Hirekerur is a panchayat town in Haveri district in the Indian state of Karnataka. The name "the village of the big pond" (from the components hire, big; keri, pond; and ur, village). The name is pronounced as "Hee ray kay roor". Hirekerur is located at 1428N 7523E / 14.47N 75.38E / 14.47; 75.38. It has an average elevation of 619metres (2030ft). Varkavi Sarwagnya born near Hirekerur in a Abalur village. Hirekerur is the biggest taluk (128 villages)in Karnataka state. As of 2001, according to the India census, Hirekerur has a population of 15,874. Males constitute 51% of the population and females 49%. Hirekerur has an average literacy rate of 71%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 76%, and female literacy is 66%. In Hirekerur, 13% of the population is under six years of age. The taluq of Hirekerur exerts administrative control over more than 130 villages, making it the largest Taluq (in terms of number of settlements covered) in Karnataka state....