Sankarankovil

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Sankarankovil
சங்கரன்கோவில்
Punnai Vanam
Town
Sankarankovil temple
Sankarankovil temple
Nickname(s): Sangai
Country  India
State Tamil Nadu
District Tirunelveli
Founded by Ukkira Pandiya Raja
Government
 • Type First Grade Municipality
 • Body Sankarankoil Municipality
Area rank 1st
Elevation 143 m (469 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 70, 574
 • Rank 2nd in Tirunelveli District Municipalities
Languages
 • Official Tamil
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 627756
Vehicle registration TN-79
Website www.sankarankovil.com

Sankarankovil is a second largest municipality in the Tirunelveli district of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Sankarankovil is home to the famous Sankara Narayanar temple. It is situated at Tirunelveli District and 56 km away from Thirunelveli City. Sankarankovil is the second largest town in the district. It was formerly called Sankaranayinar kovil. As of 2011, the town had a population of 70, 574.

History

Sankarankovil is home to the famous Sankara Narayanan temple. It is situated at Tirunelveli District and 56 km away from Thirunelveli City. Sankarankovil is the second largest town in the district. It is very famous for "Adi Thabasu" festival. In older times, the city was called as Sankaranayinar kovil. Even now it is called as Sankaran Kovil.Once upon a time a "Devan" (Angel) called "Manikkeerivan" was cursed by Goddess Parvathi. Because of which, he had to come to earth and work as gardener in a beautiful garden. One day while he was clearing a snake pit, the snake tail was also cut. He found a Sivalingam next to the snake. He went and informed about this to his king Ukira Pandiyathevar. The king considered it to be the god's wish to stay there and constructed the temple and a city around.The Puthu Maan in the temple is taken as a holy sand which could cure lot of disease by all devotees.

The snake pit (Ant Hill) is called "Vanmeekam" (Tamil: வன்மீகம்). Hence the deity Sri Sankaralingar is also called "Vanmeeganadhar" (Tamil: வன்மீகநாதர்)

Like every other temple, Sankarankovil has its own interesting story. Once the devotees of Lord Hari (or Vishnu) and Lord Shiva quarreled with each other to determine whose god is powerful. Then Lord Shiva appeared as Sankaranarayanar to mark his devotees to understand that both Hari and Shiva are one and the same. So it is held sacred by Saivites and those Hindus who believe that Siva and Vishnu are a single deity one in one and accordingly, desire to worship the two gods into one form. Srivaishnavites of Tamil Nadu who worship Lord Vishnu only, have not accepted the mingling of Siva and Vishnu thus, and therefore, they reject this deity of this temple which depicts the concept of Hari and Haran being one God.

It was built by Ukira Pandiyathevar AC 900.It houses the deity by the name Sankara Narayanan, which is half Lord Shiva and the other half Lord Vishnu.

The deities of this temple are Sri Sankareswarar, Sri Gomathi Amman and Sri Sankara Narayanar.

Sankarankovil is also said to be home to the deity named Avudai Ambal-RR.

The general belief is that the Holy Sand "Puttrumann" (Puttru = Ant Hill, Mann = Sand) that one gets from this temple is capable of curing all the diseases. Devotees believe that Sankarankovil‘s Nagasunai (sacred tank) have been dug by serpent kings named Paduman and Sangam which has a miraculous power to heal those who bath there.Once a time a "Devan" (Angel) called "Manikkeerivan" was cursed by Goddess Parvathi. Because of which, he had to come to earth and work as gardener in a beautiful garden. One day while he was clearing a snake pit, the snake tail was also cut. He found a Sivalingam next to the snake. He went and informed about this to his king Ukira Pandiyathevar. The king considered it to be the god's wish to stay there and constructed the temple and a city around.

The snake pit (Ant Hill) is called "Vanmeekam". Hence the deity Sri Sankaralingar is also called "Vanmeeganadhar" .

[[File:|thumb|right||Sankaranarayanar koil, Sankarankoil, Tirunelveli]]

Economy

There are many industries in Sankarankovil. Apart from agri business, this town is well known for its textiles. Nearly about 4000 powerlooms is directly involved in producing various kinds of textile products like Terry towel, Cotton Sarees, lungies, hand kerchiefs,vinayakar towel etc.The produced product are marketed all over India directly. Subbulapuram, a village 14 km away from sankarankovil, is popularly known as "TERRY CITY". TERYY TOWEL are largely manufactured in these places. By frankly saying that these are the places were cotton yarns are largely used. Perumbathur a village 6 km away from sankarankovil, is popularly known as "Flower City". Jasmine flowers are largely manufactured in these places.

  1. Weaving and sizing industries
  2. Plastic Moulding industries
  3. Spinning Mills
  4. Oil Industries
  5. Furniture manufacturing industries
  6. More Leather & welding Works, etc....
  7. Flower Farming

Transportation

Railway Station

There are three daily passenger trains Madurai to Shencottah through Sankarankovil. Also there are three daily passenger trains Shencottah to Madurai through Sankarankovil. Also there is daily one express train Chennai to Shencottah through Sankarankovil.

Politics

Sankarankovil assembly constituency is part of Tenkasi (Lok Sabha constituency).[2]

Elections contested:

Year Status Place Name Elected AS
2011 Elected Sankarankovil Karuppasamy (Minister) up to October 22, 2011Minister ADMK
2013 Elected Sankarankovil S. Muthuselvi (MLA), 2013Minister ADMK
  • Current MLA of the Sankarankovil constituency is famous politician S. Muthuselvi.

Demographics

Religious census
Religion Percent(%)
Hindu
  
 87.1%
Muslim
  
 10.13%
Christian
  
 2.64%
Sikh
  
 0.01%
Buddhist
  
 0.01%
Other
  
 0.1%
No religion
  
 0.01%

According to 2011 census, Sankarankoil had a population of 88,574 with a sex-ratio of 1,012 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929.[3] A total of 5,660 were under the age of six, constituting 2,867 males and 2,793 females. Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes accounted for 22.47% and .3% of the population respectively. The average literacy of the town was 74.9%, compared to the national average of 72.99%.[3] The town had a total of 14536 households. There were a total of 24,064 workers, comprising 493 cultivators, 2,003 main agricultural labourers, 2,245 in house hold industries, 17,190 other workers, 2,133 marginal workers, 34 marginal cultivators, 247 marginal agricultural labourers, 413 marginal workers in household industries and 1,439 other marginal workers.[4]

As per the religious census of 2011, Sankarankoil had 87.1% Hindus, 10.13% Muslims, 2.64% Christians, 0.01% Sikhs, 0.01% Buddhists, 0.1% following other religions and 0.01% following no religion or did not indicate any religious preference.[5]

References

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  1. ↑ http://www.censusindia.gov.in/pca/SearchDetails.aspx?Id=699471
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