Viralimalai
Encyclopedia
Viralimalai is a developing town in Tamil Nadu
, India
located 30 km From Tiruchirapalli
. Altitude: 137m. population:36,866.
The famous Lord Shanmuganathar temple
is situated on the top of the granite hill at Viralimalai. The temple was once a renowned seat of the Bharatanatyam
dance form and boasted of a separate dancer for each of the 32 adavu-s (அடவு, dance movements). Most of the inhabitants of this village can trace their descent from the Isai-vellala (மேளக்காரர், Melakarar) community.
The sides of this hill have traditionally been covered with non-thorny trees, mainly Wrightia
(veppaalai, வெப்பாலை).
Viralimalai is home to an exclusive kuravanji (குறவஞ்சி) dance-drama. The kuravanji named after Viralimalai has had an unbroken tradition of presentation for nearly two centuries. On Maha Shivaratri
(மகாசிவராத்திரி) night every year, till 1993, the kuravanji (குறவஞ்சி) was played as an all-night show to large crowds of nobles, officials and ordinary folk, in front of the mandapam below the foot of the hill.
Viralimalai is one of the few places where Peacocks
, the National bird of India, are abundant. A large number of wild Peacocks roam around the Murugan Temple and surrounding woodlands, which form a sanctuary for the birds. The town, Temple and Peacock Sanctuary have been declared and funded as a Heritage Place by order of the Governor.
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
located 30 km From Tiruchirapalli
Tiruchirapalli
Tiruchirappalli ) , also called Tiruchi or Trichy , is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli District. It is the fourth largest municipal corporation in Tamil Nadu and also the fourth largest urban agglomeration in the state...
. Altitude: 137m. population:36,866.
The famous Lord Shanmuganathar temple
Viralimalai Murugan temple
Viralimalai Murugan Temple is one of the famous Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Muruga, located in the town of Viralimalai about 30 km from Trichy, 40 km from Pudukottai and 15 km from Manapparai in Tamil Nadu, India....
is situated on the top of the granite hill at Viralimalai. The temple was once a renowned seat of the Bharatanatyam
Bharatanatyam
Bharata Natyam or Chadhir Attam, is a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, practiced predominantly in modern times by women. The dance is usually accompanied by classical Carnatic music...
dance form and boasted of a separate dancer for each of the 32 adavu-s (அடவு, dance movements). Most of the inhabitants of this village can trace their descent from the Isai-vellala (மேளக்காரர், Melakarar) community.
History
The natural caverns in the hillock show signs of early human habitation. This place may have shared the fortunes of Kodumbalur (கொடும்பாளூர்), six km away. The presence of an early Chola temple suggests that Viralimalai (விராலிமலை) was a prosperous village as early as the 9th century AD.The sides of this hill have traditionally been covered with non-thorny trees, mainly Wrightia
Wrightia
Wrightia is a genus of 23 species of flowering plants in the Apocynaceae family, native to tropical Africa, Asia and Australia...
(veppaalai, வெப்பாலை).
Viralimalai is home to an exclusive kuravanji (குறவஞ்சி) dance-drama. The kuravanji named after Viralimalai has had an unbroken tradition of presentation for nearly two centuries. On Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri
Maha Shivratri or Maha Sivaratri or Shivaratri or Sivarathri is a Hindu festival celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha of the month of Maagha or Phalguna...
(மகாசிவராத்திரி) night every year, till 1993, the kuravanji (குறவஞ்சி) was played as an all-night show to large crowds of nobles, officials and ordinary folk, in front of the mandapam below the foot of the hill.
Peacock Sanctuary
Peafowl
Peafowl are two Asiatic species of flying birds in the genus Pavo of the pheasant family, Phasianidae, best known for the male's extravagant eye-spotted tail, which it displays as part of courtship. The male is called a peacock, the female a peahen, and the offspring peachicks. The adult female...
, the National bird of India, are abundant. A large number of wild Peacocks roam around the Murugan Temple and surrounding woodlands, which form a sanctuary for the birds. The town, Temple and Peacock Sanctuary have been declared and funded as a Heritage Place by order of the Governor.