Sankarankovil

Sankarankovil
Punnai Vanam
City
Nickname(s): Sangai
Sankarankovil
Location in Tirunelveli Dist,Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 9°10′N 77°33′E / 9.16°N 77.55°E / 9.16; 77.55Coordinates: 9°10′N 77°33′E / 9.16°N 77.55°E / 9.16; 77.55
Country  India
State Tamil Nadu
District Tirunelveli
Taluk Sankarankoil taluk
Founded by Ukkira Pandiya Raja
Government
 • Type Municipality
 • Body Sankarankoil Municipality
 • Municipality Chairman Kannan
 • Sankarankovil (State Assembly Constituency) V.M.Rajalakshmi (Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Minister)
Area rank 1st
Elevation 143 m (469 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 70, 574
 • Rank 1st in Tirunelveli District Municipalities
Languages
 • Official Tamil
Time zone UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN 627756
Telephone code +91 - 4636
Vehicle registration TN-79 (Sankarankovil RTO)
Website www.sankarankovil.in
1st Grade Municipality

Sankarankovil is a second largest municipality in the Tirunelveli district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Sankarankovil is home to the Sankara Narayanar temple. It is situated at Tirunelveli district and 56 km away from Thirunelveli City. Sankarankovil is the second largest town in the district. It was formerly called Sankaranayinarkoil. As of 2011, the town had a population of 70,574.

HISTORY

Sankarankovil is home to the Sankaranayinar temple. It is situated at Tirunelveli District and 56 km away from Thirunelveli City. Sankarankovil is the second largest town in the district. It is very noted for the "Adi Thabasu" festival. In older times, the city was called as Sankaranayinarkoil. Even now it is called as Sankarankovil.

Like every other temple, Sankarankovil has its own interesting story. Once the devotees of Lord Hari (or Vishnu) and Lord Shiva quarreled with each other to determine whose god is powerful. Then Lord Shiva appeared as Sankaranarayanar to mark his devotees to understand that both Hari and Shiva are one and the same. So it is held sacred by Saivites and those Hindus who believe that Siva and Vishnu are a single deity one in one and accordingly, desire to worship the two gods into one form. Srivaishnavites of Tamil Nadu who worship Lord Vishnu only, have not accepted the mingling of Siva and Vishnu thus, and therefore, they reject this deity of this temple which depicts the concept of Hari and Haran being one God.

It was built by Ugra Pandiyan AC 900.It houses the deity by the name Sankara Narayanan, which is half Lord Shiva and the other half Lord Vishnu.

The deities of this temple are Sri Sankareswarar, Sri Gomathi Amman and Sri Sankara Narayanar.

Sankarankovil is also said to be home to the deity named Avudai Ambal.

The general belief is that the Holy Sand "Puttrumann" (Puttru = Ant Hill, Mann = Sand) that one gets from this temple is capable of curing all the diseases. Devotees believe that Sankarankovil‘s Nagachunai (sacred tank) have been dug by serpent kings named Paduman and Sangam which has a miraculous power to heal those who bath there.Once a time a "Devan" (Angel) called "Manikkeerivan" was cursed by Goddess Parvathi. Because of which, he had to come to earth and work as gardener in a beautiful garden. One day while he was clearing a snake pit, the snake tail was also cut. He found a Sivalingam next to the snake. He went and informed about this to his king Ugra Pandiyan. The king considered it to be the god's wish to stay there and constructed the temple and a city around.

The snake pit (Ant Hill) is called "Vanmeekam" (Tamil: வன்மீகம்). Hence the deity Sri Sankaralingar is also called "Vanmeeganadhar" (Tamil: வன்மீகநாதர்)

Sankaranarayanar koil, Sankarankoil, Tirunelveli

Neighbouring Areas

Neighbouring cities & towns

Sankarankovil is home to the Sankara Narayanan temple. It is situated at Tirunelveli district and 56 km away from Tirunelveli City. Sankarankovil is the second largest town in the district. It is also noted for the "Adi Thabasu" festival. In older times, the city was called as Sankaranayinarkoil. Even now it is called as Sankarankovil.

Like every other temple, Sankarankovil has its own interesting story. Once the devotees of Lord Hari (or Vishnu) and Lord Shiva quarreled with each other to determine whose god is powerful. Then Lord Shiva appeared as Sankaranarayanar to mark his devotees to understand that both Hari and Shiva are one and the same. So it is held sacred by Saivites and Vaishnavites as well. Hence this temple depicts the concept of Hari and Haran being one God.

Politics

Sankarankovil (State Assembly Constituency) is a part of Tenkasi (Lok Sabha constituency).[2]

Elections contested:

YearStatusPlaceNameElected AS
2011ElectedSankarankovilC. Karuppasamy(Minister) up to October 22, 2011Minister ADMK

Demographics

According to 2011 census, Sankarankoil had a population of 70, 574 with a sex-ratio of 1,012 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.[3] A total of 5,660 were under the age of six, constituting 2,867 males and 2,793 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 22.47% and .3% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 74.9%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.[3] The town had a total of 14536 households. There were a total of 24,064 workers, comprising 493 cultivators, 2,003 main agricultural labourers, 2,245 in house hold industries, 17,190 other workers, 2,133 marginal workers, 34 marginal cultivators, 247 marginal agricultural labourers, 413 marginal workers in household industries and 1,439 other marginal workers.[4]

Transport

Air

The nearest International airport is located in Madurai. It is 120 km away from Sankarankovil. It is linked with Chennai, Sri Lanka, Singapore and other major cities of India. The other nearest international airport is located in Trivandrum. It is 148 km away from Sankarankovil. Tuticorin (IATA: TCR, ICAO: VOTK) is a domestic airport located 95.4 km from Sankarankovil and SpiceJet serves Tuticorin with two flights from Chennai.

Road

Sankarankovil has two bus stand for people use.The main bus stand is nearby to the Sankarankovil Municipality office. The main bus stand is also called as Anna Bus Stand.The new bus stand is nearby to the Sankarankovil Taluk office. The new bus stand is also called as Thanthai Periyar New Bus Stand .

Sankarankovil is situated at the State Highways 41 and 76. Also it is situated near to the National Highways 07 and 208. So, there are so many buses passing through this town.

Railways

There are three daily passenger trains Madurai to Shencottah through Sankarankovil. Also there are three daily passenger trains Shencottah to Madurai through Sankarankovil. Also there is daily two express trains. One is Chennai to Shencottah through Sankarankovil . Also there is Shencottah to Chennai through Sankarankovil.

Municipality

Sankarankovil is the second largest municipality in Tirunelveli district. It is a growing town that includes many localities. Some of the localities includes as Karivalamvandha Nallur, Gomathi Nagar, Gomathiyapuram Nagar, Ramasamiapuram, Sangupuram Nagar, Lakshmiyapuram Nagar, Vadukkupudhur, Therkku Sankarankovil, NGO Colony, Ezhil Nagar, Mullai Nagar etc.

Sankarankovil RTO is newly opened by the honourable chief minister Ms. J.Jayalalitha Jayaram via video conference. It is situated at Thiruvallurar Nagar. Sankarankovil RTO No. Is TN - 79.

Notable Persons From Sankarankovil

Economy

There are many industries in Sankarankovil. Apart from agri business, this town is well known for its textiles. Nearly about 4000 powerlooms is directly involved in producing various kinds of textile products like Terry towel, Cotton Sarees, lungies, hand kerchiefs,vinayakar towel etc.The produced product are marketed all over India directly. Subbulapuram, a village 14 km away from the city Sankarankovil, is popularly known as "TERRY CITY". TERYY TOWEL are largely manufactured in these places. By frankly saying that these are the places were cotton yarns are largely used. Perumbathur, a village 6 km away from Sankarankovil, is popularly known as "Flower City". Jasmine flowers are largely manufactured in these places.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=699471
  2. ↑ "List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies" (PDF). Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-05-04. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
  3. 1 2 "Census Info 2011 Final population totals". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
  4. ↑ "Census Info 2011 Final population totals - Sankarankoil". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
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