rukkoilur a small town studded with number of temples both Vaishnava and Saiva sects, was once a capital of an important chieftain Malayaman of Sangam age datable to 3rd century BCE to 3rd century CE. To corroborate this, a Tamil Brahmi inscription at Jambai (near Tirukkovilur ) mentions about the king Athiyaman Neduman Anchi as Sathiya Puto Atiyan Neduman Anjihi Itta Pali. Malaiyaman Tirumudikkari was the illustrious ruler of this dynasty. The Sangam works speak of the invasion of Tirukkoilur and defeat of Malayaman Tirumudikkari by Neduman Anji, king of Takadur (modern Dharmapuri) who is said to have offered Avvaiyar, the celebrated poetess (of that period), a myrobalan (gooseberry) fruit to increase her longevity.

Tirukkoilur seems to have been as important a religious center as Kanchipuram in Tondaimandalam. There is ample evidence to prove that Vaishnavism, Saivism and Jainism had flourished at this center. It is said the Mudal Alvars, the first three Alvars, (Poigai, Butham and Pei) were made to meet by the grace of Almighty in one place at Tirukkoilur and in ecstasy they sang poems on Ulagalanda perumal; these songs were known as Divyaprabhandam. The presiding deity of the temple Tiruvikrama Perumal is still a wooden image and this retains its ancient character.

Tirukkoilur, which is also famous for Saivism, was sung by the Saiva saints as one of the Ashtavirattanams.

Antiquities on Display

Fibre models of Kabilarkunru, Excavated objects at Tirukkoilur, Mother Goddess from Udaiyanatham.