Peralam | |
---|---|
Town Panchayat | |
Coordinates: 10°58′02″N79°40′16″E / 10.96722°N 79.67111°E | |
Country | India |
State | Tamil Nadu |
District | Thiruvarur |
Population (2001) | |
• Total | 5,844 |
Languages | |
• Official | Tamil |
Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
Peralam is a panchayat town in Thiruvarur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. [1] [2]
As of 2001 [update] India census, [3] Peralam had a population of 5,844. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Peralam has an average literacy rate of 80%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 84%, and female literacy is 77%. In Peralam, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Rajesh Ramesh (athlete), an Indian sprinter specializing in the 400 meters, hails from Peralam. He is known for his contributions to Indian athletics and has represented India in several international competitions.
The economy of Peralam is predominantly based on agriculture and small-scale industries. The town is known for its production of bamboo baskets and coir products.
Peralam covers an area of 3.76 square kilometers, with a population density of 1,635.37 persons per square kilometer. The town experiences a typical tropical climate, with an average annual rainfall of 1,325.8 mm. The temperature ranges between a maximum of 38.8°C and a minimum of 20.5°C.
Peralam is well-connected by road and rail. The nearest major city is Tiruchirappalli, located 130 km away, while the state capital, Chennai, is 300 km distant. The town has its own railway station and bus station, which serve as key transit points for residents and visitors.
The population of Peralam has shown gradual growth over the years. According to the Census of 2001, the population was 5,844. By 2011, it had increased to 6,149. The current estimated population in 2024 is approximately 8,500.
Peralam has a predominantly Hindu population, constituting 97.12% of the total population. Muslims make up 1.69%, and Christians account for 0.78%. The town has a rich cultural heritage influenced by these communities.
Peralam is administered by a Town Panchayat, which is responsible for providing basic amenities such as water, sewerage, and road construction. The town is divided into 12 wards, with elections held every five years.
The literacy rate in Peralam is 88.77%, which is higher than the state average of 80.09%. Educational facilities include several primary and secondary schools that cater to the town's population.
Peralam's economy is largely driven by agriculture, with a significant portion of the population engaged in farming. The primary crops include paddy, coconut, and groundnut. The town is also known for its cottage industries, particularly the production of bamboo baskets and coir products.
Peralam has basic infrastructure, including a primary healthcare center and several private clinics. Public transportation is available via the town's railway station and bus station, connecting it to nearby cities like Tiruchirappalli and Chennai.
The construction of the Karaikal-Peralam railway line is a significant development that is expected to improve connectivity and boost the local economy. As of November 2023, 80% of the work on this railway line has been completed.
Peralam hosts several educational institutions that serve the local community. Two notable schools in the town are:
The Government Higher Secondary School in Peralam is a key educational institution in the town, providing education to students from primary to higher secondary levels. The school is known for its focus on academic excellence and caters to a diverse student population from Peralam and surrounding areas.
Sri Sankara Higher Secondary School is another prominent school in Peralam, offering education from primary to higher secondary levels. The school emphasizes holistic development and has a strong academic reputation. It provides various extracurricular activities alongside the regular curriculum to ensure the all-round development of its students.
The Sri Suyambunadhar Temple is a significant Hindu temple located within Peralam itself. This ancient temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped here as Suyambunadhar. The temple is known for its historical and spiritual significance, with many devotees visiting to seek blessings and perform rituals. The temple's architecture features traditional Tamil Nadu temple elements, including a Rajagopura (main tower) and a Dhwaja Stambha (flagstaff). The temple is also associated with various local legends and is an important religious site for the residents of Peralam and surrounding areas.
The Mariamman Temple in Peralam is a significant local shrine dedicated to Goddess Mariamman, who is widely revered as a powerful deity associated with rain, fertility, and health. This temple is a focal point for the local community, particularly during the annual Peralam Spring Festival. This festival typically occurs between March and April and is marked by various vibrant rituals, including processions, offerings, and traditional performances.
The festival is celebrated with great fervor, with devotees participating in events such as carrying milk pots, walking on embers, and offering special prayers to the goddess. The temple is elaborately decorated during the festival, and it draws visitors not only from Peralam but also from neighboring regions.
Located just 1 km west of Peralam, the Thirumeeyachur Lalithambigai Temple is a renowned temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, known here as Meghanatha Swami, and Goddess Lalithambika. The temple is deeply revered for its spiritual significance, particularly the belief that it is an auspicious place for chanting the Lalitha Sahasranama. The temple is famous for its architectural beauty, with intricate carvings and a unique Gajaprishta Vimana (a vimana shaped like the back of an elephant). The temple is also associated with various legends, including the story of Surya (the Sun God) worshipping Lord Shiva here to rid himself of a curse.
Situated approximately 20 km from Peralam, the Paampuranathar Temple is another significant Shiva temple. It is particularly well-known for being a parihara sthalam, where devotees come to perform rituals to alleviate Naga Dosham (afflictions related to serpents). The temple's history is closely tied to the Chola dynasty, and it is one of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams, celebrated in Tamil Shaivite hymns. The temple is believed to have been constructed over a piece of Mount Kailash that fell to the earth.
The Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple is a highly revered Hindu temple located approximately 15 kilometers from Peralam, in the town of Thirunallar, Karaikal district. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shani (Saneeswaran), the planet Saturn, and is one of the most significant temples in India for devotees seeking relief from the malefic effects of Saturn.
Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple is one of the Navagraha (nine planetary) temples in Tamil Nadu, specifically associated with Shani. The temple is particularly famous for the ritual of "Shani Peyarchi," which marks the transit of Saturn from one zodiac sign to another. Devotees from all over India visit the temple to offer prayers and perform rituals to appease Lord Shani, hoping to reduce the hardships believed to be caused by the influence of Saturn in their astrological charts.
A key ritual at this temple is the "Nala Theertham" bath, which is believed to wash away sins and alleviate the hardships caused by Saturn's influence. Devotees usually take a dip in this sacred tank before entering the temple to offer their prayers. Inside the temple, special poojas (rituals) and offerings are made to Lord Shani, especially on Saturdays, which is considered the most auspicious day to worship Shani.
The temple features traditional Dravidian architecture, with a towering gopuram (gateway tower) and intricate carvings that reflect the ancient temple design of Tamil Nadu. The main deity, Lord Shani, is enshrined in a sanctum sanctorum that draws large crowds, especially during important astrological events.
The Thirunallar Saneeswaran Temple is easily accessible from Peralam via road. Regular buses and private vehicles provide convenient transportation between the two towns, making it a popular pilgrimage destination for the residents of Peralam and nearby areas.
The temple is especially crowded during the "Shani Peyarchi" festival, which occurs every two and a half years when Saturn moves from one zodiac sign to the next. During this time, thousands of devotees flock to the temple to seek the blessings of Lord Shani and participate in the special rituals organized by the temple authorities.
About 25 km from Peralam, the Thyagaraja Temple in Thiruvarur is one of the most prominent temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Known as Thyagarajaswamy, Shiva here is worshipped in the form of a Lingam. This temple is famed for its massive chariot, the largest of its kind in Tamil Nadu, used during the annual chariot festival. The temple complex is vast and includes numerous shrines and a large temple tank, Kamalalayam. The temple has a rich history, with connections to the Chola dynasty and significant contributions from various Tamil saints.
Located about 30 km from Peralam, this temple is unique as it is considered "one-sixteenth" more sacred than Varanasi, making it a highly revered pilgrimage site. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva as Vanchinathar, with the deity believed to be a Swayambumurthi (self-manifested). The temple has a rich history and is an important site for performing ancestral rituals.
Karaikal is a city of the Indian Union Territory of Puducherry. It is the administrative headquarters of the Karaikal District and the second most populated city in the Union Territory after Pondicherry. Located on the Coromandel Coast of Bay of Bengal in South India, it is a coastal enclave and is surrounded by the state of Tamil Nadu in the southern region of Indian peninsula.
Navagraha (Pron: nævəˈgrɑ:ə) pilgrimages are pilgrimages devoted to Navagraha—the nine (nava) major celestial bodies (Grahas) of Hindu astronomy. These temples are made of stone. These celestial bodies are named Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangala (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Brihaspati (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus), Shani (Saturn), Rahu and Ketu. Many temples in South India contain a shrine dedicated to the Navagrahas. However, the term Navagraha temples refers to a cluster of nine separate temples, each an abode of one of the Navagrahas.
Thirunallar is a small town in Karaikal, India, in the Union Territory of Puducherry, and can be reached by road from the town of Karaikal, an enclave which lies within the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. Thirunallar contains the shrine of Lord Sani (Saturn), Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple within the temple dedicated to Lord Darbharanyeswaran, a form of Lord Shiva.
Chinnamanur is a town and a municipality in Theni district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. As of 2011, the town had a population of 42,305. The town is one of the major trade centers in the district and supports basic needs for a population of more than 1,00,000 people in and around the town. Chinnamanur in recent times is known for banana marketing. Processed banana from more than twenty units in Chinnamanur are exported to various countries. Chinnamanur also holds the most jewel shops in the entire Theni district. Chinnamanur is the fourth largest town in the district by population and second largest town in the district by area.
Nannilam is a Town and Taluk in Thiruvarur District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters town for Nannilam Taluk.
Pozhichalur is a census town in Chennai metropolitan city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a suburb of Chennai and is located close to the Chennai Airport at Tirusulam on its south west side. It lies on the south banks of the Adyar River. Agasteeswarar Temple, which is called North Thirunallaru, is situated there. The neighborhood is served by Pallavaram Railway Station of the Chennai Suburban Railway Network.
Sarcarsamakulam, also known as Kovilpalayam, is a western suburb in Coimbatore in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This town is located 17 kilometers from Coimbatore Junction and 12 kilometers from Coimbatore International Airport, Tamil Nadu, India, on the Sathyamangalam Road. Neighbouring places are Saravanampatti, Kalapatti, Vilankurichi
Ekambareswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva, located in the town of Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, India. It is significant to the Hindu sect of Saivism as one of the temples associated with the five elements, the Pancha Bhoota Stalas, and specifically the element of earth, or Prithvi. Shiva is worshiped as Ekambareswarar or Ekambaranathar or Rajlingeswaram, and is represented by the lingam as Prithvi lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Elavarkuzhali.
Suryanar Kovil is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Hindu Sun-God, Surya, located in Suryanar Kovil, a village near the South Indian town of Kumbakonam Thanjavur District in Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Suriyanar, the Sun and his consorts Ushadevi and Pratyusha Devi. The temple also has separate shrines for the other eight planetary deities. The temple is considered one of the nine Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu. The temple is one of the few historic temples dedicated to Sun god and is also the only temple in Tamil Nadu which has shrines for all the planetary deities.
Vilwaneswarar temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Thiruvaikavur, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is located 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Kumbakonam, on the southern bank of Kollidam. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple is believed to have been built during the Cholas period in the 7th century. Shiva is worshipped as Vilwaneswarar and his consort Parvati as Valaikai Nayagi.
Erumbeeswarar Temple in Thiruverumbur, Tamil Nadu, India, is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva. Built on a 60-foot (18 m) tall hill, it is accessible via a flight of steps. The temple's main shrines and its two prakarams are on top of the hill, while a hall and the temple tank are located at the foothills. Shiva is believed to have transformed himself into an ant hill and tilted his head at this place to enable ants to climb up and worship him. Erumbeeswarar is revered in the canonical 7th-century Tamil Saiva work the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi or Guru Sthalam or Tiru Irum Poolai is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the Needamangalam Town near village of Alangudi in the Valangaiman taluk of Tiruvarur district, Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshipped as Apathsahyesvarar, and is represented by the lingam. His consort Parvati is depicted as Elavarkuzhali. The presiding deity is revered in the 7th-century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanmars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
Sattainathar temple, Sirkazhi is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in Sirkali, Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Thevaram and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. It is an ancient temple complex with three different Shiva shrines in three stories.
The Chandiranaar Temple is a Hindu temple in the village of Thingalur, 33 kilometres (21 mi) from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam - Thiruvaiyaru road in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity is Soma (moon). However, the main idol in the temple is that of Kailasanathar or Shiva. The temple is considered one of the nine Navagraha temples in Tamil Nadu. Thingalur is the birth place of Appothi Adigal, one of the 63 nayanmars of lord Shiva and an ardent devotee of saint Thirunavukkarasar, though the temple has no assets related to the saint.
Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple or Sri Mayakoothar Permual Temple is one of the Nava Tirupatis, nine Hindu temples dedicated to Vishnu located Perungulam along Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli route, Tamil Nadu, India in the southern bank of Thamiraparani river. It is located 5 km from Alvar Thirunagari. All these 9 temples are classified as Divya Desams, the 108 temples of Vishnu revered by the 12 poet-saints of Sri Vaishnavism called the Alvars. The temple is referred to as Shani sthalam, a location for the planet deity, Shani (Saturn). 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 is worshipped as Mayakoothar and his consort Lakshmi as Kulandhaivalli Tayar.
Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple or Dharbaranyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the deity Shiva, located in the Thirunallar village, in Karaikal district of Union territory of Puducherry.
Panchavarnaswamy Temple (பஞ்சவர்ணஸ்வாமி கோயில்) is a Tamil temple dedicated to Shiva, located in Woraiyur, a neighborhood in the town of Tiruchirapalli in Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is believed to portray five different colours, giving the name of the presiding deity, Panchavarnaswamy. Panchavarnaswamy is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the tri-nayanars (சம்பந்தர், திருநாவுக்கரசர், சுந்தரர், and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.
Nine Grahas Temples in Tamil Nadu is a set of nine Hindu temples, each dedicated to one of the nine planetary deities, the Navagraham in various places around the South Indian towns of Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai in Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity in most of the temples is Shiva, with a shrine dedicated to the planetary deity. Leaving Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple which is located in Karaikkal, all the other temples are located in Tamil Nadu.
Kailasanathar Temple in Srivaikuntam, a village in Thoothukudi district in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. It is located 30 km from Tirunelveli. Constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture, the temple has three precincts. Shiva is worshipped as Kailasanathar and his consort Parvati as Sivakami. The temple is the sixth temple in the series of Nava Kailasams where the presiding deity of all the nine temples is Kailasanathar and associated with a planetary deity. The temple is associated with the planet Saturn.
Ona Kantheeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva, located in the town of Panjupettai, Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram district in Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshipped as Ona Kantheeswarar and his consort Parvathi as Kamakshi. Ona Kantheeswarar is revered in the 7th-century CE Tamil Saiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam, the 275 temples revered in the canon.