Mandhai

Maandhai is a small village on the main road connecting Kumbakonam and Karaikkal. This village is at a distance of about 25 kilometres from Kumbakonam and about 5 km from Kollumangudi on the same road. One can see the Agraharam while travelling in the bus itself. Also, a river will be coming along with you during your travel from Thiruneelakkudi itself and one has to cross the river to reach Maandhai from the road. This is Nattar or Nattavaikaal, which is a tributary of Arasalaru (Hari Sol Aaru). Maandhai can be reached from Vishnupuram using a walkable road.

Maandhai too has connection with Ramayana. When Sita, Rama and Lakshmana were wandering in the forest, many deers were grazing in an area. That place has become Maandhai. (maan koottangal (mandhai) meindha idam – maan - deer).

There is also another reason for this name maandhai. Mandhan is Saturn (sani). His son is gulika or maandhi. A day has 30 gathis of maandhi in the day time and in the night time. If you see, there are 30 houses in the agraharam. So this may be a kshetram associated with maandhi or gulika. Hence the name Maandhai.

In the olden days there used to be a wooden bridge to cross the Nattar while walking towards Maandhai. Now a 30 feet wide concrete bridge is available for reaching the village Agraharam.

The Agraharam consisting of 30 houses stretching 200 meters extends from Nattavaikal Arasamarathadi to Perumal Koil. There is Mariamman Koil and a Pillaiyar Koil near that Arasamarathadi. Apart from mariamman temple and pillayar temple, there is a sivan temple, perumal temple and ayyanar temple associated with the village.

View of Agraharam

Population and other details

According to Census 2011 information the location code or village code of Maandhai village is 637548. Maandhai village is located in Kuthalam Talik in Nagapatinam District with total 368 families residing. The Maandhai village has population of 1444 of which 727 are males while 717 are females as per Population Census 2011. In Maandhai village population of children with age 0-6 is 164 which makes up 11.36 % of total population of village. Average Sex Ratio of Maandhai village is 986 which is lower than Tamil Nadu state average of 996. Child Sex Ratio for the Maandhai as per census is 822, lower than Tamil Nadu average of 943. Also, 26% of the population is SC people. Majority of the population constitutes either Agricultural workers or Land Owners

Importance:

The temple for Lord Aiyanar, generally referred to as Maandhai Aiyanar (poorna pushkalamba sametha ayyanar), is very famous among Vathima people residing around the village, like Konerirajapuram, Vishnupuram, Thethiyur, Tippirajapuram and others. For many families Lord Saasthaa is the Kuladeivam.

Nearby places are Konerirajapuram, Thiruveezhimizhalai, Tirumeeyachur which have important places of worship. Tirumeeyachur is the place where Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam was written in the presence of Sri Lalithaambika.

Thirupaambaram is a paadal petra siva sthalam, which is known for Ragu – Kethu parikaram, is very near to Maandhai Village.

Maandhai Aiyanar Temple:

Courtesy:

Sri Krishnamurthy Kalyanaraman,

Retd Professor, University of Kerala, is an erudite scholar hailing from Konerirajapuram

Thanks to Smt. Malathi jayaraman for sharing the article details.