| Erwadi | |
| Native Name: | Erwadi Dargah Shariff |
| Native Name Lang: | ta |
| Settlement Type: | village |
| Pushpin Map: | India Tamil Nadu |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Tamil Nadu, India |
| Coordinates: | 9.2082°N 78.7101°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Tamil Nadu |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Ramanathapuram district |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Official |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Tamil |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code: | 623566[1] |
Erwadi is a village in Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu. It belongs to Kilakarai Taluk and town panchayat. The village is the location of the grave and shrine of Qutb-us-Sultan Syed Ibrahim Badshah Shaheed, a ruler of Medina. Erwadi also belongs to Kadaladi assembly constituency, which is a part of Ramanathapuram (Lok Sabha constituency). After the delimitations in 2009, Erwadi was joined to the Ramanathapuram assembly constituency. Erwadi is the second largest contributor for the revenue of Ramanthapuram District.
Sultan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed sent Sikandar Badusha to the Pandiyan ruler Thiru Pandiyan in Madurai to convert him to Islam, but he refused. Shaheed's troops won the ensuing war and Sultan Sikandar Badusha became king in Madurai. Shaheed's troops marched towards Bouthramanickapattinam (Kilakarai). Shaheed Badusha tried to convert King Vikrama Pandiyan to Islam, who refused and asked Shaheed to leave the kingdom. Shaheed refused to leave without converting them to Islam. A war consisting of about 10 battles, each lasting around 3–4 days, was waged. All of the family members of Shaheed Badusha were killed, including his only son Syed Abu Tahir, his brother Syed Ismail, his brother-in-law Zainul Abideen and many of Shaheed Badusha's ministers.[2]
King Vikrama Pandiyan and his sons Indra Pandiyan and Chandra Pandiyan were killed and Shaheed won the war, claiming the throne of Bouthiramanickapattinam. He ruled the province for twelve years and spread Islam through south Tamil Nadu. Coins struck during the rule of Sultan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed have been found by archeologists.[3]
Al Qutbul Hamid wal Gausul Majid Badhusha Sultan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed, king of Medina and 18th generation descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, is said to have traveled to Erwadi, erstwhile Bouthiramanickapattinam, during his journey to India in the early 12th century to spread Islam according to Muhammad's wish.[4]
See main article: Erwadi Santhanakoodu Festival. The annual Santhanakoodu festival is held at Ervadi dargha, Ramanathapuram district during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Qi'dah commemorating the shahadat anniversary of Qutb Sulthan Syed Ibrahim Shahid badhusha and is celebrated together by Hindus and Muslims.[5]
The nearest major town to Erwadi is Kilakarai, at a distance of 10 km, which itself falls on NH 49 from Madurai to Rameswaram. Ramanathapuram is the nearest railway station, (27km) connecting the village to all major cities in Tamil Nadu. Erwadi is well connected with the border ports of Bay of Bengal as a junction point of fishing steamers.
Schools in Erwadi include:
Kutub Sultan Syed Mohammad Saheed