The Origin of Virudhunagar District

The District was created on 15/03/1985 by carving out portion from Ramanadapuram district viz. Ramanadapuram, Virudhunagar & Sivaganga. Virudhunagar (Formally called by Virudhu patti) is the district headquarters.The first District collector was Sh.L.N.Vijayaraghavan IAS.

Physiographically the district consists of two distinct regions. The eastern slopes of the Western Ghats with an average elevation of 1500m and black soil plains to the east of the district.

VIRUDHUNAGAR town is the head quarters of the district of the same name. Located on the National Highway 47 from Madurai to Kanyakumari, this town was called “Virdhukkalvetti” during the British times. According to the local legend, around 400 years ago, a warrior, who was a in possession of a number of flags in token of having conquered many others, challenged the residents of this town. A resident accepted the challenge and in the ensuing fight, killed the warrior and seized the flags. From then onwards the town was known as Virudhukkalvetti. Virudhukkal means banners. This was changed to Virudhupatti in 1875. On 6th April 1923 the council named the town Virudhunagar. Its history as an important trading town goes back to the British times when merchandise from Virudhunagar was exported overseas through the ports of Kulasekarapattinam, Tuticorin, Vaippar, Devipattinam. etc.This town is the birth place of Shri.K.Kamaraj a freedom fighter and Ex-CM of Tamil nadu

This District gave birth to two Ex-CM's of TamilNadu namely ,Shri P.S.Kumarasamy Raja (7-4-1949 to 16-3-1952) Ex -CM of Chennai Provincy , Orissa Governor and Shri K.Kamaraj(13-4-1954 to 2-10-1963)

History and evolution of Town names

ARUPPUKOTTAI

Aruppukottai is said that this place was abundant in Jasmine buds and hence called Arumbukottai. Arumbu in Tamil means buds of garden plant bearing fragrant flowers and kottai means fort (Virappa Nayaka (1572-1692) who ruled over Madurai kingdom constructed a fort at Aruppukkottai) Aruppukkottai is corruption of Arumbukottai. This place was originally said to be known as “Thiru Nallur”. Aruppukottai is inhabited by weavers and this place is famous for handloom textiles.

KARIAPATTI

It is said that one Kathiyar Moopanar first settled here and a village grew around him. The place was then called as kathiapatty meaning village of Kathia ( Moopanar ). In due course it came to be known as Kariapatty. Kariapatty is a corruption of Kathiapatty.

RAJAPALAYAM

Rajapalayam is derived from the word ‘Raja’s Tamil synonym for Raju and Palayam in Tamil means ‘ a Cantonment or Fort ‘. Thus Rajapalayam means Rajus’ Fort. Rajapalayam is inhabited chiefly by people who came from the old Vijayanagaram State.

This town is famous for dogs of a special variety, highly useful for hunting. But this variety of dogs are now becoming extinct as they do not thrive in other parts of the country. This place is also famous for mangoes. Rajapalayam is also a growing industrial town. There are no. of spinning mills, Power loom factories, waste cotton plants & ginning factories. Rajapalayam is having a big share in Indian Surgical cotton manufacturing.

SATTUR

The name Sattur is said to be a corruption of Sathanur. The place was formerly a forest and there was a Sathan temple in it. Sathan temple is also known as a Ayyanar temple. A small village sprang near the temple and it came to be called as Sathanur after Sathan. In process of time it turned out to be Sattur. Sattur is an industrial town. There are match factories in the town and also famous for nib factories. Large wholesale business is transacted in chillies, black gram and coriander. The fountain pen industries, once a prominent industries of this place now becoming extinct as the arrival of ballpens

SIVAKASI

The name Sivakasi is found in a stone inscription in the temple at Tenkasi. It is stated that Arikesari Parakrama Pandiyan (1420-1462) constructed a temple at Tenkasi and went to Banares for fetching a Lingam for installation at Tenkasi. On his return he was unavoidably detained at Sivakasi which was a forest then. At the approach of the auspicious hour he installed the Lingam and constructed a temple at this place. The place takes its name from this incident. Sivakasi is an important industrial town. It is famous for lithographic and offset printing, match and fireworks industries.

SRIVILLIPUTUR

Srivilliputtur is drived from Sri ( Sanskrit – Holy) Villi (Tamil- bowman) Puthu ( Tamil – New ) and Ur (Tamil – place) means Holy bowman new town. Orgin is traced to a legend which has that two saints were born here on account of a curse as brother hunters by name Villi & Kandan. One day Kandan was killed by a tiger in a hunt, Villi not knowing this went in search of him and while asleep after a tiresome day, he was informed in his dream by God the fate of his brother and was directed to build a town on this spot. A new town sprang up and it was known after the hunter as Villiputhur and since Andal was born here, it came to be Srivilliputhur. This place is also known as “Nachiyar Koil” meaning maiden temple referring to Andal.

Srivilliputtur has been a center of religious learning. The epic Mahabharatham was rendered in poetic verses by Sarva Bhava Iyyengar known popularly as villiputhurar. Peria Alwar and Andal the famous Vaishnavite hymnists belonged to Srivilliputtur.

TIRUCHULI

At the end of Dwaparayuga a deluge occurred and the town was in danger of being drowned by flood, the king prayed God for protection, in response his prayer, the God made a circular hole in the earth ‘with his Sulam’ the trident of Siva and made all the water to sink through the hole and thus saved the town. Hence forth the place was called Tiruchuli . The gaint Sri. Ramana Maharishi was born in Tiruchuli