GEOGRAPHICAL

Location: Melur taluk/ via: Melur 8 km > Kachirayan patty vilakku 1 km

Name and distance from the nearest settlement: Kachirayan patty 2 km

Distance from the place with transport facilities: Do

RELIGIOUS & CUSTOMS

Name of the aboding deity/ deities: Amman

Name of the primary deity: Do

Note on the belief systems and taboos: Footwear is to be removed at the entrance of the path, leading to the deity. There is no concrete belief system among the people towards god. People have alienated from the taboos, myths, and religious activity due to their socio-political pressure.

BIOLOGY

Area of the sacred groves: Approximately 4.05 ha.

Nature of vegetation cover: Azadirachta indica, Cocos nucifera grove.

Notes on the preservation status of the sacred grove: Well preserved.

HUMAN HABITATION & COMMUNITY DETAILS

Associated community: Common to all.

Other Information: Recently the local people have built a temple for the amman deity. Kummabishagam was done.

GEOGRAPHICAL

Location: Melur taluk/ via: Thiru kazha patti.

Name and distance from the nearest settlement: Chimgampunari > 14 km Thiru kanangu< 3km< Paladu < 4 km

Distance from the place with transport facilities: Do

SOCIO-CULTURAL

Name of the aboding deity/ deities: Amman koil

Name of the primary deity: Do

Note on the belief systems and taboos: Past 4 years people have stopped conducting festival. Due to some socio political problems in the village people have limited giving importance to the deity.

BIOLOGY

Area of the sacred groves:. Disturbed forest patch.

Nature of vegetation cover: Dry Deciduous Forest

Notes on the preservation status of the sacred grove: Started degrading.

HUMAN HABITATION & COMMUNITY DETAILS

Associated community: Common to All.

Other Information:

GEOGRAPHICAL

Location: Melur taluk/ via: Melur 15 km > Kottakudi

Name and distance from the nearest settlement: Kottakudi 2 km

Distance from the place with transport facilities: Do

SOCIO-CULTURAL

Name of the aboding deity/ deities: Ayyanar

Name of the primary deity: Do

Note on the belief systems and taboos: The felling of tree is prohibited. Footwear is to be removed at the entrance of the path, leading to the deity. Belief is that the God will punish the offender by bringing illness to him/ her and any disturbance to sacred grove causes failure to agricultural crops and disease to life stock

BIOLOGY

Area of the sacred groves: Approximately 0.4 ha.

Nature of vegetation cover: Artificially created sacred grove. Cocus nucifera, Mangifera indiga, Eucalyptus sp.

Notes on the preservation status of the sacred grove: Well preserved.

HUMAN HABITATION & COMMUNITY DETAILS

Associated community: Common to all.

Other Information:

GEOGRAPHICAL

Location: Melur taluk/ via: Attappatti 8 km > Melur.

Name and distance from the nearest settlement: Attappatti > 2 km

Distance from the place with transport facilities: Do

RELIGIOUS & CUSTOMS

Name of the aboding deity/ deities: Ayyanar

Name of the primary deity: Do

Note on the belief systems and taboos: The felling of tree is prohibited. Footwear is to be removed at the entrance of the path, leading to the deity. Belief is that the God will punish the offender by bringing illness to him/ her and any disturbance to sacred grove causes failure to agricultural crops and disease to life stock.

BIOLOGY

Area of the sacred groves: Approximately 4.05 ha.

Nature of vegetation cover: Dry Deciduous Forest.

Notes on the preservation status of the sacred grove: Moderately preserved.

HUMAN HABITATION & COMMUNITY DETAILS

Associated community: Kallars.

Other Information: Erudu kattu, Motai, are usually done during the festival time in praising of their deity.

GEOGRAPHICAL

Location: Melur taluk/ via: Kottakudi Melur 15 km > Kottakudi

Name and distance from the nearest settlement: Kottakudi 2 km

Distance from the place with transport facilities: Do

SOCIO-CULTURAL

Name of the aboding deity/ deities: Kali karuppu

Name of the primary deity: Do

Note on the belief systems and taboos: The felling of tree is prohibited. Footwear is to be removed at the entrance of the path, leading to the deity. Animals are not to be harmed. Belief is that the God will punish the offender by bringing illness to him/ her and any disturbance to sacred grove causes failure to agricultural crops and disease to life stock.

BIOLOGY

Area of the sacred groves: Approximately 0.91 ha.

Nature of vegetation cover: Dry Deciduous Forest.

Notes on the preservation status of the sacred grove: Moderately preserved, dense forest patch.

HUMAN HABITATION & COMMUNITY DETAILS

Associated community: Thavar (scheduled community).

Other Information: Thavar community worship the deity. They jointly celebrating the festival.

GEOGRAPHICAL

Location: Melur taluk/ via: Melur 15 km > Kottakudi

Name and distance from the nearest settlement: Kottakudi 2 km

Distance from the place with transport facilities: Do

SOCIO-CULTURAL

Name of the aboding deity/ deities: Nandhi perumal koil

Name of the primary deity: Do

Note on the belief systems and taboos: The felling of tree is strictly prohibited. Footwear is to be removed at the entrance of the path, leading to the deity. Animals are not to be harmed. Belief is that the God will punish the offender by bringing illness to him/ her and any disturbance to sacred grove causes failure to agricultural crops and disease to life stock.

BIOLOGY

Area of the sacred groves: Approximately 2.02 ha.

Nature of vegetation cover: Dry Deciduous Forest.

Notes on the preservation status of the sacred grove: Moderately preserved. Started degrading.

HUMAN HABITATION & COMMUNITY DETAILS

Associated community: Thevar, Kallar, and Maravar.

Other Information: The forest patch is started degraded due to the Granite, quarries, mines, which are adjacent to the grove in recent times.

GEOGRAPHICAL

Location: Melur taluk/ via: Melur > 8 km > Malavalavu

Name and distance from the nearest settlement: Malavalavu 1 km

Distance from the place with transport facilities: Do

RELIGIOUS & CUSTOMS

Name of the aboding deity/ deities: Ayyanar, Karuppanasamy

Name of the primary deity: Ayyanar.

Note on the belief systems and taboos: The felling of tree is prohibited. Footwear is to be removed at the entrance of the path, leading to the deity. Belief is that the God will punish the offender by bringing illness to him/ her and any disturbance to sacred grove causes failure to agricultural crops and disease to life stock.

BIOLOGY

Area of the sacred groves: Approximately 3 ha.

Nature of vegetation cover: Semi Evergreen forest.

Notes on the preservation status of the sacred grove: Moderately preserved.

HUMAN HABITATION & COMMUNITY DETAILS

Associated community: Common to all.

Other Information: Sheep, goat are slottered to deity as an offering during festival.