Ilaiyangudi (or "Ilayangudi") is a town in Sivaganga district, Tamil Nadu state, India. It is the center of government for the surrounding tehsils. The town has a predominant Muslim population. Islam was introduced to Ilayangudi during the 15th and 16th centuries by Arab traders. The Tamil Muslim community was traditionally engaged in Business. Bazaar(Kadai Theru) is the central business district. Location Ilaiyankudi is located at . It has an average elevation of . The town lies in the southern part of Tamil Nadu state, approximately from the Palk Strait. Its nearest city is Paramakudi around 10 Kilometers and Madurai, approximately to the northwest. The Vaigai river is located approximately southwest of the town, flowing in a south-easterly direction towards the Palk Straight. The town is located near the junction of the state roads 29 and 34, linking Paramakudi to the south and Manamadurai, Sivagangai and Kalayarkovil to the north. History Ilaiyangudi is first recorded in the 3rd century BCE. In the 1st century BCE, followers of the Jain faith reached Tamil Nadu. Iconography of Mahavira (the ascetic Jain monk) from this time is found in Ilaiyangudi. for instance, a Mahavira statue is found outside the main Hindu temple. In general, Buddhist iconography is not found in Ilaiyangudi. However, the town's public water tank is called the therar oorani. The similar word thearar is a Tami term for a Buddhist monk. The Rajendra Chola Eswara Temple, the main Hindu temple in Ilaiyangudi, was built by King Rajendra Chola I (1012 CE 1044 CE). It may have been a Jain temple converted to a Shivan temple by the king. The Manju Puthur Chettiyars, the Chettiyars of Ilayangudi were a Jain clan who converted to Shaivism. In Ilaiyangudi, there is an edict engraved on stone which dates to the 11th century. The 63 nayanmars were Hindu saints of Tamil Nadu who were devoted to Shiva. The fourth was Ilayankudi Maranar. He lived in the 12th century CE and as his name suggests, he was born in Ilayangudi. A Muslim population may have existed in the town in the 7th and 8th centuries CE. They were people who converted from Jainism to Islam. During the rule of the Kalabhra dynasty these people were textile weavers. However, in the 15th century CE, a larger population of Muslims migrated to Ilaiyangudi from nearby areas. Approximately forty families left more southern regions due to drought and moved