The storied Nangavaram boasts temples that are older than the Big Temple at  Thanjavur

Discover the historical and cultural treasures of Nangavaram village in Tamil Nadu, including ancient temples and rich traditions.

Nangavaram in Karur district is among the very few villages in Tamil Nadu that are known for a remarkable appeal on many fronts. The village boasts three ancient temples that are older than the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur. All the three were built during the reign of Raja Raja Chola’s forebear Parantaka Chola.

Located close to Tiruchi, Nangavaram has the temples dedicated to Siva, Vishnu, and Pidari Sathayi Amman, better known as Nangavaram Pidari Amman. According to legend, the daughter of a Chola king of Uraiyur was born with the face of a jackal. By dint of devotion to the Lord of this place, she came to have normal human features. Hence, this place is called Mangaivaram or Nangaivaram (or puram), known in modern parlance as Nangavaram. In local inscriptions, it is called Nangai-brahmadeyam, alias Arinjigai Chaturvedimangalam, so named after Arinjigai or Arinjaya, the son of Parantaka I, who developed the village as a centre for Vedic learning.

The miracle of Lord Sundaresvarar of Nangavaram, who is believed have restored the face of the girl, is described in two 17th Century inscriptions found in the Darukavanesvarar temple at Tirupparaitturai, built by Tirumala Nayak of Madurai.

There is also an early Chola Pidari temple, called Pidariyar Sathayi Nangai, at Chaturvedimangalam, according to an inscription of Maduraikonda Parakesari, or Parantaka I. Its date is lost. Another inscription of a Rajakesarivarman, perhaps Sundara Chola, mentions a body called ganattar who were in charge of the administration of this temple. This temple still draws a large number of devotees.

A decade ago, two unique and significant granite structures — one of 24 Theerthankaras brilliantly carved on a granite slab and the other of Yogeshwarar — were found at Nangavaram. These are now worshipped along with the other deities at the Sundaresvarar temple and are believed to be older than the other statues there. This indicates the possibility of Nangavaram having been a Jain settlement before it became a Chaturvedimangalam.

A British Gazette records that the puppet-show company of Nangavaram in Trichinopoly taluk was very famous. The subjects of the shows and dramas were the truthful Harichandra, the virtuous Rama, and the devout Markandeya. Also represented were the tragic stories of Aladurai Viran, of Kovilan (the hero of the ancient Tamil poem Silappathikaram), and of the helpless Nallatangal, who was ill-treated by her brother and who killed herself after drowning her children. Nangavaram also holds a prominent place in the political map of Tamil Nadu. In his first election in 1957, DMK leader M. Karunanidhi was elected from Kulithalai which covers Nangavaram.

Courts upheld the practices followed by the local Pannaiyars (landlords) and the government did not go in for an appeal against the verdict. The conditions of the men, women, and children of this village were the theme of Karunanidhi’s maiden speech in the Assembly. Karunanidhi supported the peasants in their struggle. Finding that the existing law was on the side of Pannaiyars and had been upheld by courts, Karunanidhi moved his first Bill to nullify the impact of such a law. His speech was so effective that it not only earned praise from his leader C.N. Annadurai but also impelled the Congress, then the ruling party, to vote for the Bill. Film director Balu Mahendra shot his acclaimed Azhiyatha Kolangal in and around Nanagavaram, capturing for eternity the rich pastoral charms of the village.