Thamarankottai


Thamarankkottai is a village in Pattukkottai taluk in the Thanjavur district, located in the delta of the Kaveri river. Thamarankkottai is the largest village in Thanjavur District. Pattukottai is the nearest town. It is bordered by Mannangadu and Vattakudi Ukkadai to the north; Thuvarankurichi to the west; Palanjur, Narasingapuram, and Soundranayakipuram to the southwest; Paraklakottai to east; Thambikottai to the southeast; and the Bay of Bengal to the south. It is second-most populous among the 32 villages of Musugundan Community. The total area of the village is 21.7 km2. It is divided into two areas: Thamarankkottai North and Thamarankkottai South. Melakkadu, Keelakkadu, and Rasiangadu are located in Thamarankkottai North. Sengapaduthankadu, Manjavayal, Karungulam,Mankanangadu and Karisakadu are located in Thamarankkottai South.

Demography

According to the latest national census, Thamarankottai North has a population of 6,031, of which 2,872 are males and 3,159 are females. in 1,460 households across the three hamlets of Keezakadu, Melakkadu, and Rasiangadu. Thamarankottai South has 4,499 people in 1,110 households across the four hamlets of Manjavayal, Sengapaduthankadu, Karungulam, Karisakadu, and Mankanangadu.

Society

Like other typical rural villages in Tamil Nadu, the majority of the people of Thamarankottai work in agriculture. The society is organized mainly on caste lines. Caste plays a vital role in social life and caste determines people's social status irrespective of their economic status.

Economy

Agriculture is the mainstay of the village economy. Thamarankottai is situated at the end of the new delta region of Cauvery irrigation scheme. This scheme was introduced in this region during the 1930s through the Cauvery Mettur Project canal. Prior to this, agriculture was only rainfed. A rice-based cropping system was predominant with rice – rice – pulse or groundnut sequence, during the Kuruvai, Thaladi, and Summer seasons, respectively. In some spots where tank irrigation possibility was available rice – rice – rice sequence was also practiced during Kuruvai, Thaladi, and Summer seasons, respectively.
Irrigated agriculture flourished and brought wealth to the farmers until the late 1970s and early 1980s. Due to the interstate dispute on sharing of Cauvery water between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the reach of river water to canals of Tamarankottai became uncertain and if at all reaches it is only unseasonal. Therefore, to keep the mainstay profession moving and lack of expertise to choose alternative ways of generating income via farming, farmers have resorted to deep bore wells for irrigation. However, in the absence of proper plans to recharge groundwater with rainwater, continued use of deep bore wells poses an environmental problem of seawater intrusion into the groundwater and the consequent salinization of soils of the entire village.
In recent times, most gardens and wetlands have been converted into coconut farms. Unlike rice cultivation, coconut provides income year-round and requires less intensive labor. However, due to the rising production costs and volatile pricing in domestic and international markets, the sustainability of income from coconut farms has increasingly become uncertain.
Due to this uncertainty, most youths in Thamarankottai migrate to other countries such as the US, the UK, the UAE, Singapore, and Malaysia in search of employment.
In recent years, there has been a lot of interest among women to launch self-help groups supported by State and Central government schemes. Until now, the main activity of these groups has been through micro-financing by commercial banks for self-employment and income generation by group effort.
There are few grocery stores and other retail stores in addition to small-time restaurants and tea shops in Thamarankottai.

Education

There are no official statistics available on the literacy rate in Thamarankottai. However, traditionally people in this village have not prioritized education. The situation is changing in recent years, with parents insisting that their children complete college degrees. The following are the educational institutions functioning in Thamarankottai:
The majority of villagers are Hindu, and the village contains numerous temples. Islam and Christianity are minority religions. However, religious hatred has not been known to occur in Thamarankottai, and the families from minority religions live with the majority in harmony.

Sivan Koil

Sivan Koil is the main, largest, and oldest temple in Thamarankottai. Its history has not been properly researched or documented. The fact is that the deity of this Sivan Koil is incidentally the biggest landowner in this village, with more than of land. This implies that the forefathers of Thamarankottai donated lands in God's name to make the temple sustainable. A fortnight-long festival is celebrated in the Tamil calendar month of Vaikāsi. The festival coincides with Vaikasi Visakam.

Idumban Koil

Idumnban Koil is a temple for Idumban, a great devotee of Lord Muruga and the sage Agastya's greatest disciple. Idumbam is believed to be a protective god and a guardian of Muruga's temples in Tamil Nadu. This temple was built by the villagers beside Sivan Koil.
On the first Friday of the month of Ādi "Palguda Thiruvizha" is celebrated by the villagers.

Thee Kuthitha Amman Koil

This is a temple in which the main god, Thee Kuthitha Amman, is worshiped in reverence to the woman who chose to die in the funeral pyre of her husband. Even though Sati is not common in this village, this temple commands much respect among local people. Every year on the first Sunday of the month of Cittirai, some people, who have been fasting for the previous forty days, walk through fire to get the blessings of the Amman.

Sri Madurai Veeran Kovil

Madurai Veeran Koil, a huge and ancient Neem tree, is worshiped as a family god by some villagers. This tree is located at Thamarankottai west Melakkadu.

Other temples

Arulmigu Murugan temple, Kamatchiamman temple, Veeranar temple, Ayyanar temple, and Pidari Koil are guardian temples situated around the border of the village. There is also a Ganesh temple and Ayyapan temple.
Thamarankottai is a designated Panchayat. Currently, the office of the Leader of the Panchayat is held by Thirumathi. Subathra Rajendran. The post of Thamarankottai's councillor to Pattukottai Panchayat Union Council is currently held by Thirumathi. Achikannu Natarajan.