Vedaranyam

Vedaranyam is a census town in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu. The town is named after the presiding deity of the Vedaranyeswarar Temple. Vedaranyeswarar Temple is one of the important centres of South Indian Hindu community.

History of Vedarnyam shows the magnificent artistic beauty of Chola temples. History of Vedaranyam is found from the inscriptions in Vedaranyeswarar Temple. This is one of the most important temples in this region. The inscriptions date from the reign of Aditya Chola, Rajaraja Chola I, Rajendra Chola I and Kulothunga Chola I representing various grants to the temple. Paranjothi Munivar, a 13th-century saint, who wrote the book Thiruvilaiyadal Puranam, was born at Vedaranyam.

History of Vedarnyam also shows that from the time of ancient time, this place was the centre of Shaiva cult. Vedaranyam was the part of glorious Chola Empire. During the reign of Kulothunga Chola I (1070-1120), Vedarnyam flourished as the Shaiva cult. After the fall of Cholas during the reign of Rajendra Chola II in the 13th century, the Chola region was caught under a power struggle between Pandyas and Hoysalas.

The royal patronage of Pandyas and Hoysalas continued to Vedaranyeswarar Temple during the rule of the Nayaks. The "Negapatam" region was captured by troops of French East India Company lead by Lally (1702-66) in 1759.

Tanjore district was annexed by British forces after the French failed to subdue the king of Tanjore. During the period of British East India Company, Vedaranyam was part of Thiruthuraipoondi Taluk under Tanjore district. The Salt from Vedaranyam was transported to Nagapttinam port through a 51 km long canal.

In the modern days, Mahatma Gandhi launched the Dandi March along India`s west coast to protest against the sales tax levied on salt extraction. His close associate and disciple C. Rajagopalachari carried out a salt march in parallel, on the east coast starting from Tiruchirappalli in Vedaranyam. C. Rajagopalachari and his group like the freedom fighter Sardar Vedaratnam, started the salt march from Tiruchirappalli, in Madras Presidency, which is now part of Tamil Nadu in the independent India to the coast of the town of Vedaranyam. After making illegal salt extraction there on 30th April 1930, C. Rajagopalachari and his group were arrested by the police of British Government in India. After India`s independence, Vedaranyam, the town of historical and religious importance continued to be a part of Thanjavur district until 1991. Later, this place became part of the newly created Nagapattinam district.

Vedaranyam is located on the Coramandel coast of Bay of Bengal. Vedaranyam swamp is located parallel to the Palk Strait for 48 kilometres. Kaveri River was flowing through south easterly direction from Trichy and had its confluence at Vedaranyam due to the emergence of Vedaranyam nose during the pleistocene period. Due to the rise of tertiary rocks in the Pattukottai to Mannargudi region and also due to the increase of sediments in the Vedaranyam area, the river migrated northwards. There is lesser marine activity in the Vedaranyam shore due to the presence of Vedaranyam nose in the north and Sri Lanka in the south, both causing weak shore currents.

According to the Population Census in the year 2011 census, Vedaranyam had a population of 34,266 with a sex-ratio of 1,068 females for every 1,000 males, much above the national average of 929. A total of 3,261 were under the age of six, constituting 1,711 males and 1,550 females. The average literacy of the town was 77.86 percent compared to the national average of 72.99 percent.

Economy of Vedaranyam is largely dependant on the prawn culture and agriculture. The saltpans (crystallisers) are spread over 11,000 acres along the coastline, including those of small, medium and large salt manufacturers. According to estimates, about 3.5 lakh tonnes of salt is produced annually in the region. The salt industry employs around 20,000 people.

Tourism of Vedarnyam covers the ancient Hindu temples which are dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temples of Vedaranyam are Vedaranyeswarar temple, Dharbaranyeswarar Temple, Kayarohanaswamy Temple, Kannayariamudayar Temple, Brahmapureeswarar Temple, Vaimoornaathar Temple and Tiruvarur Thyagaraja Temple.

Vedaranyeswarar Temple : Vedaranyeswarar temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva or Mahadeva. Vedaranyeswarar temple is located in Vedaranyam, a town of religious importance. Vedaranyeswarar temple has a shrine for Thyagaraja, a divine form of Lord Shiva, known for "Hamsapthanathaanam". "Hamsapthanathaanam" is the dance pose similar to the gait of a swan. According to the medieval history of Chola Empire, a Chola king named Mucukunta obtained a boon from Indra to receive an image of Thyagaraja from the Hindu god Lord Vishnu. Indra tricked the king with six other duplicate images, but the king chose the right image which was later installed at Thyagaraja Temple of Tiruvarur.

Thyagaragar Temple : Thyagaragar Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva. Thyagaragar Temple is located in the town of Thiruvarur in Tamil Nadu. Lord Shiva is worshiped as Moolanathar. The consort of Mahadeva, Parvati is depicted as Kamalambigai. The presiding deity of Thyagaragar Temple is revered in 7th century Tamil Shaiva Canonical work, the "Tevaram", written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple : Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple, also called as Dharbaranyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shani. Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple is located in Tirunallar in Karaikal district of Puducherry. The presiding deity is Lord Shiva. Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple is revered by the hymns of 7th century Tamil Shaivite poets, Appar, Cuntarar and Campantar.

Kayarohanaswami Temple : Kayarohanaswami Temple is an ancient Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva or Mahadeva. Kayarohanaswami Temple is situated in the town of Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu. The presiding deity is known as Kayarohana and his consort is Nilayathakshi. The temple has been in existence from the 6th century AD and has been praised by the Nayanmars Appar, Sambandar and Sundarar. Kayarohanaswami Temple has been constructed by the Lakolisa cult which originated in Gujarat.

Salt Sathyagraga Memorial Stupe : Salt Sathyagraga Memorial Stupe built in memory of the historical Salt March during India`s independence movement, organised by C. Rajagopalachari is another prominent modern monument in Vedaranyam.

Other tourist destinations around Vedaranyam are Ayurvedic Medicinal Forest, Point Calimere Wildlife and Bird Sanctuary which is located Point Calimere at a distance of 10 kilometers. There are other tourist destinations like Historical Light House, Ramar Paatham, Ettukudi Murugan temple, which is located at a distance of 40 kilometres and Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni located at a distance of 37 kilometres from the town of Vedaranyam.