Thiruchendur

Geography

The suburban villages surrounding the town contain arid, red soil forests that are densely planted with palm trees, cashew plantations, and other crops typical of the region.

Demographics

As of the 2001 Indian census, Tiruchendur had a population of 29,330. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Tiruchendur has an average literacy rate of 79%, higher than the national average of 59.5%. Male literacy is 82%, and female literacy is 76%. In Tiruchendur, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Public Administration

Tiruchendur Town is managed by Tiruchendur Town Panchayat which has 21 wards. It is also a Taluk headquarters, and there are 10 local bodies and 46 villages comes under the jurisdiction of Thiruchendur taluk. The District Munsiff Court and Judicial Magistrate Court are located in the town. The Revenue Department is administered by Tiruchendur Tashildar and the police administration by the Deputy Superindendent of Police, Tiruchendur.

Transportation

The town is connected by rail and road. The Tuticorin Airport is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) from Thiruchendur, 55 km (34 mi) from Tirunelveli, and 171 km (106 mi) from Madurai. Currently, SpiceJet and Air Carnival operate three inbound and outbound flights to Chennai. There are bus connections to Aruppukkottai, Ettayapuram, Tuticorin, Kovilpatti, Sankarankovil, Madurai, Tirunelveli and major cities of Tamilnadu. The town is connected to Tirunelveli by a broad-gauge train track, with a train station at Thiruchendur. The Chendur Express train runs daily between Chennai Egmore Junction and Tiruchendur. Passenger train services are also available between Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur.

Colleges

Schools

Religion

An epic poem composed in the 17th century, known as Kapadapuram, tells that Muruga killed the demon Surapadman after a six-day battle. The name Tiruchendur originated from Thiru, meaning sacred, because it was a battleground for Lord Muruga, and Senthur, meaning red place, because of the bloodiness of the battle. Many towns in Tamil Nadu have the same honorary prefix, including Tiruchirappalli, Tiruppur and Tirunelveli.

Tiruchendur Murugan Temple

Tiruchendur Murugan Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Muruga at the site of the battle. It is one of the six major abodes, or sacred temples, of the Kaumaram religion. Soorasamharam, a reenactment of the victory over Sarapadman, and Kanda Shasti, a devotional song in praise of Lord Muruga are performed at the temple.

The temple, which is built near the seashore, measures 91 m (299 ft) north to south, 65 m (213 ft) east to west, and has a seven-tier gopuram, or tower gate, that is 42 m (138 ft) high. The principal entrance faces south, and opens into the first of two prakarams, the first of which is lined with rows of Yalis. The inner sanctum of the temple is in a cave and the main deity, or moolavar, is Murugan as a saintly child, portrayed in a granite carving.

Naazhi Kinaru, a sacred well fed by a freshwater spring, is located 100 m (330 ft) south of the temple. Devotees undergo a ritual cleansing by bathing in water from the well after bathing in the ocean.

Dutch occupation of the Thiruchendur Temple

The Murugan temple at Thiruchendur was occupied by the Dutch East India company from 1646 to 1648, during the course of their war with the Portuguese. The local people tried to free their temple, with no success. The Dutch finally vacated the temple on orders from the Naik ruler. However, while leaving, they removed the idol of the main deity of the temple, and took it with them. Senthilaandavan appeared in a dream to Vadamaliyappa Pillai, an ardent devotee of Lord Muruga, and revealed the place in the sea where the idol had been abandoned. Vadamlaiyappa Pillai and Athitha Nadar, a sponsor of services in the Thiruchendur temple, went to the spot in a fishing boat and retrieved the idol in 1653. The story is shown in paintings inside the temple

Other temples

Churches

Mosques

Festivals and rituals

Festivals are celebrated throughout the year at the temple including Brahmothsavam in the month of Magha (February – March), Vasanthotsavam for 10 days in Chaitra (April – May), Visaka Visakam for 12 days in Vaisakha (May – June) and Skandha Sashti in Ashvini (October – November). There are two Maha Utsavams called Aavanipperunthirunaal and Maasipperunthirunaal conducted and celebrated during Simharavi, in the Tamil month of Aavani (August–September), and Kumbharavi, in the Tamil month of Māsi (January–February). These 12-day festivals occur twice every year.

Masi Thiruvizha

Several lakh of people congregate for Masi Thiruvizha, a 12-day festival at Thiruchendur. The Kayamozhi Athitha Nadarhal Arakattalai Mandahapadi committee organises functions on the sixth and seventh days of the festival. On the tenth day of the festival, the presiding Lord of the Thiruchendur temple makes a special appearance in Thirunelveli Dakshinamara Nadar Sangam, in Sannidhi Street.

Several thousand devotees worship at the Masi Magam festival of the Sri Subramaniawamy temple at Tiruchendur. The festival was inaugurated by the Athitha Nadar clan several centuries ago and includes ritual performances, like Pali-vidalai eridhal.

Ippasi Lord Subramaniya's marriage ritual

In the month of Aippasi, when the ritual for Lord Subramaniya's marriage is performed, Athitha Nadars perform the ritual for the groom side, offering Thirumangalyam and the wedding feast. The bride's side wedding feast is arranged by Nattathi Nadars the next day.

Politics

The Tiruchendur assembly constituency was part of the Tiruchendur (Lok Sabha constituency) until 2009. After dissolution of the Lok Sabha constituency in May 2009, the constituency was aligned with the Tuticorin Lok Sabha constituency. The current member of the legislative assembly (MLA) to Tamil Nadu assembly, elected by the general election 2011, is Anitha R. Radhakrishnan of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.