36-729: Sathyamurthi Perumal Temple in Thirumayam , a panchayat town in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu , is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu . Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture , the temple is glorified in the Nalayira Divya Prabandham , the early medieval Tamil canon of the Alvar saints from the 6th–9th centuries CE. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Vishnu, who
72-508: A 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 (ஸ்ரீரங்கம்). It contains one of the largest Anantasayi group icons in India . Anantasayi groups have Thirumal reclining on Anantha (Seshanaaga) as the central figure. The Thirumal temple contains an octagonal sacred tank called ‘Satya-pushkarani’ (சத்திய புஷ்கரணி). Every year during
108-477: A new tax policy through which they intended to completely bypass the polygars and other intermediaries during tax collection. Kattabomman saw this as an attempt to usurp his sovereignty over his domain by the British and stopped paying them tributes contending that his taxes ought to be waived due to the prolonged drought in his domain, whilst fighting against polygars allied with the British. In 1798 Kattabomman and
144-509: A vassal of Pallavas following the Rock-cut architecture of Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram built by Mahendravarman I (590-630 CE) and his son Narasimhavarman I . An inscription in the temple indicates contributions to the temple by Perumbidugu Perumdevi, mother of Sattan Maran, a contemporary and vassal of Pallava king Nandivarman II (731-796 CE). The fort, the Shiva and Vishnu temples are
180-676: Is a town located in Pudukkottai district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu . It is a place of historical importance located about 22 km from the Capital City of Pudukkottai & 22 km from the city of Karaikudi . The noted Indian independence activist Sathyamurthy was born in Thirumayam in 1887. Thirumayam is from the word Thiru-meyyam which means Place of truth in Tamil. The Lord Thirumal
216-468: Is actually National Highway NH-210, which connects Tiruchirapalli and Rameshwaram . Thirumayam is the first main junction on this road; the Madurai road takes its diversion from Thirumayam. Thirumayam 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
252-451: 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 many parts of Tamil Nadu. Thirumayam, 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
288-414: Is at Trichy, 59 km away. Accommodation is also available at nearby Pudukkottai. Famous freedom fighters Veerapandiya Kattabomman and his brother Umathaiturai hid in a fort at Tirumayam, after their fight against the British during 17th century. Thirumayam 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
324-610: Is maintained and administered by the Archaeological Survey of India as a protected monument. The temple follows the Tenkalai tradition of worship. Four daily rituals and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the car festival during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (April - May), Krishna Jayanti during Avani (August - September) and Adi Puram during July - August being the most prominent. The Brahmanda Purana mentions
360-482: Is of great historical importance. It was built by Kizhavan Sethupathi Vijaya Raghunatha Sethupathi , ruler of Ramanathapuram in 1687 CE. 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 Thirumayam fort before founding his own kingdom. There are two famous rock-cut shrines Sathyagirisvarar and Sathyamoorthi, one for Siva and
396-399: Is standing on a rock, along with his wives. In the next Sannidhanam (sanctum), Mahavishnu 's sculpture is in sleeping position, called ari thuyil in Tamil , sleeping with a sense of knowing what is going on at present. Sculptures of Mahavishnu in this position can be viewed in many temples, although this is one of the largest examples. There are many other sannidhis in the temple. All
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#1732854882228432-465: Is the subject of several traditional narrative ballads in the kummi verse form. The site of his execution at Kayathar has become a "powerful local shrine" and at one time sheep were sacrificed there. The Tamil Nadu government rebuilt the Panchalankurichi fort in 1974. The Government of Tamil Nadu maintains a memorial at Kayathar and the remnants of the old fort at Panchalankurichi is protected by
468-460: Is worshipped as Sathyamurthi Perumal and his consort Lakshmi as Ujeevana Thayar. The temple is believed to have been built during the 9th century by the Pallavas . A granite wall surrounds the temple, enclosing all its shrines. The temple has a five-tiered raja gopuram , the gateway tower and is behind a fort built during the 15th century. The temple tank is located inside the premises. The temple
504-582: The Archaeological Survey of India . In 2006, the Tirunelveli district administration organised a festival at Panchalankurichi on his birth anniversary. The 1959 Tamil-language film Veerapandiya Kattabomman , starring Sivaji Ganesan , is based on his life. To commemorate the bicentenary of Kattabomman's hanging, the Government of India released a postal stamp in his honour on 16 October 1999. The Indian Navy communications centre at Vijayanarayanam
540-532: The kinnaras . The temple is adjacent to the Sathyagiriswara Sivan temple, located in the same complex. The temple is maintained and administered by the Archaeological Survey of India as a ticketed monument. Sathyamurthi Perumal temple is revered in Nalayira Divya Prabhandam , the 7th–9th century Vaishnava canon, by Thirumangai Alvar . The temple is classified as a Divya Desam , one of
576-550: The 108 Vishnu temples that are mentioned in the book. During the 18th and 19th centuries, the temple finds mention in several works like 108 Tirupathi Anthathi by Divya Kavi Pillai Perumal Aiyangar. The image of the reclining deity is bigger than the Ranganatha image in Srirangam temple . The Adishesha in the temple is believed to as a protecting force. Once it emanated fumes on the attacking asuras who wanted to destroy it. Following
612-483: The Brahmin class. Four daily rituals are performed at various times of the day and many yearly festivals are held at the temple, of which the car festival during the Tamil month of Vaikasi (April - May), Krishna Jayanti during Avani (August - September) and Adi Puram during July - August being the most prominent. There are weekly, monthly and fortnightly rituals performed in the temple. Thirumayam Thirumayam
648-520: The British. After his defeat and capture in October 1801, he too was hanged along with the other polygars who resisted the British, while the Panchalankurichi fort was razed to the ground, with its site ploughed over and planted with castor seeds, and its name expunged from all registers in the district. The historian Susan Bayly says that Kattabomman is considered a Robin Hood -like figure in local folklore and
684-523: The Satyamurthi Perumal temple. Historians believe that the temple was built during the 9th century CE by the Pallavas . M.A. Dhaky places the period to be the seventh decade of the 9th century CE. He has also compared the images of the temple to that of Vijayalaya Choleeswaram in Narthamalai , built by Muttaraiyar kings during the same period. Another view is that the temple to have been built by
720-506: The assistance of polygars allied to the British like Ettappan of Ettaiyapuram and the king of Pudukkottai Vijaya Raghunatha Thondaiman. Following his capture, Kattabomman was interrogated for 15 days and sentenced to death. He was hanged to death at Kayathar on 16 October 1799. His surviving relatives including his deaf-mute brother Umaidurai were also arrested and locked up in the fort of Palayamkottai , however Umaidurai escaped, joined up with other polygars and continued fighting
756-430: The brother of Kattabomman , Oomathurai was ensnared and imprisoned. An old armor used by him is exhibited here. The temple is located in Thirumayam , a village in the Madurai - Pudukottai road, 15 km (9.3 mi) from the temple. The presiding deity is called Sathyamurthi Perumal. The temple is old and large, and striking in appearance. The main statue of Sathyamurthi Perumal approximately seven feet in height,
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#1732854882228792-421: The collector, the British sent an armed force under Major John Alexander Bannerman . Kattabomman had to make a stand at his fort in Panchalankurichi, largely unprepared, although his forces were able to hold back the company troops initially, his fort was incapable of taking on British artillery, so he withdrew from the fort into nearby forests, fighting a guerilla campaign till his capture on 1 October 1799 with
828-431: The legend included in the temple's regional legend . Once, Adishesha , the serpent-mount of Vishnu , wanted to convert his guna (quality) from tamas (darkness) to satvik (purity). He performed a penance at this place via the netherworld in a path, which went on to become the river Pamapar. Vishnu appeared to him in the form of Hayagriva and granted him a boon. Chandra also performed penance at this place. Vishnu
864-509: The legend, the image is sculpted in such a way showing flames emanating from it. The temple follows the traditions of the Tenkalai sect of the Vaishnava tradition and follows vaikhānasāgama . In modern times, the temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, from
900-501: The other for Thirumal , adjacent to each other. These are located at the foot of a hillock on the south side of the town. 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. The Sathyamurthi Perumal Temple ,
936-512: The pillars are truly beautiful. 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 - பைரவர் கோயில்). 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. The Thirumayam fort, set in 40 acres (160,000 m ),
972-463: The place are the fort, and the Shiva and Thirumal temples. 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 kilometre 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
1008-441: The same time as king Pururava. Vishnu appeared in the form of a boar and created havoc in the kingdom of Pururava. The king chased the boar to the forest where the sage was performing penance. The sage was disturbed and opened the eyes, while the king saw the boar disappeared. Vishnu appeared to grant a vision to both of them. He granted salvation to the sage and directed the king to build a temple at this place, which went on to become
1044-506: The statues are sculptured beautifully. It is where the largest Anantasayi (Vishnu in reclining pose) in India. It is a natural cavern which has been rockcut to have various images. The hall preceding the sanctum, the Ardha mandapa is rectangular in shape, similar to the sanctum. The wall behind the presiding deity has images of Garuda , Chitragupta , Markandeya , Brahma , the devas , the vasus , and
1080-448: The support of the local Tamil people, his father Jagaveera Kattabomman Nayakar named his son Pandiya Kattabomman Nayakar and added a shorter version "Veera" from his own name Jagveera. Veerapandiya as a polygar retained the right to collect taxes and recruit soldiers in his domain, the British viewed the polygars as illegitimate rulers and wanted to end their taxation powers, and curtail their power and influence. To this end they introduced
1116-475: The then Tirunelveli collector Jackson got into a disagreement over left over taxes, when Kattabomman was able to meet with Jackson three months later in Ramnathapuram, where there was an altercation between company troops and the polygar resulting in the death of the deputy commandant of the company's forces Clarke, Kattabomman was acquitted from this following an inquiry. In 1799 following his refusal to meet with
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1152-407: The time of Tamil New year and Pongal festival, a statewide popular Jallikattu will be going on the areas around Thirumayam. Villages like Neivaasal, Edayathur, Vembanoor will have these bull taming festivals on occasions like maha sivarathri, welcoming tamil months etc. Thirumayam assembly constituency is part of Sivaganga (Lok Sabha constituency) . Kattabomman Veerapandiya Kattabomman
1188-458: The tourist attractions. The fort played an important role in the history of Thondaiman rulers of Pudukottai and the British. The 40-acre fort was built by Vijaya Ragunatha Sethupathi of Ramanathapuram in 1687 CE. On the hill, there is a rock-cut Shiva temple with inscriptions on music. There are relics of another fort. At the foot of the hill are the Shiva and Vishnu temples. It was in this fort that
1224-491: Was an 18th-century Palayakarrar and king of Panchalankurichi in Tamil Nadu , India. He fought the British East India Company and was captured by the British with the help of the ruler of the kingdom of Pudukottai , Vijaya Raghunatha Tondaiman , and at the age of 39 he was hanged at Kayathar on 16 October 1799. He belongs to Thokalavar sub-sect of Rajakambala Nayakkar Community. Veerapandiya Kattabomman
1260-509: Was born to his parents Jagaveera Kattabomman Nayakar and Arumugathammal in a Telugu origin Rajakambala Naicker caste. His father Jagaveera was the polygar of Panchalankurichi. He belonged to the Bommu and Aathi Kattabomman clans of Panchalankurichi. He inherited his father's position as the polygar of Panchalankurichi when he turned 30, becoming the 47th polygar of the village. To acquire
1296-541: Was pleased by his devotion and appeared to him in the form of Vamana . As per another legend, a sage named Satya performed penance at this place. Pleased by his devotion, Vishnu granted him a boon that he would appear to the sage whenever he wished. The sage had no wish to move away from river where he was performing the penance. Vishnu converted the river to a Pushkarani, the rock to Meyyam hill and banyan tree to Asvatta tree. The sage performed penance again and wished salvation. Vishnu told him that he would attain salvation at
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