 Tiru means 'holy' or 'sacred' and is traditionally used in front of names in many parts of Tamil Nadu.Thirumayam, a town panchayat and also the Taluk headquarters of the eponymous "Vattam" (sub-district), lies 20 km south of Pudukkottai, on the road from that town to Karaikudi.This is actually National Highway NH-210, which connects Tiruchirapalli and Rameshwaram.