| Thirukovilur | |
| Other Name: | Thirukoilure Thirukkovalur Tirukkoyilur |
| Nickname: | Koval, Temple City |
| Settlement Type: | Municipality Administration |
| Pushpin Map: | India Tamil Nadu |
| Pushpin Label Position: | right |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Thirukovilur |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Tamil Nadu, India |
| Coordinates: | 11.9675°N 79.2056°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  India |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Tamil Nadu |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Kallakurichi district |
| Named For: | Temples And Heritage Town |
| Government Type: | Municipality Government Of Tamilnadu |
| Governing Body: | Commissioner Government |
| Unit Pref: | Metric |
| Area Total Km2: | 11.99 |
| Elevation M: | 73 |
| Population Total: | 60212 |
| Population As Of: | 2011 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Demographics Type1: | Languages |
| Demographics1 Title1: | Speaking |
| Demographics1 Info1: | Tamil |
| Timezone1: | IST |
| Utc Offset1: | +5:30 |
| Postal Code: | 605757 |
| Registration Plate: | TN-32, TN-15" |
| Website: | https://www.tnurbantree.tn.gov.in/tirukovilur/ |
Tirukoilur also spelt as Tirukkoyilur or Tirukovilur is a city and the headquarters of Tirukoilur taluk in Kallakurichi District, Tamil Nadu, India. The town is located on the southern bank of Thenpennai River and famous for Veerateeswarar Temple]](God of Siva) and Kabilar Kundru Tirukoyilur|Ulagalantha Perumal TempleTirukoilur is located on the highway connecting cities of Tiruvannamalai and Vellore with Southern Tamil Nadu. The town is served by Tirukoilur railway station (formerly, Arakandanallur Thirukovilur railway station).
Vanavan Mahadevi, the mother of Rajaraja Chola I, was born as a Tamil princess of Chera dynasty in Tirukoilur.
India census,[1] Tirukkoyilur had a population of 60212. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Tirukkoyilur has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 83%, and female literacy is 73%. In Tirukkoyilur, 10% of the population is under 6 years of age.
Thirukoilur had widely bus facilities as both same as Rail facilities. The city well connected by State highways the major highways are below:
SH9 Cuddalore-Thirukovilur--Vellore
SH-7 Thirukoilur-Villupuram
SH-211 Thirukoilur Bye-Pass Road -Kandachipuram
SH68 Cuddalore-Thirukovilur-Sankarapuram
SH-137 Thirukoilur-Elavanasurkottai-Asanur-Trichy
MDR-1014 Thirukovilur-Manalurpet-Tiruvannamalai
MDR-812 Thirukoilur-Veerapandi-Vettavalam
MDR-784 Thirukoilur-Rishivandiyam-Thiyagadurugam-Kallakurichi
MDR-785 Thirukoilur - Thagadi
Tirukoilur is famous for the Ulagalantha Perumal Temple. This temple has a very big raja gopuram and is the 3rd longest gopuram in Tamil Nadu. The statue of Vishnu is so beautiful with varnakalapam. There is a sanathi even for Vamana. As per Hindu legend, Vishnu appeared to the mudhal Alvars (first three Alvars) at Thirukkoilur. The temple plays a special part in Vaishnavism as it is where the first three Alvars sang the first three Thiruvandadhis compiled in Naalayira Divya Prabandam, the Sri Vaishnava canon. Thirumangai Alvar, another Alvar saint also revered the deity in his verses compiled in Nalayira Divya Prabandam . Ashta Veeratanams, Ashta – eight Veeratanam – Place of Bravery. As per legends, Shiva is believed to have destroyed eight different demons namely Andakasuran, Gajasuran, Jalandasuran, Thirupuradhi, Kaman, Arjunan, Dakshan and Taaragasuran. There are eight temples built signifying each of his victories in the war,[2] and also as places where he is believed to have performed with fury.[3]
The eight temples are:
While on a visit to Ceylon, the ancient female Tamil poet Avvaiyar was caught up in a torrential rain, and took shelter in the house of two women, Angavay and Sangavay. These women took care of Avvai with great kindness and promised that they will be given in marriage to the King of Tirucovalur. On hearing this the King agreed to take the women in marriage if they were given away by the Chera, Chola and the Pandya. Avvai then makes an invocation to Ganesha for making the invitation on a palmyra leaf, on which Ganesha appears before her. On receiving the invitation the three kings come for marriage and give away Angavay and Sangavay in marriage (pp. 57–59).[5] There is a mention of this time period in Ponniyin Selvan.