Kadayam

Kadayam is a village in the district of Tirunelveli in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. It is known for its association with the Tamil revolutionary poet Subramania Bharati.Origin of the nameHistorically, the region was known as "Kadayan Patti". Kadayan is the caste name of the local population.A local legend says that its people were originally living around the Kalyani Amman temple. However, the temple goddess could not tolerate the noise created by the inhabitants surrounding her. She pulled out a "kadagam" (a bracelet in ancient Tamil) and threw it to a distance away from her temple. She instructed the people to go and reside around the spot where the bracelet fell instead. Thus, this new place became known as Kadagam.Association with Subramania BharatiThe eminent poet and freedom fighter Subramania Bharati once lived in Kadayam, India. Bharati's wife was a native of Kadayam and it is believed that Bharathiar often sang patriotic songs from the rooftop of his in-laws. Sri Subramania Bharathi stayed in Pazhaya Gramam of Kadayam with his family. People who lived in Kadayam during the 1930s & 1940s recollect the days when Sri Subramania Bharathi used to walk to Nithyakalayani Amman Temple and sit on a big, flat, square stone and sing (create history) his several songs, including the famous Kali songs and the Panchali Sabhadam, etc. They also recall his affection towards all living beings, including donkeys. At that time the village had several donkeys, and often Sri Bharathiar would hug the donkeys straying into the Pazhaya gramam. He sang his famous "Chinnanchiru Kiliye," "Odi Vilayadu Pappa," "Kaani Nilam Vendum," songs in the village while his second daughter played in the road outside his house. After his death in Chennai in 1921, his family moved to Kadayam and stayed for about 10 years; after that they shifted residence to Chennai. His descendants are now in Chennai and Mumbai. One of his great-grandsons, Sri Rajkumar Bharathi, shined as a noted Carnatic singer.