Koil or Koyil or Kovil, is the Tamil term for a distinct style of Hindu temple with Dravidian architecture. Both the terms koyil and kovil are used interchangeably. In Tamil language, kōvil is the word derived, according to the rules of Tamil grammar. city ofMadurai in southern India. In contemporary Tamil, the term 'kōvil' is also used to refer to "Place of Worship". In modern formal speech, kōvil is also referred to as aalayam, dheva sthaanam by many Hindus. Ambalam is another term used by devotees of the 19th century Tamil monk Vallalar. Another term is 'Thali', which also means temple. To Shaivites, the foremost kōvils are Chidambaram temple and Koneswaram temple while for Vaishnavites, Sri Ranganathaswamy temple, Srirangam and Tirumala Venkateswara temple, Tirupati are viewed as important. The kōvils in Tamil Nadu and the kōvils of Sri Lanka have long histories and have always been associated with the ruler of the time. Most kings patronised temple building in their kingdom, and attached water tanks and villages to the shrine to administer. There are over 36,488 Temples in Tamil Nadu alone as registered by Hindu Aranilaya Thurai. The Sangam literaturescriptedbefore the common era, refers to some of the temples the early kings of Tamilagam had erected. The songs of the revered ShaivaNayanars and the VaishnavaAlvārsaints that date back to the period 6th to the 9th century CE, provide ample references to the temples of that period. Stone inscriptions found in most temples describe the patronage extended to them by the various rulers. The most ancient temples were built of wood as well as brick and mortar. Up to about 700 CE temples were mostly of the rock-cut type. The Pallava kings were great builders of temples in stone. The Chola dynasty left a number of monuments to their credit such as the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur. The Cholas added many ornate mandpams or halls to temples and constructed large towers. The Pandya style saw the emergence of huge towers, high wall enclosures and enormous towered gateways. The Vijayanagar Style is famous for the intricacy and beauty especially for the decorated monolithic pillars. The Nayak style is noted for the addition of large prakaram and pillared halls.
