Sittanavaasal, avudayarkoil, kudumiyaanmalai get attn:
http://www.hindu.com/2009/01/19/stories/2009011954890600.htm Rs. 63.41-lakh tourism plans for Pudukottai M. Balaganessin PUDUKOTTAI: Tourism development schemes are being implemented at an expenditure of Rs. 63.41 lakh in Pudukottai district, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests S. Regupathy said.
Speaking at the inaugural of Pongal Tourism celebrations organised by the Department of Tourism at Avudaiyarkovil in the district on Saturday, Mr. Regupathy said special infrastructure was being provided for promoting tourism potential under the scheme by the Centre and the State Government, on an outlay of Rs. 21.07 lakh at Avudaiyarkovil, Rs. 19.34 lakh at Kudumiyanmalai and Rs. 23 lakh at Sittannavasal.
The first two schemes had been sanctioned by the State Government under the tourism development programme, while the infrastructure at Sittannavasal had been sanctioned under the centrally sponsored 'Jain circuit development' scheme.
At Avudaiyarkovil, a waiting hall and cloak room, pay and use toilets and solar lights had already been provided while road work would be taken up at an expenditure of Rs. 10 lakh.
At Kudumiyanmalai, a toilet has been constructed and work was in progress for providing approach road, drinking water supply and solar light at an expenditure of Rs. 14.34 lakh.
At Sittannavasal, a waiting hall and a cloak room had been constructed at an expenditure of Rs. 5 lakh and illumination completed at an expenditure of about Rs. 2 lakh.
Two works on providing approach road and public conveniences would be taken up shortly for which Rs. 16 lakh had been earmarked.
Referring to the plea by the speakers on the occasion, the Union Minister said steps would be taken to declare a local holiday for the Aani Tirumanjanam festival at Avudaiyarkovil. He sought people's cooperation on identifying a site for the construction of a bus stand at Avudaiyarkovil.
District Tourism Officer K. Elangovan highlighted the importance of these ancient monuments.
The Pongal tourism festival delighted the visiting foreigners.
A section of foreigners expressed surprise over the architectural marvels of Sri Athmanandaswamy Temple at Avudaiayarkovil, unity in diversity prevailing in the country and the cultural heritage of India.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO MENTION AND RECORD HERE THAT OUR RESPECTED MEMBER (RETD IIT) PROF. SWAMINATHAN (OF PUDUKOTTAI) UNTIRINGLY WORKED ON THIS WITH STATE TOURISM DEPARTMENT !
I one of the members of the PS. After going through your mail, I thought I could share some information regarding the Avudayarkoil region where I had the privilege of working as a Managerin a nationalised bank for three years during 2002-2005.
I am happy to note that Avudayarkoil is gaining some importance in the tourist map of Tamilnadu. Some more interesting facts about the region are yet to be exploredin this region. There is a temple at Thiruppunnavasal (Thiru Punna Vaasal - the name of the village is derived froma 1000-year old Punnai Maram standing at the threshold of temple dedicated to Periyanagai Sametha Vrithapureeswarar Swamy - a Siva temple) which is said to be more than 1000 years old and one of the14 renowned Siva temples of the Pandya kingdom.
Thiruppunnavasal is about 30 kms from Avudayarkoil and located near the border of Oriyur, Ramnad district where there is a Higher Secondary School run by the Ramakrishna Tapovanam (having their HQ at Andhanallur, Trichy), on the banks of Pampanaru ( The aeria view of this region, it is said, will look like a five-headed NagaSnake). This river is fed by waters from Vaigai River (!), Madurai, and before reaching the Gulf of Mannar, through Thiruppunnavasal, the river branches off into a 5-headed snakeand feeds the agricultural needs of Ramnad and Pudukkottai villages.
Thiruppunnavasal temple is reported to be a sacred land by the Paramacharyaof the Kanchi Mutt and whenever he visits this temple he used to abandon his sandals at the entrance of the village and he would prefer to walk bare-footed as he had remarked that the entire land area isstrewn with thousands of sivalingams. The shiva lingam in the sanctum sanctorum is quite a big one and the Avudai supposed to be the second biggestamongst the Shiva temples in the world (First one being Prahadeeswarar temple, Tanjore).
Similarly a temple associated with the Ramayana era is located in Paramandhur, which is nearby Avudayarkoil. It is reported that Sri Rama stayed here and performed pooja with Lakshmana on his way to Sri Lanka.
Two other templesof historical importance are located in Ponbethi and Theeyathur on the way to Thiruppunnavasal from Avudayarkoil, which are reported to be visited by the Apsarasfrom Indra Loka on a particular day every year during a particular day when there is constellation of planets.It is said that the Apsaras, after taking bath in Ponbethi they used to perform poojawith the lotus flowers from the tank which used to be full of liquid gold.
In fact, Mr S Thirunavukkarasar, BJP MP from Rajya Sabha, belongs to Theeyathur village and his in-laws are running bus service from Aranthangi to Thiruppunnavasal (42 kms) in this region for the last several years.
These temples have exquisite sculptural work beyond comparison and lack support from pilgrims and the govt. as they are not located on a State / National Highway. As a result, unfortunately, these places are not covered in the tourist map of Tamilnadu.
I thought it fit to bring this to your knowledge and hope thatsomething will be done to bring these temples to limelight.
There is a temple at Thiruppunnavasal > This river is fed > by waters from Vaigai River (!), Madurai,
vaigai reportedly goes in a huge kammai lake in ramnad district and the overflows go into such rivers. vaigai dam has made all these places very dry.
> Thiruppunnavasal temple is reported to be a sacred land
>>as he had remarked that the entire land area isstrewn with thousands of sivalingams.
Great. like thiruvengadu where sambandar remarked oorellaam sivalokam mannellaam sivalingam
.>>>>The shiva lingam in the sanctum sanctorum is quite a big one and the Avudai supposed to be the second biggestamongst the Shiva temples in the world (First one being Prahadeeswarar temple, Tanjore).
the thirupunavasal is the biggest in the devaram shrines. there is a small couplet regarding the size of the dhothis required to cover the lingam
> > Similarly a temple associated with the Ramayana era is located in Paramandhur, which is nearby Avudayarkoil. It is reported that Sri Rama stayed here and performed pooja with Lakshmana on his way to Sri Lanka.
also uppur veyil ukantha vinayakar and devipattinam
> from pilgrims and the govt. as they are not located on a State / National Highway. As a result, unfortunately, these places are not covered in the tourist map of Tamilnadu.
dont worry sir, the extended ECR will touch thiru punavasal and run very close to auvudaiyar koil