located_in_the_administrative_territorial_entity thiruvedagam
___MASK87___ ___MASK57___ is the area encompassing the Indian states of ___MASK16___ , Andhra Pradesh , Karnataka , Kerala , and Telangana as well as the union territories of Andaman and Nicobar , Lakshadweep and Puducherry , occupying 19 . 31 % of ___MASK57___ ' s area . Covering the southern part of the peninsular Deccan Plateau , ___MASK87___ ___MASK57___ is bounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east , the Arabian Sea in the west and the Indian Ocean in the south . The geography of the region is diverse with two mountain ranges - the Western and Eastern Ghats , bordering the plateau heartland . Godavari , Krishna , Kaveri , Tungabhadra and Vaigai rivers are important non - perennial sources of water . Bangalore , Chennai , Hyderabad , Visakhapatnam , Vijayawada , Coimbatore and Kochi are the largest urban areas . A khanqah or khaniqah ( also transliterated as khankahs , khaneqa , khanegah or khaneqah ), also known as a ribat  among other terms  is a building designed specifically for gatherings ___MASK66___ a Sufi brotherhood or " tariqa " and is a place for spiritual retreat and character reformation . In the past , and to a lesser extent nowadays , they often served as hospices for salik ( Sufi travelers ) and talibe ( Islamic students ). Khanqahs are very often found adjoined to dargahs ( shrines ___MASK66___ Sufi saints ), mosques and madrasas ( Islamic schools ). ___MASK33___ is an administrative district of ___MASK16___ state in southern India . The city of Ramanathapuram is the district headquarters . Ramanthapuram District has an area of 4123 km . It is bounded on the north by Sivaganga District , on the northeast by Pudukkottai District , on the east by the Palk Strait , on the south by the Gulf of Mannar , on the west by Thoothukudi District , and on the northwest by Virudhunagar District . The district contains the Pamban Bridge , an east - west chain of low islands and shallow reefs that extend between India and the island nation of Sri Lanka , and separate the Palk Strait from the Gulf of Mannar . The Palk Strait is navigable only by shallow - draft vessels . As of 2011 , Ramanathapuram district had a population of 1 , 353 , 445 with a sex - ratio of 983 females for every 1 , 000 males . ___MASK6___ is a major city in the ___MASK89___ state of ___MASK16___ . It is the administrative headquarters of ___MASK6___ District . ___MASK6___ is the third largest city by population in ___MASK16___ , and is the 25th populated city in India . Located on the banks of River Vaigai , ___MASK6___ has been a major settlement for two millennia and is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world . ___MASK6___ was the longest continuous capital city until British rule in India , and was the first major settlement in central and southern Asia .. ___MASK6___ has been selected as one of the hundred ___MASK89___ cities to be developed as a smart city under Prime Minister Narendra Modi ' s flagship Smart Cities Mission . Parvati ( IAST : Prvat ) is the Hindu goddess ___MASK66___ fertility , love and devotion ; as well as ___MASK66___ divine strength and power . She is the gentle and nurturing aspect ___MASK66___ the Hindu goddess Shakti and one ___MASK66___ the central deities ___MASK66___ the Goddess - oriented Shakta sect . She is the mother goddess in Hinduism , and has many attributes and aspects . Each ___MASK66___ her aspects is expressed with a different name , giving her over 100 names in regional Hindu stories ___MASK66___ ___MASK57___ . Along with Lakshmi ( goddess ___MASK66___ wealth and prosperity ) and Saraswati ( goddess ___MASK66___ knowledge and learning ), she forms the trinity ___MASK66___ Hindu goddesses ( Tridevi ). Shaivism or aivism (" aiva Patha ", " Shiva ' s Path "), also known as Shivaism and Saivam , is one ___MASK66___ the major branches ___MASK66___ Sanathan Dharma ( Hinduism ), revering Shiva as the Supreme Being . Shiva is sometimes depicted as the fierce god Bhairava . Followers ___MASK66___ Shaivam are called " Shaivas ", " Saivas ", " Shaivites ", or " Saivarkal ". They believe that Shiva is All and in all , the creator , preserver , destroyer , revealer and concealer ___MASK66___ all that is . Shaivism , like some ___MASK66___ the other forms ___MASK66___ Hinduism , spread to other parts ___MASK66___ Southeast Asia , including Java , ___MASK62___ , and parts ___MASK66___ the Southeast Asian continent , including ___MASK5___ . Shiva (    Tamil Sanskrit : , lit . " the auspicious one ") is one ___MASK66___ the principal deities ___MASK66___ Hinduism . He is the supreme God within Shaivism , one ___MASK66___ the three ___MASK52___ influential denominations in contemporary Hinduism . Kadaladi in ___MASK16___ is 90 km from Madurai . Kadaladi is situated between Mudukulathur and Sayalgudi . It is a taluk headquarters and a revenue region of Ramanathapuram district . Thiruvedagam is a village located in between Sholavandan and ___MASK6___ where the Dargah of Syed Sha Husain Parhez Shaheed who came along with Badhusha Sulthan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed of Erwadi is located . It is 18 kilometers away from ___MASK6___ and 3 kilometers away from Sholavandan . It comes under Vadipatti taluk in ___MASK6___ district . It is located at the bank of the ___MASK17___ Vaigai , which flows in the direction North to South here in Thiruvedagam . Here a famous and historical Shiva temple named Thiru Edaganathar temple is located . ___MASK57___ , officially the Republic of ___MASK57___ (" Bhrat Gaarjya "), is a country in South Asia . It is the seventh - largest country by area , the second - most populous country ( with over 1 . 2 billion people ), and the most populous democracy in the world . It is bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south , the Arabian Sea on the ___MASK53___ , and the Bay of Bengal on the southeast . It shares land borders with Pakistan to the west ; ___MASK21___ , Nepal , and Bhutan to the northeast ; and Myanmar ( Burma ) and Bangladesh to the east . In the Indian Ocean , ___MASK57___ is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives . ___MASK57___ ' s Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border with Thailand and Indonesia . Its capital is New Delhi ; other metropolises include Mumbai , Kolkata , Chennai , Bangalore , Hyderabad and Ahmedabad . Sholavandan is a panchayat town in ___MASK6___ district in the ___MASK89___ state of ___MASK16___ . It is located on the left bank of the Vaigai River , sixteen miles north west of ___MASK6___ . It is one of 12 " town - panchayats " of ___MASK6___ district . A dervish or darvesh ( from , " Darvsh " via Turkish , , , "") is someone guiding a Sufi Muslim ascetic down a " path " or " Tariqah ", known for their extreme poverty and austerity . Their focus is on the universal values ___MASK66___ love and service , deserting the illusions ___MASK66___ ego to reach God . In ___MASK52___ Sufi orders , a dervish is known to practice dhikr through physical exertions or religious practices to attain the ecstatic trance to reach God . Their ___MASK52___ common practice is Sama which is associated with Rumi . A Hindu ___MASK8___ or mandir is a structure designed to bring human beings and gods together , using symbolism to express the ideas and beliefs ___MASK66___ Hinduism . The symbolism and structure ___MASK66___ a Hindu ___MASK8___ are rooted in Vedic traditions . A ___MASK8___ incorporates all elements ___MASK66___ Hindu cosmos - presenting the good , the evil and the human , as well as the elements ___MASK66___ Hindu sense ___MASK66___ cyclic ___MASK34___ and the essence ___MASK66___ life - symbolically presenting dharma , kama , artha , moksa , and karma . A shrine (" case or chest for books or papers "; Old French : " escrin " " box or case ") is a holy or sacred place , which is dedicated to a specific deity , ancestor , hero , martyr , saint , daemon , or similar figure ___MASK66___ awe and respect , at which they are venerated or worshipped . Shrines often contain idols , relics , or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated . A shrine at which votive offerings are made is called an altar . Shrines are found in many ___MASK66___ the world ' s religions , including Christianity , Islam , Hinduism , Buddhism , Chinese folk religion , Shinto , and Asatru as well as in secular and non - religious settings such as a war memorial . Shrines can be found in various settings , such as churches , temples , cemeteries , or in the home , although portable shrines are also found in some cultures . Ramanathapuram , also known as Ramnad , is a city and a municipality in ___MASK33___ in the Indian state of ___MASK16___ . It is the administrative headquarters of ___MASK33___ and the second largest town ( by population ) in ___MASK33___ . census , the town had a population of 61 , 440 . Density of population : 320 people per square kilometer ; Literacy Rate : 81 . 48 % - Male : 87 . 89 %, Female : 74 . 93 %; Male Female Ratio : 1000 : 977 . Ramanathapuram is the top producer of chilli pepper in ___MASK16___ . It is connected to other cities by NH - 49 . Sanskrit ( English pronunciation :; written in Devanagari script ; : or ', originally ', " refined speech ") is the primary sacred language ___MASK66___ Hinduism and " Mahyna " Buddhism , a philosophical language in Hinduism , Jainism , Buddhism and Sikhism . It was also a literary language that was in use as a " lingua franca " in ancient and medieval South Asia . It is a standardised dialect ___MASK66___ Old Indo - Aryan , originating as Vedic Sanskrit and tracing its linguistic ancestry back to Proto - Indo - Iranian and Proto - Indo - European . Today it is listed as one ___MASK66___ the 22 scheduled languages ___MASK66___ ___MASK57___ and is an official language ___MASK66___ the state ___MASK66___ Uttarakhand . As one ___MASK66___ the oldest Indo - European languages for which substantial written documentation exists , Sanskrit holds a prominent position in Indo - European studies . The Tevaram denotes the first seven volumes ___MASK66___ the " Tirumurai ", the twelve - volume collection ___MASK66___ Tamil aiva devotional poetry . All seven volumes are dedicated to the works ___MASK66___ the three ___MASK52___ prominent Tamil poets ___MASK66___ the 7th century , the Nayanars - Sambandar , Tirunavukkarasar and Sundarar . The singing ___MASK66___ " Tevaram " is continued as a hereditary practise in some Shiva temples in ___MASK16___ . ___MASK16___ ( English pronunciation : ; ""; : ; literally ' The Land of Tamils ' or ' Tamil Country ') is one of the 29 states of India . Its capital and largest city is Chennai ( formerly known as Madras ). ___MASK16___ lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Puducherry and the South Indian states of Kerala , Karnataka , and Andhra Pradesh . It is bounded by the Eastern Ghats on the north , by the Nilgiri , the Anamalai Hills , and Kerala on the west , by the Bay of Bengal in the east , by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait on the southeast , and by the Indian Ocean on the south . The state shares a maritime border with the nation of Sri Lanka . A saint , also historically known as a hallow , is a term used for a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree ___MASK66___ holiness or likeness to God . Depending on the context and denomination , the term also retains its original Christian meaning , as any believer who is " in Christ " and in whom Christ dwells , whether in Heaven or on Earth . In Anglican , Roman Catholic , Eastern Orthodox , Lutheran , and ___MASK29___ Orthodox doctrine , all ___MASK66___ their faithful deceased in Heaven are considered to be saints , but some are considered worthy ___MASK66___ greater honor or emulation ; official ecclesiastical recognition , and consequently veneration , is given to some saints through the process ___MASK66___ canonization in the Catholic Church or glorification in the Eastern Orthodox Church . Urdu ( or Modern Standard Urdu ) is a standardised register ___MASK66___ the Hindustani language . It is the and " lingua franca " ___MASK66___ ___MASK100___ , and an official language ___MASK66___ six states ___MASK66___ ___MASK57___ . It is also one ___MASK66___ the 22 official languages recognized in the Constitution ___MASK66___ ___MASK57___ . ___MASK86___ , Rampur , Badayun , Bhopal and Lucknow are noted Urdu - speaking cities ___MASK66___ ___MASK57___ . The Nayanars ( alt . Nayanmars , Tamil :          , lit . " hounds ___MASK66___ Siva ", later " teachers ___MASK66___ Siva ") were a group ___MASK66___ 63 saints ( also saint poets ) in the 6th to 8th century who were devoted to the Hindu god Shiva in ___MASK16___ . They , along with the Alvars , influenced the Bhakti movement in Tamil . The names ___MASK66___ the Nayanars were first compiled by Sundarar . The list was expanded by Nambiyandar Nambi during his compilation ___MASK66___ material by the poets for the " Tirumurai " collection , and would include Sundarar himself and Sundarar ' s parents . In Islam , Ziyrah or Ziyarat (" visit ") is a form ___MASK66___ pilgrimage to sites associated with Muhammad , his family members and descendants ( including the Sh   Imms ), his companions and other venerated figures in Islam such as the prophets , Sufi Saints and Islamic scholars . Sites ___MASK66___ pilgrimage include mosques , graves , battlefields , mountains , and caves . ___MASK6___ district is second largest in population of the 32 districts of the state of ___MASK16___ , in southeastern India . The city of ___MASK6___ serves as the district headquarters . It houses the world - famous Sri Meenakshi Sundareshwarar temple and is situated on the banks of the river Vaigai . Thiruparankundram is one of the major tourist place in the district . As of 2011 , the district had a population of 3 , 038 , 252 with a sex - ratio of 990 females for every 1 , 000 males . Aside from the city of ___MASK6___ , the larger towns are Melur , Avaniapuram , Thirumangalam and Usilampatti . It is an important hub for various film shootings . A Dargah (" dargâh " or " dargah ", also in Urdu ) is a shrine built over the ___MASK44___ ___MASK66___ a revered religious figure , often a Sufi saint or dervish . Muslims may visit the shrine for ziyarat , a term associated with religious visits and pilgrimages . Dargahs are often associated with Sufi meeting rooms and hostels , called " khanqah " or hospices . They usually include a mosque , meeting rooms , Islamic religious schools ( madrassas ), residences for a teacher or caretaker , hospitals , and other buildings for community purposes . Ervadi or Erwadi is a village in ___MASK33___ , ___MASK16___ in southern India belonging to Kadaladi Taluk and Keelakarai Town panchayat . The village is the location of the grave and shrine of Qutbus Sultan Syed Ibrahim Shaheed Badusha , the then ruler of Madinah Al Munawwara . Erwadi also belongs to Kadaladi Assembly constituency which is a part of Ramanathapuram ( Lok Sabha constituency ). But after the delimitations in 2009 , Erwadi has been joined to Ramanathapuram assembly constituency . Although a small town , Erwadi is the second largest contributor for the revenue of Ramanthapuram District . The Paadal ___MASK60___ Sthalams are 275 temples that are revered in the verses of Saiva Nayanars in the 6th - 9th century CE and are amongst the greatest Shiva temples of the continent . The Divya Desams by comparison are the 108 Vishnu temples glorified in the poems of the contemporary Vaishnava Alvars of ___MASK16___ , India . Edaganathar ___MASK8___ is a Hindu ___MASK8___ dedicated to the deity Shiva , located in Thiruvedagam , a village in ___MASK6___ district in the South ___MASK89___ state of ___MASK16___ . The ___MASK8___ is located on the banks of Vaigai River . Shiva is worshipped as Edaganathar , and is represented by the " lingam ". His consort Parvati is depicted as Visalakshi . The presiding deity is revered in the 7th century Tamil Saiva canonical work , the " Tevaram ", written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as " Paadal Petra Sthalam ". Hinduism is a religion , or a way ___MASK66___ life , found ___MASK52___ notably in ___MASK57___ and Nepal . Hinduism has been called the oldest religion in the world , and some practitioners and scholars refer to it as "", " the eternal law ," or the " eternal way ," beyond human origins . Scholars regard Hinduism as a fusion or synthesis ___MASK66___ various Indian cultures and traditions , with diverse roots and no founder . This " Hindu synthesis " started to develop between 500 BCE and 300 CE following the Vedic period ( 1500 BCE to 500 BCE ). The Vaigai ( Tamil :    ) is a ___MASK17___ in Madurai , ___MASK16___ state of southern India . It originates in Varusanadu hills , the Periyar Plateau of the Western Ghats range , and flows northeast through the Kambam Valley , which lies between the Palni Hills to the north and the Varushanad Hills to the south . The Vattaparai Falls are located on this ___MASK17___ . As it rounds the eastern corner of the Varushanad Hills , the ___MASK17___ turns southeast , running through the region of Pandya Nadu . Madurai , the largest city in the Pandya Nadu region and its ancient capital , lies on the Vaigai . The ___MASK17___ empties into the Palk Strait in Ramanathapuram District . Ramanathapuram is a Lok Sabha ( Parliament ___MASK66___ ___MASK57___ ) constituency in ___MASK16___ .