Ūthiyūr Hills
Poṉṉūthi Hills
Ūthiyūr Hills Tamil Nadu,  India
Highest point
Elevation	310m
Coordinates	10°53′25″N 77°30′48″E / 10.8903°N 77.5132°E / 10.8903; 77.5132
Naming
Etymology	ūthi
Nickname	Uuthi Malai, Uuthigiri, Ponnuthi mamalai[1]
Language of name	Tamil
Geography
Location	Tamil Nadu,  India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Tiruppur
Parent range	Uthiyur Hills Range

Uthiyur Hills also known as Poṉṉūthi Hills, Uuthi Malai ^[2] are a range of mountains in the Kongu Region and span the Tiruppur district of Tamil Nadu. The hills is under control of Anamalai Tiger Reserves.^[3]

The hills got its name as it is the place where Lord Murugan arose due to the use of herbs and blow the smoke for the benefit of the people. Uuthi in Tamil means Blowing. It is commonly known as Poṉṉūdhimalai in Tamil.^[4]

Located here is the shrine of Lord Murugan, the holy place where classical Tamil poet Arunagirinathar sung Thiruppugazh(106). This hills is also home to Thavapeedam of Kongana Siddhar, one of the 18 great Siddhars. Ancient symbols and sculptures are found on this hill depicting the culture of the Hindus and Tamils.^[5] Various archeological sculptures around the hill bear historical pride.^[6] The speciality of this pilgrimage is the clay pipes which Konguna siddhar used to make gold still exists here.^[7][8][9]

Mythology

The famous mythology about the Uthiyur hills is based on Hindu epic Ramayana. During the great Ramayana war between Rama and Ravana in Ceylon, Rama's brother Lakshmana was struck by an arrow sent by Indrajit and he almost died. So to cure him, Jambavan asked Hanuman to get a Sanjeevani herb from the Himalayan Range between Taurus and Kailash peaks and Hanuman followed it. But he could not find the herb in the particular place on the mountain between the 2 peaks. So frustrated he felt like breaking the mountain into pieces. But he suddenly had the idea to lift the whole mountain and take it to Jambavan, and he did. When he flew the entire length of India from the Himalayas to Sri Lanka a few parts of the mountain fell in several places along the length. One of them was in Kongu region named as Poṉṉūthi malai. As soon as Hanuman left, Jambavan took the Sanjeevani herb from the hill and gave its juice to the entire battalion and saved everyone's life.^[10][11][12]

The hill, to this day, contains all the medicinal plants including Sanjeevani herb.^{[13][14][15][16]}

Due to presence of many medicinal plants it is called as Sanjeevi Hill of South.^[17]

Temples

There are many temples across the wide Uthiyur hills maintained by Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department of Government of Tamil Nadu. Few important ones are Uthanda Velayudhasamy Temple, Chetti Thambiran Siddhar Temple and Uchi Pilayar Temple.^[18]

Located here is the shrine of Lord Murugan, the holy place where classical Tamil poet Arunagirinathar sung Thiruppugazh(106). Ancient symbols and sculptures are found on this hill depicting the culture of the Hindus and Tamils.^[19]

References