Thiruvaiyaru (also spelled as Tiruvaiyaru or Tiruvayyaru) is a panchayat town in Thanjavur District in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Etymology Thiruvaiyaru means Five Rivers around the city. The Five Rivers are Vadavaar, Vennaar, Vettaar, Kudamurutti and Kaveri. On the highway from Thanjavur, you pass five bridges over the Vadavar, Vettar, Vennar, Kudamurutti and Kaveri, the five rivers from which Thiruvaiyaru gets its name (thiru = sacred; ai(ndhu) = five; aaru = river) History The vast temple in this town, known as "Dakshina Kailasam" (Southern abode of Siva), built in an area of approximately 60,000 square meters, has five prakaram (outer precincts used for religious purposes) and many 'mandapams' (great halls). Several inscriptions in the temple affiliates the temple to the Cholas, Pandyas, and other rulers. Karikala Chola, Rajaraja the Great, Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan, and Krishna Devarayar are associated with Thiruvaiyaru. The temple has two distinct divisions called 'Uttarakailasam' and 'Dakshinakailasam'. Uttarakailasam was built by Rajaraja Chola's chief queen Dantisaktivitanki alias Lokamahadevi in the late 10th century who also made several endowments. It was called Lokamahadevi Isvaram Udaiyar Mahadevar after the queen herself. She endowed several musical instruments during the time of Rajaraja while his daughter Gangamahadevi alias Arumoli Chandramalli gifted several fly-whisks to the presiding deity. Dakshina kailasam was renovated by Rajendra Cholan's queen. The Tevaram trinity (Appar, Sambandar, and Sundarar) have composed more than 100 songs on the presiding deity of this temple town. The town is called as "Ai-aaru" (ஐயாறு), meaning five rivers, by them. Geography Thiruvaiyaru is situated on the banks of the river Kaveri, from North of Thanjavur. Thiruvaiyaru is located at . It has an average elevation of 38 metres (124 feet). Demographics Population The Thiruvaiyaru Town Panchayat has population of 16,164 of which 7,895 are males while 8,269 are females as per report released by Census India 2011. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Thiruvaiyaru has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 70%. In Thiruvaiyaru, 9% of the population is under 6 years of age. Government and politics Thiruvaiyaru is the headquarters of the Thiruvaiyaru taluk. Tiruvaiyaru assembly constituency is part of Thanjavur (Lok Sabha constituency). Police On the law and order front, Thiruvaiyaru has a Munsif court and police stations (including an all women police station) to tackle crime and other issues related