PrepMaticTamil Nadu GK · Culture, people & symbols
State symbols of Tamil Nadu: animal, bird, flower, tree and more
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Tamil Nadu's state animal is the Nilgiri tahr, the state bird is the emerald dove, the state flower is the glory lily (Kanthal), the state tree is the palmyra and the state fruit is the jackfruit. The state butterfly is the Tamil Yeoman, the state dance is Bharatanatyam, the state game is kabaddi (Sadugudu) and the state song is "Tamil Thai Vazhthu". The emblem shows the tower of the Srivilliputhur Andal temple.
Symbols table
| Symbol | Name | Scientific or Tamil name | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| State animal | Nilgiri tahr | Nilgiritragus hylocrius; Varaiaadu | A mountain goat of the Western Ghats; found in the Nilgiris, Anamalai and other high ranges |
| State bird | Emerald dove | Chalcophaps indica; Marakatha Pura | A forest dove of green wings |
| State flower | Glory lily | Gloriosa superba; Kanthal (Senkanthal) | A climbing lily with red and yellow flowers |
| State tree | Palmyra palm | Borassus flabellifer; Panai | Linked with the Sangam-age Chera garland and with Tamil palm-leaf manuscripts |
| State fruit | Jackfruit | Artocarpus heterophyllus; Pala | One of the three "mukkani" (mango, banana, jackfruit) of Tamil tradition |
| State butterfly | Tamil Yeoman | Cirrochroa thais; Tamil Maravan | Declared in 2019; found in the Western Ghats |
| State dance | Bharatanatyam | Classical dance | See classical and folk dances |
| State game | Kabaddi | Sadugudu | A contact team sport |
| State song | "Neeraarum Kadaluduththa" (Tamil Thai Vazhthu) | From Manonmaniam by P. Sundaram Pillai | Adopted as the state song in 1970; music by M. S. Viswanathan |
| State emblem | Gopuram of the Andal temple, Srivilliputhur | Motto "Vaimaiye Vellum" | Truth alone triumphs |
| State language | Tamil | Classical language (2004) | Official language of the state |
Notes on the most-asked items
- Nilgiri tahr. It is a mountain goat found only in the Western Ghats. In Tamil Nadu it lives in the Nilgiris and Anamalai hills, with Mukurthi National Park in the Nilgiris as a stronghold. A common trap: Eravikulam National Park, its best-known home, is in Kerala, not Tamil Nadu.
- Emerald dove. The state bird of Tamil Nadu is a dove, not a peafowl or a roller, which is a common slip in quick revision.
- Glory lily. The Tamil name is Kanthal or Senkanthal, and the plant appears in the Sangam anthology Kurinjippattu.
- Palmyra. The Tamil name is Panai, and the palm is nicknamed the "tree of life" in the Tamil country because every part is used.
- Tamil Thai Vazhthu. The lines come from Manonmaniam, a verse play by P. Sundaram Pillai (1855 to 1897). Its use as the invocation song of state functions began in 1970. In 2021, the state issued orders on respectful singing of the song.
- The emblem. The Srivilliputhur gopuram sits on a circular base, with the Tamil motto Vaimaiye Vellum below. The same Srivilliputhur temple is on the important temples of Tamil Nadu list.
How to remember them
- Keep a four-line mnemonic: tahr, dove, lily, palm, for the animal, bird, flower and tree.
- Group the "state" sports and arts: kabaddi (game), Bharatanatyam (dance), Tamil Thai Vazhthu (song).
- Link each symbol with one place: Nilgiris (tahr), Srivilliputhur (emblem), Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli (palmyra country).
Frequently asked questions
What is the state animal of Tamil Nadu?
The Nilgiri tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius), locally called Varaiaadu.
What is the state bird of Tamil Nadu?
The emerald dove, Marakatha Pura in Tamil.
What is the state flower of Tamil Nadu?
The glory lily, called Kanthal or Senkanthal in Tamil.
What does the Tamil Nadu emblem show?
The gopuram of the Srivilliputhur Andal temple, with the motto "Vaimaiye Vellum".
Where is this topic in the TNPSC syllabus?
It sits under Tamil Nadu's culture and heritage, together with the TNPSC Tamil Nadu history, culture and heritage guide.
Official sources
- Tamil Nadu Government portal: state profile and symbols.
- Tamil Nadu Forest Department: wildlife and state animal, bird and butterfly.
- India.gov.in: State symbols: national portal listing state animals, birds and flowers.
Lists of state symbols are fixed by government orders, so check the official portal for any change.
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