Thottiyam
| Thottiyam | |
|---|---|
| city | |
 Thottiyam
|
|
| Coordinates: 10°59′00″N 78°20′00″E / 10.9833°N 78.3333°ECoordinates: 10°59′00″N 78°20′00″E / 10.9833°N 78.3333°E | |
| Country |
 India
|
| State | Tamil Nadu |
| District | Tiruchirappalli |
| Population (2001) | |
| • Total | 13,757 |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Tamil |
| Time zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Vehicle registration | TN-48 |
Thottiyam is a panchayat town in Tiruchirappalli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Thamilselvi Thirugnanam is the current President of Thottiyam. It is situated 60 km north-west of Tiruchirapalli on Tiruchy-Namakkal State Highway (SH-25) and further it connects Namakkal-Salem-Bangalore National Highway ( NH 7). It is located near the Kaveri River, about 12 km north-west of Musiri.The name of the town is said to derive from the large number of Thottiya Nayakar caste peoples living there.Koranganatha Temple located in the outskirts of the town is a historic temple built during the Chola period in the 10th century.
The main temple of this small town is Madurai Kali Amman, and the main festival in March is worth visiting and watching. This goddess is consider Kannagi or (Kannaki) (Tamil: கண்ணகி), a legendary Tamil woman, is the central character of the South Indian epic Silapathikaram. Legend has it that Kannagi took revenge on the king of Madurai, for a mistaken death penalty imposed on her husband Kovalan, by cursing the city with disaster and then came to Thottiyam. Locals consider her to be a very powerful and kind goddess and people from various districts come to offer their prayers to her.
About 500 years back King Esanakarayar ruled this area. Chinnan, a servant who worked in his stable, wants to go to Kali Festival at Madurai. He got permission from the King and he went to Madurai with his "Parai", a musical drum and stayed at his brothers-in-law's houses. Next day he went to Kali temple and began to play "Parai" rhythmically. Goddess Kali admired by the music of Chinnan and followed him back to Thottiyam and Goddess Kali seated under the "Vanni" tree. Later a temple was constructed by Pujankrayar at this place. This temple is surrounded by lush green fields. There is a three-tier tower, 27-pillar mandapam and a five-pillar Arthamandapam gives notorious look to this temple. Many beautiful sculptures are carved inside the temple. The name of the Goddess is Madurai Kaliamman and the Thalavirusham is "Vanni" tree.
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