Sholinghur

Sholinghur
Town

Distant view of the temple town from the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple
Sholinghur

Location in Tamil Nadu, India

Coordinates: 13°07′N 79°25′E / 13.12°N 79.42°E / 13.12; 79.42Coordinates: 13°07′N 79°25′E / 13.12°N 79.42°E / 13.12; 79.42
Country  India
State Tamil Nadu
District Vellore
Lok Sabha Constituency Arakkonam
State Assembly constituency Sholinghur
Area
 • Total 20 km2 (8 sq mi)
Elevation 155 m (509 ft)
Population (2009)
 • Total 126,597
 • Density 6,300/km2 (16,000/sq mi)
Languages
 • Official Tamil
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN 631102
Telephone code 04172
Vehicle registration TN-73
Website sholingur.com

Sholinghur (Tamil: சோளிங்கர்) is a town under Walajapet taluk in Vellore district of Tamil Nadu, India. The town is very famous in Tamil Nadu and other neighboring states for the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple. Sholinghur was once ruled by the Chola Empire, Nawabs of Arcot and Tippu Sultan.

Etymology

The first name for this sacred town was Thirukkadigai. This signifies its status as one of the 108 Divya Desams in Vaishnavism. The reason behind the name Thirukkadigai is due to one of the following myths.

During the days of Cholas & Nawabs, the name Thirukkadigai was less used and the name Chozha Lingapuram acquired prominence.

Reference is made to a ghatika in the Tiruvallam inscription of Nandivarman Pallavamalla dated in his 61st year. Again an arbitrator having the title Trairjyua ghatika madhyasthan is mentioned in three inscriptions of Parthivendradhipathi from Brahmadesam in North Arcot District (Kanchipuram district) of Tamil Nadu [1] This ghatika was presumably a different one from the famous one at the Pallava capital Kanchipuram. It was probably the Ghatikachala at the Sholinghur hill. This place is referred to as Kadigai in the siriya thirumadal and periya thirumoli of Vaishnava saint Tirumangai Alvar, a contemporary of Nandivaraman Pallavamalla. During the Pallava period it was a well-known centre of Sanskrit learning and stronghold of Vaisnavism. The early Vaisnava saint Peyalvar refers to this temple as Pungatikai in his Iyarpa third Andadi. Pallava influences are traceable in the neighbourhood of this place. A cave temple belonging to Mahendravarma I who reigned early in the seventh century is from Kanchipuram bearing the name Mahendravisnugrha is found in Mahendravadi. It is not unlikely that a ghatika was founded there by the successors of Mahendravarman and the place was named Ghatikachalam. In his hymns on the Tirukkannapuram on the hill of Ghatikai. The ghatika is Sholinghur hill consisted of Vaisnava Brahmans who carried on a programme of higher studies specially drawn up for the institution. The institution presumably attracted its students from several places around Ghatikachalam. The ghatika was probably located the hill temple itself dedicated to Narasimha. Sholinghur which a Kadigai was seat of Great learning in the later Pallava age continued to be an educational centre in subsequent days during the chola age. Even to this day there is a Sanskrit College at this place.[2]

The current name of the town is a contraction of the words Chola-linga-puram, and was given to because a Chola king had found a natural lingam (suyambu) here, and built a temple over it, called the Sholeswara temple. The temple is located in the middle of the town.[3]

According to legends, Lord Narasimha would not only take several reincarnations in this world to reform people, but also send his messengers as preceptors to perform this function. One such preceptor was Doddacharya of Chozha Lingapuram (சோழலிங்கபுறம்), who lived nearly 470 years ago, performing service to Lord Yoga Narasimhar.

Doddacharya used to visit Kanchipuram Varadharaja Perumal temple every year during Bhramotsavam. On one particular year, he fell sick and was not able to visit the Kanchipuram Temple. Sitting on the banks of present day Thakkan kulam (Pushkarini) he prayed to God Varadharaja Perumal. Heeding to his prayers, God Varadharaja Perumal appeared in front of him for few seconds. At the same time, the Varadharaja Perumal idol disappeared in Kanchipuram. As a result of this incident, a temple dedicated to Varadharaja Perumal Temple was built on the banks of Thakkan kulam, next to Anjaneyer Temple in Sholinghur. This Varadharaja Perumal Temple at Sholinghur is open only during the Bhramotsavam Festival days in Kanchipuram. Even today during Bhramotsavam at Kanchipuram, the Varadharaja Perumal idol will be closed with a screen for few seconds and then opened to mark the disappearance of the idol and its appearance before Doddacharya at Sholinghur some 470 years ago.

The name Choza Lingapuram was later shortened to Sholinghapuram in common usage. During the late 20th Century, the name of the town was further shortened to Sholingur, which is currently the official name of the town.

History

The town of Sholinghur does not have a large recorded history to boast about. However, the town was the site of a battle during the Anglo-Mysore Wars. It was here that Sir Eyre Coote fought against Tipu Sultan and Hyder Ali in the Second Anglo-Mysore War. Near Sholinghur Bus Terminus, we can see the burial ground dedicated to the soldiers of Tipu Sultan army fought in the War.

Industry

The residents of Sholinghur predominantly engage in agriculture and a Lungi weaving industry.

The town also boasts of a few factories close by, supplying parts and components to automotive industries in India and abroad.

The town also has an IT services provider, in the form of Dreamup Softwares Private Limited.

Educational Institutions

Distant view of the temple town and the steps that lead to the Yoga Narasimha Swamy temple, view from temple

Colleges

  1. C.M.Annamalai Polytechnic
  2. Kalaibarathi Teacher Training Institute
  3. Matrix training centre
  4. Meera Teacher Training Institute
  5. Sri BharathiVelu College of Arts & Science
  6. Saraswathi Velu College of Engineering
  7. Sivaranjani Teacher Training Institute

Schools

  1. Aswini Matriculation School
  2. Ayyan Vidhyashram Matriculation School
  3. Csi Central Primary School
  4. Goodlet Higher Secondary School
  5. Govt.Boys Hr. Sec School
  6. Govt.Girls Hr. Sec School
  7. Hayagreevar Primary School
  8. Madhava Manthiram Primary School
  9. Mary Mclein Middle School
  10. Saraswathi Matriculation Hr. Sec School
  11. Sengunthar High School
  12. SKV International public School
  13. Sri Diya Chaitanya Matriculation School
  14. Unity Matriculation School
  15. Valliyammai Matriculation High School
  16. VCS HI-TECH International School
  17. Vedhathiri Maharishi Matric Hr. Sec. School
  18. Vidya Peetam hr sec school

Computer Training Institutions

Financial institutions

Hospitals

  1. Best Hospital
  2. Bharathi Venkatesh Hospital
  3. Government Hospital, Sholinghur
  4. Kalpana Hospital
  5. RaviBharathi Multispeciality Hospital, Sholinghur
  6. Sundaram Foundation Hospital
  7. SVS homeocare clinic , Sholinghur
  8. TVS Hospital

Connectivity

Sholinghur has a railway station (which is about 13 km away from Sholinghur at Banavaram). Sholinghur also has a government hospital that was awarded Tamil Nadu's Best Maintenance Award for the year 2006-07.

Government and private bus operators ply buses to Vellore, Tiruttani and Arakkonam every 15 minutes. There are also regular direct bus services available to Chennai, Bengaluru and Kancheepuram from the bus station.

Nearby towns/cities

Politics

Sholinghur (State Assembly Constituency) is part of Arakkonam (Lok Sabha constituency).[4]

Current M.L.A (Mr.N.G.Parthiban.BA.BL) from AIADMK and M.P (கோ.அரி) from AIADMK.

See also

Monkeys at temple

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sholinghur.

Monkeys are found all along the steps to the temple and in the temple premises. They take the fruits and eatables given by the devotees. At times they are aggressive and grab the bags from the pilgrims as well. Here are two pictures of such monkeys at the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple.

References

  1. ↑ ARE nos.194, 195, § 197 of 1915
  2. ↑ Minakshi, C., 1977, Administration and social life under the Pallavas, University of Madras, Chennai.
  3. ↑ Madras district Manual, North Arcot, 1804, page. 435
  4. ↑ "List of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies" (PDF). Tamil Nadu. Election Commission of India. Retrieved 2008-10-08.
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