Thiruvalam

Thiruvalam also known as Thiruvallam, an ancient Temple Town built around Sri Dhanurmadhyambigai Sametha Sri Vilavanadeeswarar Temple, is part of Vellore City.

Thiruvalam Thiruvallam Vellore-Ranipet Metropolitan Area
neighbourhood
Nh4 in Thiruvalam, Vellore district.
Thiruvalam Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: 12.974°N 79.194°E
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Vellore
Government
• Body	Vellore Municipal Corporation
• Mayor / Deputy Mayor	P. Karthiyayini / V.D. Dharumalingam
Population  (2001)
• Total	7,945
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	632515
Telephone code	416 2236xxx

It is believed that Lord Ganesha and Skanda had a quarrel for a mango fruit offered by Sage Narada. A contest was conducted that whoever goes around the world first and comes back here would be offered the fruit. While Lord Skanda went around the world Lord Ganesha encircled his parents and got the fruit as a token of appreciation. It is believed that it is at Thiruvalam, this popular story took place unlike what is shown in movie 'Thiruvilaiyadal' (where the place was shown as Mt Kailash). This temple town is also home of "Haindava Thiruvalam", an organization which conducts various pious activities related to "Hindu Religion" silently.

This town as is today, was a gateway to the north, during the period of king Rajaraj Cholan. During the same period, the area comprising present day Chittore to Hosur was called as Thondai Mandalam, which was ruled by one Vandhiya Thevan @ Vallavarayan Vandhiyaththevan. The town Thiruvalam as is known today was actually Thiruvallam, as the Temple Deity Sri Vallanathar was the family deity of Vandhiya Thevan Vallavarayan.This temple town has beautiful shivan temple which designated as peeriya kovil. Just outside the Shiva temple, is the Samadhi of the great saint who was known as Thiruvalam swamigal.

It is inferred that the temple of Sri Vilvanadhar dates prior to the Tanjore Brigadeeswarar Temple. This town is most beautiful 20 min from this town towards Katpadi is VIT one of the premiere educational institute and CMC hospital. And 40 min travel from thiruvalam is Sripuram Lashmi golden temple. There are several beautiful villages across Thiruvalam one such village is Seekarajapura Mottur.

Also important thing to be noticed in this temple is that, Nandhi is not facing Lord Shiva (usually faces Shiva in all temples).

Thiruvalam in Vellore District

Demographics

As of 2001 India census,[1] Thiruvalam had a population of 7945. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Thiruvalam has an average literacy rate of 72%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 79%, and female literacy is 65%. In Thiruvalam, 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

British period Thiruvalam bridge in across river Ponnai in Vellore district, Tamil Nadu

Temple chariot

References

1. "Census of India 2001: Data from the 2001 Census, including cities, villages and towns (Provisional)". Census Commission of India. Archived from the original on 16 June 2004. Retrieved 1 November 2008.