Heritage Activities 

Kumbakonam is known for eminent personalities from various fields and Tamil Literature.The legends 
such as Mathematician Ramanujam, Advocate Alladi Ayyangar, C.P.Ramasamy Iyyer and Tamil Scholar 
U .Ve. Saminatha Iyyer hails from this temple town. The residence of Thiru. Ramanujam located at 
Sarangapani Sannathi Street is lying unnoticed and the same condition prevails for the residences of 
other personalities too. Therefore, the government needs to take initiative to acquire the places, to 
create memorials for these personalities so as to pay respect for their valuable services rendered to 
the society and the nation. Handicrafts Apart from being a corner stone of our culture and heritage, 
handicrafts represent a major economic activity in terms of people employed and value of goods
produced.This section analyses the handicrafts work carried out in Kumbakonam, which can broadly
be grouped into two major categories namely Silk Weaving, and Bronze works. 

Handloom (Silk Weaving) 

Kumbakonam is well known for Silk Weaving activity since time immemorial and the Sarees made from 
this temple town are well known as "Thirupuvanam Sarees" in the market. At present, silk weaving 
activity  forms the second largest sector next to agriculture in Kumbakonam. According to statistics
from the co-operative societies, there are about 5000 families employed directly/indirectly in the 
Handloom activities in Kumbakonam, and nearly 50 lakhs of Sarees are being produced annually,and 
re exported to local and overseas markets. In Thuvarakurichi, the famous weaver settlements; the 
streets are formed in such a way that it acts as a workspace for weaving activity. Apart from these 
areas, Nayanakara Chetty Street, and Old Aranmanai Street (near Kambatta Viswanathar Koil) are 
enriched with the traditional Chetty Nadu mansions of Nagarathar. Birman Koil, Karumpaiyira 
Vinayakar Temple, Kalika Parameswari Koil, etc., are the local community temples located within 
these traditional fabrics.

Bronze Works

Bronze works In the chiselled splendour and symmetrical form, the bronze of Tamil Nadu testify to 
the grandeur of an art form that reached the peak of perfection even thousand years ago. 
Though the art of making Bronze images date back to antiquity and was well known in many centres 
in the sub-continent, Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu holds a pride of place. The icon makers of 
Swamimalai (Kumbakonam)  have an outstanding performance and practice the traditional activity 
for decades together. The Stapathis of Kumbakonam belongs to the community of Viswakarma and 
claims descent from this celestial architect, who is said to be the Builder of the palaces of the gods. 
The process and guidelines for practising the art,the rules on iconometry and iconography have 
been carefully set down in Silpha   Shastra and Agamas. This art flourished and reached the heights 
during golden ages of Raja Raja I and Rajendra I. But during Vijaya Nagar period this art declined 
slowly and the advent of the British spelt a death knell to this art.The Tamil Nadu Handicrafts 
Development Corporation (Poompuhar) was set-up in Swamimalai in 50's to train artisans and 
to foster the art. Generally the temples, offices and hotels are the main buyers of bronze works. 
Malasiya and Singapore are the main market places of export for the bronze work. However, 
when compared    to the Handicrafts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajastan, Tamil Nadu Bronze having less    
opportunity in the export market.Therefore, the government needs to take appropriate initiatives to 
tap the market potential for the bronze work in other countries

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