World › India
Udaiyarappan Sacred Grove
Kilbhuvanagiri (Keezh Bhuvanagiri) village, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu
India
Active
Single grove
- Location
- Kilbhuvanagiri (Keezh Bhuvanagiri) village, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu
- Coordinates
- ~11.4°N 79.7°E
- Size
- 1.1 ha (orig. ~10 acres, now ~2.47 acres)
- Age / Founded
- >200 years (memorial grove to folk hero)
- Status
- Active
- Deity & Religion
- Udaiyarappan (folk hero) + Aiyanar, Pavadairayan, Veeran, Petchi, Moochi, Saptha Kanniga; Hindu folk (no temple by oracle's decree)
- Community & Guardians
- Vanniyar community (priests); ~1,600 households
- Vernacular name
- Kovilkadu / Koil Kadu
- Record type
- Single grove
Cultural practices & uses
Friday offerings (coconut, banana; goat/fowl sacrifice); Thai festival (Jan15–Feb15); weavers offer yarn
Plant species
Flacourtia indica, Strebulus asper, Tamarindus indica, Tinospora cordifolia, Lannea coromandelica, Coccinia grandis, Jasminum auriculatum
Biome & fauna
Tamil Nadu tropical dry forest; irrigation-canal water source
Threats & protection
Area shrunk from 10 acres to ~2.47 acres
Source
Amirthalingam M. 2011, Eco News 17(3):9-10 (CPREEC)