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Area
1,17,358 sq.km.
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Population
9,18,356
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District Head Quarters
Mayiladuthurai
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Language
Tamil
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History And Geography
The district came to be known as “Mayiladuthurai” due to the ancient lore in which the divine goddess Parvathi manifested herself as a peacock to attract the attention of Lord Shiva through a miraculous dance. Till the 18th century, Mayiladuthurai was known as “Mayurapuram” and “Mayavaram.” But, through a government ordinance of 1982, the then Chief Minister Dr. M. G. Ramachandran promulgated an order to change the name of the place to “Mayiladuthurai.” The divine presence of God is manifested in the names of temples representing the nine planets; two of these temples can be found in and around Mayiladuthurai. One in Vaitheeswarankoil and the other in Keezhaperumpallam. Two historical learning centers, especially for Tamil tradition and culture, are found in Dharmapuram Mutt and Thiruvaduthurai Mutt. The presence of these two mutts has added to the fame and glory of Tamil culture and literature.
Mayiladuthurai has another side to boast of. Gandhiji’s holy feet had walked through various areas of Mayiladuthurai. Thillaiyadi Valliammai, his devoted disciple, accompanied him to South Africa to assist the victims. To honor her, the government of Tamil Nadu erected a memorial expressing the sacrificial experiences of “Thillaiyadi Valliammai.” The years 1915, 1921, and 1927 are very important in the history of Mayiladuthurai because these years added to the greatness of Mayiladuthurai with the visit of the “Father of the Nation.”
Mayiladuthurai has yet another colourful feather on its cap due to the exemplary service & administrative acumen shown by Mayiladuthurai Municipality. In the composite Madras State including Andhra Pradesh, 29 cities are gifted, but among them, Mayiladuthurai has found a place due to the performances of Mayiladuthurai Municipality. There are a few institutions with a history of a hoary past, such as the Judicial Court, Sub-Collector’s Office, and Municipal Higher Secondary School. Saints like Dhanvanthri Siddahar have added to the greatness of Mayiladuthurai. There are great personalities who have contributed their mite both in spiritual and literary fields, such as the great writer “Kambar” from Therizhandur, a neighboring hamlet of Mayiladuthurai. Besides him, Mayuram Vedhanayagam Pillai, Kalki Krishnamoorthy, and Gopalakrishna Bharathi have raised the greatness of Mayiladuthurai by their contributions.
A galaxy of intellectual luminaries like M.S. Udhayamoorthy, the father of the librarian movement S.R. Renganathan, M.K. Thiyagaraja Bahavathar, Sirkazhi Govindarajan, Natheswara Vidhwan Rajarathinam, and the chess world champion Viswanathan Anand have carved a permanent niche for themselves forever and a day.