Koil
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Koil or Koyil or Kovil, (meaning: residence of God[N 1]) is the Tamil term for a distinct style of Hindu temple with Dravidian architecture. Both the terms koyil (கோயில், kōyil) and kovil (கோவில், kōvil)[1] are used interchangeably. In Tamil, kōvil (wikt:ta:கோவில்)[2] is the word derived, according to the rules of Tamil grammar.[N 2]
Description
In contemporary Tamil, the term 'kōvil' is also used to refer to "Place of Worship". In modern formal speech, kōvil is also referred to as aalayam, dheva sthaanam by many Hindus. Ambalam is another term used by devotees of the 19th century Tamil monk Vallalar. Another term is 'Thali', (தளி)[3][4] which also means temple.
For
In Tamil Nadu, India, the term "kovil" is commonly used to refer to the famous Hindu temples in the region, such as The Parthasarathy Temple, Chennai , the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur,[5] and the Narasimhaswamy Temple, Namakkal are important cultural and religious landmarks, and attract thousands of visitors each year.
There are over 36,488 Temples in Tamil Nadu alone as registered by
The most ancient temples were built of wood as well as brick and mortar.
See also
- Dravidian architecture
- Architecture of Tamil Nadu
- Hindu temple § South Indian and Sri Lankan temples
Notes
- ^ The modern Tamil word for Hindu temple is kōvil (Tamil: கோவில்) meaning "the residence of God". In ancient Tamil Nadu, the king (கோ, Kō) was considered to be a ‘representative of God on earth' and lived in a kōvil, which also means "king’s house". Old words for king like Kō (கோ "King"), Iṟai (இறை "Emperor") and Āṇṭavan (ஆண்டவன் "Conqueror") are now primarily used to refer to God.
- ^ "உடம்படுமெய்ப் புணர்ச்சி" என்ற தமிழ் இலக்கண விதிப்படி, "வ்" வரும், கோ + இல் = கோவில். உடம்படு மெய்: நிலைமொழியில் இ, ஈ, ஐ, இருந்தால் "ய்" யும்; ஏனைய உயிர்கள் (அ, ஆ, உ, ஊ, ஓ) இருந்தால் "வ்"வும்; "ஏ' இருந்தால் இரண்டும் (ஏதாவது ஒன்று) உடம்படு மெய்யாக வரும்.
References
- ^ Koyil or kovil, which is correct? கோயில், கோவில்; எது சரி? Dinamani.com newspaper's Kadhir supplement.
- ^ Correct word- Koyil or kovil? எது சரி? கோயிலா அல்லது கோவிலா? Dinamani.com newspaper's Tamil mani supplement.
- ^ Thali, தளி= Kovil, given at Wiktionary wikt:ta:தளி and ValaiTamil.com Tamil dictionary.
- ^ Metraleeswar temple, Kanchipuram. மேற்கு தளி, மெற்றாளி.
- ^ "Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur". Kovils. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
- ^ "The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Remains of ancient temple found". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016.
External links
- Media related to Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu by district at Wikimedia Commons