Tamilnadu > Pudukkottai
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Pudukkottai District was carved out of Tiruchirappalli and Thanjavur districts in January 1974. The district has an area of 4663 Sq. Km. with a coast line of 39 Kms. The district lies between 78.25' and 79.15' of the Eastern Longitude and between 9.50' and 10.40' of the Northern Latitude. It is bounded by Tiruchirappalli district in the North and West, Sivaganga district in the South, Bay of Bengal in the East and Thanjavur district in the North East.
The present-day district of Pudukkottai was part of the Pandya kingdom. Over the centuries, the district was ruled by a succession of South Indian dynasties which included the Cholas, Pallavas and Hoysalas. The district became a part of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century.
History of Pudukkottai
Pudukkottai was organised as a separate district, on 14th January 1974, comprising the former Pudukkottai Division of Tiruchirappalli district with some additions from Thanjavur district. At present, this district is composed of two Revenue Divisions, namely, Pudukkottai and Aranthangi and nine Taluks, namely, Kulathur, Illuppur, Alangudi, Pudukkottai, Gandarvakottai, Thirumayam, Aranthangi, Avudaiyrakoil and Manamelkudi. There are 765 Revenue Villages. The area of the district is 4663 Sq.Kms. The population of the district is 14,52,269 (as per Census 2001 Provisional figures). The district depends a great deal on the monsoon for its water supply.
Many of the villages are of ancient foundation. The district was one of the homes of pre-historic man. A very large number of burial sites found in the northern and western parts of the district attest this fact.
A very brief sketch of political history is given here in order to appreciate and understand the mixed legacy of antiquities, monuments, epigraphs and the like. The history of Pudukkottai is an epitome of the history of South India. In and around Pudukkottai, there are many vestiges of the oldest habitations of man and some of the lithic records known in the south. The Pandyas, Cholas, Pallavas, Haysalas, Vijaynagar and Madurai Nayaks ruled over this part of the country and fostered it's communual organisations, trade and industries and embellished it with temples and monuments of outstanding merit.
Sangam Tamil literatures mention some place names of the district. Oliyamangalam (Thirumayam Taluk) is called as Ollaiyur in Purananuru. It was the birth place of poet Ollaiyur Kilan Makan Perumchattan and Ollaiyur Thantha Budha Pandyan. Agananuru also mentions Ollaiyur. It seems to have been an important city of the Pandyas. Four other places also find place in the Sangam classics. They are Ambukkovil, the ancient Alumbil, referred to in Agananuru; Avur the home of the poets Avurkilar, Avur Mulamkilar; Erichi, the ancient Erichalur which had been identified with Erichi Village in Pudukkottai - Aranthangi road (But according to recent researches a village near Illupur). It was probably the home of the poet Madalan Madurai Kumaranar. Avayapatti is traditionally associated with Avvaiyar, who is believed to have lived here for some time.
This district was under the Pandyas of the first empire during Sangam period, but some part of it's northern boundary had been under the influence of the Cholas of Uraiyur, since a few villages here bear the prefix like "killi" and "valavan" both of which are the titles of the Cholas.
The district shares the large prosperity of the maritime trade of the Tamils, Karukkakurichi, the place of find of a treasure trove of more than 500 Imperial Roman Gold and Silver Coins, the largest ever recorded from a single hoard deserves notice in the context of the early history of the district. This place lies in Alangudi taluk, with in a short distance north of Aranthangi and the adjoining old ports of Mimisal and Saliyur in the same area and Tondi further south. The site of find would mark an important Indo-Roman trading centre, through which the inland trade route ran between the western and eastern ports during that time. Important temples in Pudukkottai District- Sri Chithi Vinayagar Temple,Namakkottai
- Arulmigu Dharmasamvarthini Sri Namapureeswarar Temple, Alangudi
- Perungaraiyadi Meenda Ayyanar Temple,Kulamangalam
- Sri Muthumariyamman Temple,Kothamangalam
- Subramaniya swamy thirukovil, Viralimalai
- Admanathaswamy Temple, Avudayarkoil
- Kokarneswarar Temple, Thirukkokarnam
- Sri Bragadhambal Temple, Pudukkottai
- Sri Thiruvapur Muthumariyaman Temple,Pudukkottai
- Sri Viruthapureeswarar Temple, Thiruppunavasal
- Veeramakali amman Temple, Aranthangi and Perambur(Andakulam)
- Meiyyanathar Temple, Thirumayam
- Mariyamman Temple, Thiruvappur
- Mariyamman Temple, Naarthamalai
- Bhuvaneshwariamman Temple, Pudukkottai
- Fire Prayer Vision Ministries, Ashok Nagar, Pudukkottai
- Sacred Heart Church, Marthandapuram, Pudukkottai
- Moovar and Ivar Temple, Kodumbalur
- Sri Naadiyaman Temple, Keelathur and Alangudi
- Sri Dharma Sastha Temple, Kannankarakudi (Sastharkovil)
- Sri SelvaVinayagar Koil, Maligaipunchai (Aranthangi)
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