Sunday, December 6, 2015

Thirumayyam, Pudukottai

Thirumayyam, Pudukottai
Thirumayyam is a place of historical importance located about 20 km south of the town of Pudukkottai in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The noted Indian independence activist Sathyamurthy was born in Thirumayyam in 1887.

Etymology
Thirumayyam is from the word Thiru-meyyam which means Place of truth in Tamil. The Lord Vishnu is also called by the name of Meyyar. Since he stayed in that village it is called by the name Thirumeyyam. Tiru means 'holy' or 'sacred' and is traditionally used in front of names in all parts of Tamil Nadu like Thiruneermalai (Lord Ranganatha), Thirunageshwaram(Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva), Thirumayyam (Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva), Thirumayilai (Lord Adikeshava Perumal and Lord Kapali Eshwaran), Thiruvannamalai (Lord Shiva), Thiruchendur(Lord Muruga), Tiruchirappalli (Lord Sriranganathar), Tiruthani (Lord Muruga), Thiruchengodu(Lord Shiva), Thiruchitrambalam (Lord Shiva), Thirumanancheri (Lord Shiva), Thirunallar (Lord Shani Eshwaran), Thiruporur(Lord Muruga), Thirukkadaiyur (Lord Shiva), Tirukalukundram(Lord Vedagiriswarar temple), Thirukarugavur (Lord Garbharakshambigai temple), Tirunelveli, Tiruppur, Thiruvallur and many more.
History
History of Thirumayyam is probably traceable from early seventh century when the town was immortalized with the construction of a Shiva cave temple. After a short period, a cave temple for Vishnu was also constructed hence making this town to be revered by Vaishnavas and Shaivas equally. There is no consensus among the scholars about which one of the cave temples was constructed first.
Existence of the Pallava Grantha inscriptions in the Shiva cave temple suggests that the town was under Pallavas through their vassals, Muttaraiyar, perhaps. Though the Pallava territory was restricted to Trichy during the reign of Mahendravarman I (580-629 CE) but the Pallava-s gained northern part of the Pandya land during the reign of Nandivarman II Pallavamalla (731-796 CE). An inscription of the mother of a Muttaraiyar chief in the Vishnu cave temple supports this view. Thirumangai Alvar, and eighth century Vaishnava saint, praised the Lord of Thirumayyam in his hymns and included it under the hundred and eight Divya sthalas for the Vaishnavas. This started the foundation of Vaishnava tradition in Thirumayyam.

Pandyas gained their land back from the Pallavas soon. Thirumayyam came under the the Cholas when the wiped off the Pandyas from Tamil landscape. Many inscriptions of the Cholas in Thirumayyam suggest that the town got its due attention from the Chola rulers as well. With the Pandya resurgence, Chola rule was ended and Thirumayyam again came back to its original occupants. Inscriptions of Maravarman Sundara Pandya II reflect the attention given to this town just after he finished with the Chola problem. 
Pandya inscriptions of Sundara Pandya, Vira Pandya and Parakrama Pandya suggest that this town was under them for quite some time. Presence of Shiva and Vishnu temple at the same site puts Thirumayyam under religious conflicts. A long inscription is found which details about the settlement reached to avoid further conflict in between these two sects. This meeting was overseen by a Hoysala army chief and the inscription is dated under seventh regnal year of Sundara Pandya II.

This suggests that either the town was under influence of the Hoysalas or they helped Sundara Pandya in his wars against the Cholas achieving a commendable position under the Pandyas. The inscription suggests that there were earlier incidents of clashes between these two sects at the site which resulted in some demolition of temple properties. However after the settlement was reached all conflicts were resolved without further clashes.
After the Pandyas, Vijayanagara rulers enjoyed command over this town. The Vijayanagara inscriptions are dated in the reigns of Virupaksha I and Krishnadevaraya (15th-16th century CE). Where the Pandya records are only found in Shiva temple, they seemed to have neglected the Vishnu temple, Vijayanagara rulers supported both the temples in ratio of 3:2 for the Vishnu and Shiva temple. Though they favored the Vishnu temple but they did not neglect the Shiva temple. After the Vijayanagara rulers, Pudukkottai Nayakas were in possession of the town. 

Sethupathi Vijaya Raghunatha Tevan of Ramanathapuram was ruling over Thirumayyam during later seventeenth century and he constructed a fort here. He gifted this fort to Tondaiman rulers of Pudukkottai for helping him winning Ramanathapuram from his rivals. Tondaiman king submitted to East India Company’s claim for the fort and Thirumayyam went to the British under the Princely State of Pudukkottai. At present Thirumayyam is a taluk under Pudukkottai district and a revered place for the Vaishnavas.
Inscriptions
There are nineteen inscriptions in Thirumayyam, five in Siva temple and fourteen in Vishnu temple. Some of them are already mentioned.
Closer to the rock-cut shrine of Siva, on the living rock are the mutilated letters denoting music terms like shadja, Gandhara, dhaivata, etc. in the Pallava Grantha script of the 7th century AD. These certainly indicate that once the entire area was inscribed with musical treatise containing notations similar to, or a replica of the famous one in Kudumiyamalai.
But it was obliterated in the 13th century, while recording the adjudication of the dispute between the priests of Siva and Vishnu temples for the share of the produce of the temple lands, by the Hoysala general Appanna Dandanayaka tribunal mentioned above. It is in Tamil script.
Another copy of the same document is inscribed on the rock to the north of the Siva temple tank.
Two more inscriptions in the Siva cave temple belong to reign of Mara-Varman Sundara Pandya (13th century AD). They are regarding grants to the temple.
The earliest inscription in the Vishnu temple is on a slab, which is now placed in the western prakaram of the Sathyamurthy shrine. This slab must have once formed part of a parapet to the steps leading to the cave temple. It may be ascribed to the latter part of the 8th century or the early years of 9th century AD. It mentions a renovation of the cave temple and an endowment by the mother of Sattan Maran, a Muttaraiyar chief (contemporary vassal of the Pallava Nandivarman II and Dantivarman).
There are two Pandya inscriptions belonging to 14th century. Also there are four Vijayanagara inscriptions (15th and 16th century). Other inscriptions are by local chiefs.
Educational institutions
·        Shanmuganathan Engineering College, Arasampatti
·        Subramanian Polytechnic College, Rayavaram
·        St. Joseph polytechnic college
·        St. Joseph matriculation school
Politics
Thirumayyam assembly constituency is part of Sivaganga (Lok Sabha constituency).
Attractions
Thirumayyam is a much-frequented picnic spot and affords much to the discerning tourist who ventures a little beyond the beaten track. The main attractions of the place are the fort, and the Shiva and Thirumal temples.




Thirumayyam Fort:
Miles before reaching the town, one can see a fort atop a large hill. In past centuries, the fort was much larger than what now obtains; this is affirmed by the fact that the main entrance to the old fort lies about one kilometer south of the present day fort. This entrance to the old fort still stands; it has a courtyard with pillared corridors and shrines of various deities. The sculptures on the pillars are truly beautiful.

The Thirumayyam fort, set in 40 acres (160,000 m2), is of great historical importance. It was built by Sethupathi Vijaya Ragunatha Thevar, ruler of Ramanathapuram in AD 1687. Sethupathi is the name of the ruling dynasty of Ramanathapuram (Ramnad). Another fact of historic interest is that the founder of the princely state of Pudukkottai had served as governor of Thirumayyam fort before founding his own kingdom.
For Brief details, refer the link below; 
Temples:
There are two famous rock-cut shrines Sathyagirisvarar and Sathyamurthy, one of Siva and the other of Thirumal, adjacent to each other. The Siva temple, which stands to the west of the Vishnu temple, is the older of the two. These are located at the foot of a hillock on the south side of the town.
Sathyagirisvarar Temple:
The rock cut Shiva temple is situated on a hill amid the relics of another ancient and ruined fort. Near this temple stands one of the largest rock inscriptions in Tamil Nadu. The inscriptions are of particular interest since they deal with music, a rare subject for inscriptions.

For Brief details, refer the link below;
Sathyamurthy Perumal Temple:
The Vishnu temple is located on the foot of the hill; it is much a much-venerated temple and is considered second in importance only to the temple at Srirangam. It contains one of the largest Anantasayi group icons in India. Anantasayi groups have Thirumal reclining on Anandha (Seshanaaga) as the central figure. The Thirumal temple contains an octagonal sacred tank called ‘Satya-pushkarani’.

For Brief details, refer the link below;
Bhairavar Kovil:
As one enters the town through the road which connects it with the highway, one finds a small temple dedicated to Bhairava (the Bhairavar koil).







This temple, which faces the main road, is a favourite with vehicle-owners who traditionally halt and pray there for a safe journey. This temple was actually built on the outermost wall of the old fort.
Other worshipping places:
There are a number of minor shrines, which include one to Ayyanar, locally called Kaliya perumal, and another to Pidari. The site where a Vaduga (Nayak) woman is said to have performed Sati is held sacred.
The Muslim place of worship includes a mosque, with a tomb close by. Adjacent to the Pillamangalam road, to the south of the mosque, is the tomb of Hazarat Quadri Ibrahim Alim.
On the bank of the Thamaraikkanmai, just to the west of the fort, is the tomb of another Muslim saint at which offerings are made both by Hindus and Muslims. In the water spread of the Alankanmai another saint lies buried.
There is also a Roman Catholic Chapel.
Connectivity
Thirumayyam, a town panchayat and also the Taluk headquarters of the eponymous Vattam (sub-district), lies 20 km south of Pudukkottai, on the road from that town to Karaikudi. This is actually National Highway NH-210, which connects Tiruchirapalli and Rameswaram. Thirumayyam is the first main junction on this road; the Madurai road takes its diversion from Thirumayyam.
Thirumayyam is well connected by road and rail. The nearest railhead is at Pudukkottai. Bus facility is available from Pudukkottai, Karaikudi, Thanjavur, Madurai and many other places. The nearest airport connected is at Trichy, 70 km away. Accommodation is also available at nearby Pudukkottai.