Thiruvidaimarudur | |
|---|---|
| Nickname: Idavai | |
  Thiruvidaimarudur Location in Tamil Nadu, India | |
| Coordinates:10°59′N79°28′E / 10.98°N 79.47°E /10.98; 79.47 | |
| Country |  India |
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Thanjavur |
| Elevation | 20 m (70 ft) |
| Population (2001) | |
• Total | 13,758 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 612104 |
| Telephone code | 0435 |
| Vehicle registration | TN.68 |
Thiruvidaimarudur (also spelt asThiruvidaimaradur orTiruvidaimarudur) is apanchayat town inThanjavur district, in theIndianstate ofTamil Nadu. The town is notable for itsMahalingeshwarar Temple, aHindu shrine for LordShiva.[1]
Tiruvidaimarudur is located at10°59′N79°28′E / 10.98°N 79.47°E /10.98; 79.47.[2] It has an average elevation of 20 m (66 ft).
The 2001 Indiancensus[3] recorded Thiruvidaimarudur as having a population of 13,758. Males and females each constituted 50% of the population. Thiruvidaimarudur has an average literacy rate of 74%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 80%, and female literacy is 68%. 11% of the town's population is under 6 years of age.
Thiruvidaimarudur assembly constituency is part ofMayiladuturai (Lok Sabha constituency).[4]Govi. Chezhiyan is the current MLA of Thiruvidaimaruthur assembly constituency and the current MP of Mayiladuthurai Lok Sabha constituencyS. Ramalingam is from Thiruvidaimaruthur.
Located about 9 km (5.6 mi) north-east of the temple city ofKumbakonam and serves as one of the Taluk headquarters in theTanjore District. The region is known for its fertile soil, allowing farmers to harvest crops three times a year. On occasion, the waters of theCauvery River enable a fourth harvest.
Tiruvidaimarudur (also known asmadhyārjunam) is located on the banks of theVirasolanar River. It is home to theMahalingeswarar Temple, where the deity Shiva is worshipped asMahalingeswara Swami (in Sanskrit,mahā-lingeśvara svāmi, meaning "the great lord of the lingam"), represented by a lingam known asjothimayalingam (in Tamil,ஜோதிமயலிங்கம்,jōthimaya liṅgam, meaning "lingam of radiant light"). The goddess of the temple isBrihad Sundara Gujambal (perunala mamulai ammai). The lingam is “believed to be the focal point for the seven consorts of Shiva.”[5]
The temple’sNandi, one of the largest in the district, is notable for not being carved from a single stone, which is why it does not surpass the weight of theNandi at the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, despite being larger in size. There is also a separate sanctum (sannidhi) forMookambikai (in Tamil,மூகாம்பிகை,mūkāmbikai) with aMaha Meru (in Sanskrit,mahāmeru, meaning "great sacred mountain").[6]
Two major temple festivals are celebrated annually at the Mahalingeswarar Temple. The first,Thaipusam (in Tamil,தைப்பூசம், celebrated during the Tamil month ofThai [January–February]), and the second,Thirukkalyana Utsavam (in Tamil,திருக்கல்யாண உற்சவம்,tirukkaḷyāṇa uṟcavam, meaning "divine wedding festival") orVasantha Utsavam (vasanta utsava, meaning "spring festival"), is observed in the Tamil month ofVaigasi (May). Other significant festivals include the63 Nayanmar Ula (in Tamil,நாயன்மார் உலா, a procession honouring the 63 Shaivite saints) andArudra Darisanam (ārdrā darśana, meaning "sacred sight of Lord Shiva on the Ārdra star day"), similar to the celebration inChidambaram.
The temple is also known for its 27 star lingas, the idol of the princeAmmani Ammal (in Tamil,அம்மணி அம்மாள், meaning "beloved mother"), and theChitra prakaram (citra-prākāra, meaning "painted enclosure" or precincts of the temple), which is adorned with extensive paintings. Additionally, there are several charitable trusts associated with the temple, one of which is thePachaiyappa Mudaliar Arakattalai (பச்சையப்ப முதலியார் அறக்கட்டளை).
Tiruvidaimarudur is the birthplace of theHinduSaint Pattinathar - in the medieval period - whose lyrics are renowned for realizing self in the Tamil Saiva tradition of Hinduism.
It is also the birthplace of theCarnatic musicflautistT. R. Mahalingam.
The family ofAmar Singh, who was deposed from the throne ofThanjavur in 1798, resides here.[7]
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