Kuthalam
| Kuthalam குத்தாலம் (Tiruthuruthi (Now known as Kuththalam) | |
|---|---|
| city | |
  Kuthalam Location in Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Coordinates: 11°06′N 79°33′E / 11.1°N 79.55°ECoordinates: 11°06′N 79°33′E / 11.1°N 79.55°E | |
| Country |
 India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Nagapattinam |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 13,434 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 609 801 |
| Telephone code | 91 4364 |
| Vehicle registration | TN-82 |
Kuthalam(Tiruthuruthi (Now known as Kuththalam) is a panchayat town in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Indian Railways has this town as "Kutralam" with station code as "KTM" in its records. People often call this by its commercial name "Kuttalam" which has clash with another town Kuttalam in Tamil Nadu, which is famous for its scenic waterfalls. The language being spoken is Tamil
History
The place where Parvati grew to adulthood as Bharatha Maharshi's daughter is within the town of Kutralam. Kuttalam itself has a number of temples, and this one is known as the Ukthavedeeswarar temple. Very few people know of the name "Thiruthurutthi", which is the ancient name of the place. The main deities in this temple are Ukthavedeeswarar and Parimala Sugandha Nayaki.
It is believed that Shiva arrived here for the marriage and the couple also departed from this place. The sthala vriksham here is the Kuttalam tree, which is believed to have been brought from Kailas when Shiva arrived for the wedding. Under the tree is a pair of Padukas, believed to be those of Shiva, which he left behind when he left his father-in-law's place with his wife.
This is a beautiful temple, with exquisite work on the gopurams. While one fa�ade of the gopuram depicted the child Parvati with her foster parents - the rishi and his wife, another depicted the marriage, while another showed various forms of Dakshinamoorthy. There was also one of Parvati praying to a lingam.
Demographics
As of the 2001 India census,[1] Kuthalam had a population of 13,434. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Kuthalam has an average literacy rate of 73%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 64%. In Kuthalam, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Location
It is nearly 290 km south of Madras and can be reached by trains going via Main line and also through road. Best way to reach Kuthalam from Chennai by road is through ECR (East Coast Road) via Pondicherry via Mayiladuthurai. Else there are lot of local buses called town buses ply between Mayiladuthurai and its nearer places goes through Kuthalam. Also there are lot of town buses from Kumbakonam via a route through Tediyur.
Nearest National Airport - Trichy Nearest International Airport - Chennai
Culture
People spend lot of time in state political activities. Annual festival happens during the Tamil month of Karthigai. People celebrate Tamil Festival called Pongal (Festival of Farmers) in a grand manner.
Economy
Kuthalam's economy is very limited. The primary occupation here is agriculture around the surrounding villages like Mathirimangalam, Villianallur, Ancharvarthalai, Mekkirimangalam, Komalroad, Kshethirabalapuram, Thiruvezhangudi etc., Oil and Natural Gas Commission (ONGC) of India has set up a small plant on the outskirts for extraction of Natural Gas resource available at the Cauvery basin. Lot of people do retail money lending business on high interest rates which farmers use it during off and drought seasons.
Temples
The Uthavedeeswarar Temple - ஸ்ரீ உக்தவேதஸ்வரர் (Sri Sonnavar Arivar - ஸ்ரீ சொன்னவார் அறிவார்) Temple, also called the 'big temple' is a temple dedicated to Shiva where Thevaram is recited. In the Tamil month of Karthigai every Sunday, Deities called "Urchava Murthy" from the temple will be taken around the streets of the temple till the river Cauvery front and Pooja are performed. On the last Sunday of the month the celebrations happen in very grand manner as "Kada Muzhukku" and people from in and surrounding villages gather to celebrate the occasion. Lot of street shops and small merry rounds are put up to attract people ranging from kids, ladies to older people.
Location of the temple : Tiruthuruthi (Now known as Kuththalam) Lord Shiva known as : Ukthavedeeswarar, Vedhasuwarar, Sonnavaararivaar Female deity known as : Mughizhaambikai Pathigam Tirunaavukarasar, Sambandar How to reach This sivasthalam temple is located at Kutthalam, 9 Kms from Mayiladuturai towards Kumbakonam. The temple is about 1 Km. from Kutthaalam bus stop. Tiruvelvikkudi, Tiruedirkolpaadi and Tirumananjeri are other paadal petra sivasthalams in the vicinity of Kutthalam. By engaging an auto at Kuththalam, one can visit all the 4 temples viz., Tiruthuruthi, Tiruvelvikudi, Tiruedhirkolpadi and Tirumananjeri easily within half a day. There are many famous temples in kuttalam's vicinity, most important amongst which is Thirumanancheri. The Primary deity of this temple is Meenakshi Sundareswarar. This temple is adorned for resolution of marriage related issues.This place is about 15 k.m west to Mayiladuthurai and 5 km North from kuthalam in the Mayiladuthurai-Kumbakonam Highway.
The Holy River Cauvery takes its way to Bay of Bengal through the town. According to Hindu belief Cauvery will purify the soul from sins.
Very old Vinayakar Temple Sri Kachi Vinayakar & Sri. Ponniamman koil at Periya Sengunather Street
Presiding deity – Sri Uddhavedeeswarar/Sri Uthara Vedheeswarar/ Kalyanasundareswarar/ Kuthaleswarar with his consort Goddess Sri Parimalasugandha Nayaki/Arumvannavalamulaiyal
Mangalasasanam – Thirunavukkarasar, Thiru Gnana Sambandhar, Sundarar,
Thiru Aiyadikal Katvarkon Nayanar also sung praising the glories of Lord Kuthaleswarar in this temple.
Life of Thiru Aiyadikal Katvarkon Nayanar :
http://indiatempletour.blogspot.com/2012/12/63-nayanmar-life-of-thiru-aiyadikal.html
Sthalavruksham – Athimaram/Uthalavruksham
This tree was brought from Indraloka which has marvelous herbal qualities to witness the betrothal of the divine couple. A pair of padhukas of Lord can be seen under this tree.
Theertham – Thmarai Theertham/Sundara Theertham, Padma Theertham, Cauvery Theertham
Thiru Sundaramurthy Nayanar lost his eyes sight when he crossed the land of Thiruvotriyur due to the denial of promise given to his wife Sangili Nachiyar. Later, he regained the sight of one eye from Kanchipuram. Sundarar was in a wretched state mentally and physically as well. He arrived at this sacred land, he passionately sung praising the glories of Lord and earnestly prayed for forgiveness. Soon, a mysterious voice instructed Sundarar to have a holy dip in the pond situated here and Sundarar reverently followed the instruction. Immediately after the holy dip Sundarar regained his ever charming physique. There is a shrine for Sundarar positioned near this pond. Hence, this pond has got its name Sundara Theertham.
Life of Sundaramurthi Nayanar : http://indiatempletour.blogspot.com/2012/12/63-nayanmars-life-of-thiru_26.html
Worshipped by – Goddess Sri Parvati, Lord Varuna, Lord Agni, Saptharishis –Sage Kashyapa, Gouthama, Markandeya, Angira, Pulastya, Vashishta, Agastya, Sage Bharatha,
Festivals – Maha Shivaratri, Thiru Karthikai, Markazhi Utsavam, Navaratri, Panguni Uthiram, Masi Makam, Arudra Darisanam, Aippasi Annabhishekam,
Sannidhis – Lord Ganesha, Lord Nandikeshwara, Lord Subramanya with his consorts Goddesses Sri Valli & Deivayanai, Lord Nandikeshwara, 63 Nayanmars, Lord Dakshinamurthi, Navagrahas, Saptharishiswarar, Shaneeswarar, Bhiaravar, Pancha Lingas, Serpant Gods, Goshtamurtham – Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lingodhbavar, Goddess Durga,
The legend has that Goddess Sri Parvati in the form of a cow worshipped Lord Shiva at Thiruvavaduthurai/Thiru Avaduthurai, Lord was pleased at her devotion and gave dharshan to her. At Thiruthuruthi, Goddess Sri Parvati born as a daughter to Sage Bharatha as he was desired, she was originated from the sacrificial fire. Sage Bharatha brought up this divine child with lots of love and affection. As years passed, Goddess Sri Parvati was a staunch devotee of Lord at the early ages of her childhood. She worshipped Lord Shiva and underwent severe austerities to attain him as her husband. She arrived on the sand bed of river Cauvery and sanctified Linga, this was repeated for eight days. On the eighth day Lord Shiva was appeared before Goddess Sri Parvati and agreed to marry her. She put forward a condition that the marriage should be taken place in the presence of her parents and relatives; Lord was granted her wish and married her as she was desired.
Another legend has that a Sage was proceeding to Mount Kailash with a yearning to have dharshan of Lord without knowing the significance and the devoutness of Thiruthuruthi. Lord Shiva appeared as snake charmer before the Sage. The most compassionate Lord narrated the importance of worship at Thiruthuruthi holds equivalent religious fervor as worship in Mount Kailash.
This temple remains open from 6.00 AM to 11.30 AM in the morning and 4.30 PM to 8.30 PM in the evenings.
Education
There are few schools situated in the town. Students need to travel to nearest Cities - Mayiladuthurai and Kumbakonam for better quality education and higher studies in colleges.
Schools:
New star matriculation school
Sri Solishwara Middle School
Ganapathy Middle School
Government Higher Secondary School - Boys & Girls
St.Mary's Maticulation School, Nadu Chetty Street
Raj Matriculation School
Dr.G.S.Kalyanasundaram Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Pazhaya Gudalur Kuttalam
Shri Saraswathy Vidyalayam, Rajagopalapuram
Aided primary school,madirimangalam.
Websites
References
- ↑ "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.