↑ "Water Supply Details". Srivilliputhur Municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  45. ↑ "Waste management programme". Srivilliputhur Municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  46. ↑ "Srivilliputhur sewarage". Srivilliputhur municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  47. ↑ "Storm water drains of Srivilliputhur". Srivilliputhur municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  48. ↑ "Srivilliputhur hospitals". Srivilliputhur municipality, Government of Tamil Nadu. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  49. ↑ "Srivilliputhur street lights". Srivilliputhur Municipality, Government of Tamil Nadu. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  50. ↑ "Srivilliputhur markets". Srivilliputhur Municipality, Government of Tamil Nadu. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  51. ↑ "Srivilliputhur roads". Srivilliputhur municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  52. ↑ Urban Infrastructure Report 2008, pp. 30–33
  53. ↑ "Srivilliputhur bus stand". Srivilliputhur municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  54. ↑ 54.0 54.1 "Srivilliputhur bus routes". Srivilliputhur municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  55. ↑ "Provide facilities at railway station". The Hindu. 2012-07-03. Retrieved 2012-12-29. 
  56. ↑ 56.0 56.1 "Virudhunagar District - Places of interest". Virudhunagar district administration. 2011. Retrieved 2013-02-19. 
  57. ↑ "Thousands of devotees likely to throng Srivilliputtur today". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 2009-07-25. Retrieved 2013-02-19. 
  58. ↑ "Hundreds participate in Andal Temple car festival". The Hindu (Chennai, India). 2006-07-30. Retrieved 2013-02-19. 

References

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