Srivilliputhur
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Srivilliputhur Thiruvilliputhur |
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| Town | |
Srivilliputhur Divya Desam temple
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 Srivilliputhur
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| Coordinates: 9°30′43″N 77°37′59″E / 9.512°N 77.633°ECoordinates: 9°30′43″N 77°37′59″E / 9.512°N 77.633°E | |
| Country |
 India
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| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Virudhunagar |
| Government | |
| • Type | First Grade Municipality |
| • Body | Srivilliputhur Municipality |
| • Municipality Chairman | Senthil Kumari Muthuraj |
| • M L A | chantra prabha |
| Elevation | 146 m (479 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 75,396 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| PIN | 626125 |
| Telephone code | 04563 |
| Vehicle registration | TN-67,TN-84 |
| Sex ratio | 1:1 ♂/♀ |
Srivilliputhur is a town and a municipality in Virudhunagar district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. As of 2011, the town had a population of 75,396.
The most important landmark of Srivilliputhur is 11-tiered tower structure dedicated to the Lord of Srivilliputhur, known as Vatapatrasayee. The tower of this temple rises 192 feet high and is the official symbol of the Government of Tamil Nadu. It is said to have been built by Periyalvar, believed to be the father-in-law of the Temple Deity, with a purse of gold that he won in debates held in the palace of Pandya King Vallabhadeva. Srivilliputhur is well known for its ancient heritage and devotional contributions.
It is on the Virudhunagar - Shenkottai line of the Southern Railway, about 74 km south of Madurai and connected by road and rail with Madurai, Sivakasi, Sankarankovil & Shenkottai, Thirunelveli and Sattur.
As per historical legend, the land around Srivilliputhur was under the rule of Queen Malli. The queen had two sons called Villi and Kandan. While the two were hunting in a forest, a tiger killed Kandan. Unaware of this, Villi searched for his brother, got tired and fell asleep. In his dream, divinity narrated to him what happened to his brother. By divine orders, Villi founded a city. The city is originally named after its founder, Villi forming the word Sri-Villi-Puthur. Thiru is the Tamil salutation and an alternative to Sanskrit word "Sri" and that is why Srivilliputhur is also called as a Thiruvilliputhur. As per another legend, the town is called the town of the bowman from the Tamil word villi meaning bow.
The history of Srivilliputhur centres around the Srivilliputhur Temple, dedicated to Andal (8th century or earlier), the only female Alvar of the 12 Alvar saints of South India. She is credited with the Tamil works of Thirupavai and Nachiar Tirumozhi that are still recited by devotees during the Winter festival season of Margazhi. Andal is known for her unwavering devotion to god Vishnu, the God of the Srivaishnavas. Adopted by her father, the Alvar saint Periyalvar who found her as a baby, Andal avoided earthly marriage, the normal and expected path for women of her culture, to "marry" Vishnu, both spiritually and physically. In many places in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu, Andal is treated more than a saint and as a form of god herself and a shrine for Andal is dedicated in most Vishnu temples.
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