Virudhachalam

Viruddhachalam Viruddhachalam Thirumudhukundram
Town
Nickname(s): Virudhai
Viruddhachalam Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 11°30′N 79°20′E / 11.50°N 79.33°ECoordinates: 11°30′N 79°20′E / 11.50°N 79.33°E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Cuddalore
Government
• Type	First Grade Municipality
• Body	Virudhachalam Municipality
• MLA	V.T.kalaiselvan
Elevation	45 m (148 ft)
Population (2011)
• Total	73,585
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Vehicle registration	TN-91( TN-31 till Jun17,2015)
Website	Virudhachalam.net

Viruddhachalam (also known as Vridhachalam) is a municipality and taluk headquarters in Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The ancient name of this town is Thirumudhukundram. As of 2011, the town had a population of 73,585.

Etymology

The name Vriddhachalam is obtained from two Sanskrit words - Vriddham which means old and Achalam which means mountain.

Geography

Vriddhachalam is located at 11°30′N 79°20′E / 11.50°N 79.33°E.^[1] It has an average elevation of45 m (148 ft).^[2]

Demographics

Religious census
Religion			Percent(%)
Hindu			85.72%
Muslim			10.78%
Christian			3.23%
Sikh			0.06%
Buddhist			0.01%
Jain			0.07%
Other			0.13%
No religion			0.01%

According to 2011 census, Virudhachalam had a population of 73,585 with a sex-ratio of 985 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.^[3] A total of 7,735 were under the age of six, constituting 4,041 males and 3,694 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 16.76% and .44% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 77.57%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.^[3] The town had a total of 18209 households. There were a total of 26,153 workers, comprising 609 cultivators, 2,257 main agricultural labourers, 644 in house hold industries, 18,988 other workers, 3,655 marginal workers, 77 marginal cultivators, 409 marginal agricultural labourers, 245 marginal workers in household industries and 2,924 other marginal workers.^[4][5] As per the religious census of 2011, Virudhachalam had 85.72% Hindus, 10.78% Muslims, 3.23% Christians, 0.06% Sikhs, 0.01% Buddhists, 0.07% Jains, 0.13% following other religions and 0.01% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference.^[6]

Places of interest

One of the oldest town in Cuddalore district. The ancient Lord Siva temple(Pazhamalai Nadhar Temple) is located in the heart of town. The temple was constructed by one of the chola empires. It has 5 big towers- one in the middle, the remaining represent the four directions. There is another famous temple - Kolanjiappar Temple - located 3 km away from the town. Both of them are located near Cuddalore - Salem highway in virudhachalam. Vriddhachalam Railway junction is one of the most important railway junctions which connects Chennai - Madurai line to Salem, Cuddalore and Pudhucherry. Vriddhachalam is famous for its ceramic industry. The industry with a Industrial estate which only consists of the ceramic and refractory manufactures is exclusive in Vriddhachalam. Ceramic Industrial Estate is situated only at Vriddhachalam in the whole Tamilnadu. And also a Polytechnic college specially for Ceramic Technology is also situated only in Vriddhachalam for the whole Tamilnadu. A special research center for the research of cashew and byproducts is situated in Vriddhachalam.

Virudhagireeshwarar Temple @ Pazhamalai Nadhar Temple^[7]

This is the 41st Devaram Padal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 9th sthalam in Nadu Naadu. Moovar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

Iraivan.: Virutha gireeswarar, Pazhamalai Nathar

Iraivan: Viruthambigai, Periya Nayagi, Balambigai.

Some of the important features of this temple are...

1. It is believed that departed human soul will be soothed by Iravan and Iraivi with the Shivaya nama mandhiram.
2. The temple is believed to be on the hill, of very old ( Pazhala malai ). The hill is below the present temple.
3. The temple is in a huge complex consisting of 5 RajaGopurams, 5 Prakarams.
4. Ambal sannadhi is constructed separately facing east on the outer Prakaram ate North side Raja Gopram entrance.
5. The virksham is Vanni Tree and the same is believed to be of older than 3000 years.
6. Relief of 72 Bharatha Natya dance styles are available in the 16 pillar mandapam, in front of east side Rajagopuram.
7. Ambal is in a separate temple facing east with Rajagopuram.
8. In the Vanniadi prakaram sannadhi for Pancha Lingams, Vallaba gabnapathy, Meenakshi Chokkalaingam, Vishwanatha Lingam, Arumugar, Sahasra Lingam, Ekambra Lingam, Jambu Lingam, Annamalaiyar.
9. On the way to Periyanayagi Amman sannadhi, sannadhi for Navagrahas, Dhandapani.
10. In the third parakaram sannadhi for 63var, Naalvar, Vinayagar, Rishabaroodar, Yoga Dhakshinamoorthy, Sabtha mathakkal, Uruthirar, Matruraitha Vinayagar, Varuna Lingam, Mooppilayar, Dhakshinamoorthy, Valli Devasena Subramaniyar, Vallaba Ganapathy, Chinna Pazhmalai nathar, Bindhumadhava Perumal, Mayura Murugan.
11. In Ilamai Nayagi Amman Temple sannadhi for Gajalakshmi, Bairavar, Surya Lingam and Suryan.
12. 72 Tamil epigraphs were traced so far and there many epigraphs available in this temple. These are from 10th century.

Politics

MLA of Vriddhachalam assembly constituency is V.T.Kalaiselvan. During the 2009 general elections, Virudhachalam was a part of Cuddalore (Lok Sabha constituency)  that had the following six assembly segments. Tittakudi (SC), Vridhachalam, Neyveli, Cuddalore, Panruti and Kurinjipadi.^[8] Before 2009, Cuddalore Lok Sabha constituency composed of the following assembly segments:Ulundurpet (SC), Nellikkuppam, Cuddalore, Panruti, Rishivandinam and Sankarapuram.^[9] The Lok Sabha seat has been held by the Indian National Congress for eight terms during 1951–56,^[10] 1971–77,^[11] 1977–80.^[12] 1980–84, 1984–1989,^[13] 1989–91,^[14] 1991–96,^[15] and 2009–present,^[16] Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for four times during 1962–1967,^[17] 1967–71,^[18] 1999-04,^[19] and 2004–09,^[20] Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam once during 1998–99,^[21] Tamil Maanila Congress once during 1996-2001 and an independent during 1957–62,^[22] The current Member of Parliament from the constituency is A. Arunmozhithevan from AIADMK.^[23] Vriddhachalam Constituency is the place where Vijaykanth the leader of DMDK become MLA for the first time. G. Bhuvaraghan of INC was MLC of Vriddhachalam at the period of 1962 to 1971 who have developed town with the current advantages like bridges, Government Schools for Boys and Girls, Government arts college, Government Printing Press Etc., Vriddhachalam is a First grade municipality with 34 municipal wards and 34 municipal Councillors. Current Chairman of the municipality is Mr. Arulazhagan .M.A who was elected in the by-election after the demise of Mr. Ranganathan municipal chairman and Ex MLA, Vriddhachalam LA.

References

1. Falling Rain Genomics, Inc - Vriddhachalam
2. "General information". Viruthachalam Municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
3. "Census Info 2011 Final population totals". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
4. "Census Info 2011 Final population totals - Virudhachalam". Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.
5. "Town population". Viruthachalam Municipality. 2011. Retrieved 2013-08-08.
6. "Population By Religious Community - Tamil Nadu" (XLS). Office of The Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
7. "PAADAL PETRA SHIVA STHALANGAL - NADU NAADU ( NEAR VIRUDHACHALAM)". veludharan.blogspot.in. Retrieved 2016-10-20.
8. "List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies" (PDF). Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India. p. 448. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
9. "List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies" (PDF). Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India. p. 3. Retrieved 2008-10-09.
10. "Key highlights of the general elections 1952 to the First Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 158. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
11. "Key highlights of the general elections 1971 to the Fifth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 71. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
12. "Key highlights of the general elections 1977 to the Sixth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 80. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
13. "Key highlights of the general elections 1984 to the Eighth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 73. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
14. "Key highlights of the general elections 1989 to the Ninth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 81. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
15. "Key highlights of the general elections 1991 to the Tenth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 51. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
16. Notification No. 308/2009/EPS (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 36. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
17. "Key highlights of the general elections 1962 to the Third Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 49. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
18. "Key highlights of the general elections 1967 to the Fourth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 67. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
19. "Key highlights of the general elections 1999 to the Thirteenth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 85. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
20. "Key highlights of the general elections 2004 to the Fourteenth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 94. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
21. "Key highlights of the general elections 1998 to the Twelfth Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 85. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
22. "Key highlights of the general elections 1957 to the Second Lok Sabha" (PDF). Election Commission of India. p. 17. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
23. A. Arunmozhithevan

External links