Hindu Monuments in Srivaikuntam and Tiruchendur Taluks

Abstract

Srivaikuntam one of the sacred Vaishnavite centre is called after the name of Lord Vaikuntapathy who is otherwise known as Kallarpiran.  Srivaikuntam contains the words “Sri” and Vaikuntam. ‘Sri’ denotes holiness and Vaikuntam the holy abode of Lord Vishnu with the emergence of Bhaktimovement and because of Nammalvars mangalasasanam the place became more sacred to the Vaishnavite as one of the diviyadesas.  After the suppression of Poligars, the entire Tirunelveli District was divided into nineteen taluks including SriVaikuntam taluk.  Srivaikuntam taluk was included of Thoothukudi, Tiruchendur and Portion Ottapidaram, Sattur and so on.  After 1838 Tenkarai (Alwarthirunagari) became taluk instead of Srivaikuntam and one hundred and seventy two villages.  In 1860 again in Srivaikuntam become the taluk headquarter replacing Tenkarai. Out of Srivaikuntam taluk Tiruchendur taluk was formed in 1911.  The remainder with the addition from the Ottappidaram taluk of eight mitta and ten villages including Thoothukudi formed the new taluk of Srivaikuntam.[i]

[i] Nampiar, P.K., District Census Hand Book, Tirunelveli, Vol. IX, Madras, 1965, p. 147