Tirumayam Fort of Siva & Vishnu Temples – A Study on its Heritage Management
Abstract
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. There is a huge hill known as Satyagiri in this village that has three rock-cut cave temples, of which two are excavated on the southern face of the hill and the third one cut into the vertical scarp of a whale back rock on top of the hill. Two of those Temples are dedicated to Siva and one to Vishnu. There is a fort almost encompassing the hill and also a citadel on its summit constructed during the 17th century. Famous freedom fighters Veerapandiya Kattabomman and his brother Umathaiturai hid in a fort at Tirumayam, after their fight against the British during 17th century. Thirumayam is from the word Thiru-meyyam which means place of truth in Tamil Nadu. The lord Vishnu is also called by the name of Meyyar. Since it is believed that he stayed in that village it is called by the name Thirumeyyam. Thiru-means ‘holy’ or ‘sacred’ and is traditionally used in front of names in all parts of TamilNadu.
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