Sholinghur

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Sholinghur
Chozha Lingapuram
Town
Distant view of the temple town from the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple
Distant view of the temple town from the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple
Sholinghur is located in Tamil Nadu
Sholinghur
Sholinghur
Location in Tamil Nadu, India
Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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. Sholinghur is very famous for the Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy. Sholinghur was ruled by the Chola Empire, Nawabs of Arcot and Tippu Sultan.


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.

  • It is believed by historians that sage Vishwamitra attained Brahmarishi title by worshiping Narasimha there for around 45 minutes.
  • It is said in sculptures that saptha rishis had vision and blessings from Lord Narasimha for a duration of time, termed as 'Kadigai' (approximately 45 minutes) and hence the name 'Thirukkadigai'.
  • It is also believed that Indra, with his demigods, would take a bath in the pushkarni and pray to Narasimha. The name of pushkarni is 'Thakkan'.
  • The Pushkarni is believed by historians to have medicated water which cures all diseases.
  • Budha (son of Chandra) worshiped there and was cured from the curse given by sage Durvasa.
  • Many mental disorders, evil acts and prolonged diseases of any kinds are cured when people take bath in pushkarni and devote to the lords in two hillocks.

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 stronhold 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 Name of this town is a contraction of the words Chola-linga-puram, and was given to it because one of the Chola king found here a natural lingam (suyambu), and built a temple over it, called the Sholeswara temple. It is in the middle of the town.[3]

According to the legend of Sholinghur, Lord Narasimha not only took several incarnations in this world to reform people, but also sent His messengers as preceptors to perform this function. One such preceptor was Doddacharya of Chozha Lingapuram (சோழலிங்கபுறம்), now known as Sholinghur, 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 in the banks of present day Thakkan kulam (Pushkarini) he prayed to the God Varadharaja Perumal. Paying respect to his prayers God Varadharaja Perumal appeared in front of him for few seconds. During the same time, the Varadharaja Perumal idol disappeared in Kanchipuram and the God appeared in front of Doddacharya at Sholinghur. In accordance with this incident there is a Varadharaja Perumal Temple in the banks of Thakkan kulam, next to Anjanyer 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 for few seconds with a screen and then will be opened to mark the disappearance of idol and appearance before Doddacharya at Sholinghur some 470 years ago. Sholinghur also has a historical significance. 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.

Companies around Sholinghur

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. Saraswathi Velu 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

Facilities

Sholinghur has a railway station (which is about 13 km away from Sholinghur in a place called Banavaram). Sholinghur also has a government hospital that was awarded for Tamil Nadu's Best Maintenance in the year of 2006-07 and an engineering college.

In recent years, Sholinghur is emerging as an industrial town with Brakes India and associated companies operating from this town. It also houses the TVS Motor industrial production unit which employs more than 8000 employees.

Government and Private bus facilities to Vellore, Tiruttani and Arakkonam are available every 15 minutes.

Nearby towns/cities

Politics

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

Current M.L.A (Mr.P. R. Manogar) from DMDK and M.P (K. Janardhan) from DMK.

See also

Monkeys at temple

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.

  • Close up of one monkey at temple

  • Couple of monkeys munching eatables given by devotees

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. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

External links

Sholinghur
Next station eastbound:
Mahendravadi		 West Line, Chennai Suburban Next station westbound:
Thalangai
Stop number: 34 KM from start: 89.79
Sholinghur
Next station east/north-east:
Mahendravadi		 West South Line, Chennai Suburban Next station west/west-south:
Thalangai
Stop number: 34 KM from start: 89.79
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