Raya-varam is a village in Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu state

States and territories of India

India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...

, India.

Geography

Rayavaram is located at 10.25°N 78.81°E. It is a village in Pudukottai District. It is 72 km south of Trichy and 90 km North of Madurai

Madurai

Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...

. The nearest town, Pudukottai, is 18 km away. The closest airport is Tiruchy. It is situated just 8 km East of NH 210. It is well connected by road and has at least 75 buses covering Pudukottai, Karaikudi

Karaikudi

Karaikudi is a town in Sivaganga District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Chettinad literally 'Chetti land' in Tamil, is a collection of 76 villages/towns. Chettinad stretched from Ramnad District and Pudukottai State of 'British' India. The Chettiars, or more properly the Nattukottai...

, Arimalam

Arimalam

Arimalam is a panchayat town in the district of Pudukkottai, in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.-Geography:Arimalam is located at . It has an average elevation of 66 metres . It is 18 kilometers away from pudukkottai and is well connected by public transport.-HISTORY:The name Arimalam was originally...

, Thirumayam

Thirumayam

Thirumayam is a place of historical importance located about 20 km south of the town of Pudukkottai in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu...

 and Aranthangi

Aranthangi

Aranthangi is a town and a municipality in Pudukkottai district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.-Demographics: India census, Aranthangi had a population of 34,266. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Aranthangi has an average literacy rate of 50%, lower than the national...

. It consists of Pudur, Pudumanai, Palayur, Alangudi Chettipatti, Chellayeepuram & Chockalingapuram, Kailasapuram, Agraharam, vasukipuram.

Water bodies

It has several Oorani (small tanks) and Kanmai (vast spans of water storage) like Rayavaram Kanmai, Chettipatti Kanmai , Palayaoorni, Puduroorani and Nallanchetti Oorni, Olagankathan, Ponachi, Narayanan Chetti Oorani, Poochetti Oorani, Nalanchetti Oorani, Ayyanar kovl Oorani, Koththathi Kanmai, Kurunthangudi Kanmai, Ayungudi Kanmai, Aalangudi Kanmai, Valayan vayal Kanmai.

Temples

• Sivan Kovil
• Perumal Kovil
• Muthumaari—Amman Kovil
• Karai Meal Alagar Ayyanar Kovil
• Hamuan Kovil
• Uyyavanthamman
• Kadappillai Ayyanar

Demographics

India censusTamilnadu Census, Rayavaram had a population of 3257. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Rayavaram has an average literacy rate of 77%, higher than the national average of 59.5%; with 54% of the males and 46% of females literate. 12% of the population is under 6 years of age. It is one of the Chettiar(NAGARATHAR),Vallambar (NATTAR),KALLAR(NATTAR),VALAYAR,KONAR,and other few community peoples village.

Educational institutions

• Sri Lakshmi Primary Nursary School,
• S.KT. Gandhi Primary School,
• S.KT. Gandhi High School
• Subramanian Polytechnic College, Rayavaram

Banks

It has two banks, ICICI and Pandyan Gramma Bank.sss It has a two Kalyana Mandapams.

Rayavaram – Fame

• Rayavaram is the first village to permit low class people to allow entry to Temples.
• "Papa" Rama. Thiyagarajan of Rayavaram was running "Papa" a Multi colour Children Magazine from Rayavaram, a small village employing mostly the persons of his village and surroundings. He was also running a Cine magazine"Thiraioli" from this small village in which Kavignar Kannadsan worked.The other children magazines run by Rama.Thiyagarajan were 'Kathaio Kathai','Manavan' and 'Kili'. He was also running a Publishing House in the name of Bhavani Pathippagam exclusively to publish children's books.
• Vai-Govindan Chettiar was a the First Tamil Publisher from this town.

Known people

Vena Moona (V.M House): They were popular in the last century. They had built a spacious temple in the heart of this small town for Lord Shiva. Raja of Pudukkottai Samasthanam was having close relations with Vena Moona family members. The kumbabhishekam of this shiva temple built by Vena Moona house took place recently in 11 September 2008.

"Papa" Rama. Thiyagarajan of Rayavaram was running "Papa" a Multi colour Children Magazine from Rayavaram in which T.J Renganathan (Thi Ja Ra) was the editor for many years. Rama.Thi was running "Thiraioli" a A4 size Cine magazine (fully with art paper) in which Kavignar Kannadasan worked.

Other houses

• Onangudiar House: Popularly known as M.A.M.SP. Brothers (Thiruvalarkal Muthuraman Chettiar, Palaniappa Chettiar and their younger brothers). Their ancestors of Rayavaram Nagarathars were the first who came from the village Onangudi to Rayavaram They are very helpful to poor. They are running charitable institutions. They help for education & Girls' marriage. If the marriage of a girl in the family of their kith and kins is getting delayed due to want of money, they use to call her parents, take stock of their available fund sources and help them by giving what more they require for the marriage. They are running a Polytechnic and managing schools.

• Paana Vaana House: Thiru P.V.RM. Kulandayan chettiar a big business man was holding key posts in many companies and banks. Thiru Palaniappa Chettiar was the M.L.A. in 1952 representing Thirumayam Costituncy.

• Panja Puliyar Veedu( Painthal Puliyar Veedu): The people of the house are normally very soft and helpful to society. But if they come across any illegal or unwanted things they will struggle to eradicate the evil things like a Tiger.

• Poi Sollan Chetty house: The name is due to their behaviour of not uttering lies at any stage. Thiru.S. Kathiresan Chettiar of this family started a Middle School on his completion of age 60.

• Padasalaiyar House: They are running a Vedha Padasalai to teach Yajur Vedham. They had built a temple for Malaikozhundu Easwarar and Mangala Nayagi.

• The great Tamil Poet Kavignar Kannadasan worked in a cine magazine 'Thirai Oli' run by Rama. Thiyagarajan for sometime in Rayavaram.
• The famous samayal conductor KA.C. KR.Andiyappan avlhelp for poor family.
• Its main economy is through agriculture. In the harvest season of May, Muthumariamman temple has a 10 day temple festival (Thiruvizha)..

Children’s Poet Azha. Valliappa (1922–1989)http://www.geocities.com/alvalliappa/ hails from this village. chose children’s literature in Tamil as his medium of expression and he cultivated this field with love, dedication and perseverance over a period of several decades. In as early as 1950, he conceived the idea of an association dedicated for development of children’s literature in Tamil and thus was born The Association of Tamil Writers for Children. This institution has been the bedrock of Children’s Literature in Tamil Nadu and has influenced the development of similar models in various parts of India. Madurai Kamaraj University has conferred him with the Titles such as ‘Tamil Peravai Chemmal’. Other organisations too have conferred him with the titles of ‘Pillai Kaviarasu’, ‘Mazhalai Kavichemmal’. Of all the awards the one most cherished by him in his lifetime still remains the innocent smile of a happy child.

Late Sri. SM. Palaniappa chettiar of Palaniappa Brothers had the credit of publishing Konar Notes (Tamil guides for Schools).

Chess Champion Arti Ramasamy is also from Rayavaram.

External links

Children's Poet Azha. Valliappa (1922–1989)http://www.geocities.com/alvalliappa/

Rayavaram Thear-Video 18 May 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLwHJNydxcE

• Rayavaram Public Site

Vallambar Official Websitehttp://www.vallambar.org