Sattainadhar Sirkazhi

Sattainadhar, Sirkazhi

Padal Petra Sthalam, Nagapattinam District

God

Brahmapureeswarar, facing east

Goddess

Periyanayagi, Thirunilainayagi, facing east

Other Deities

Thoniappar, Sattainadhar, Thirugnanasambandar, Vinayaka, Muruga, 63 Nayanmars, Saptamadar, Gajalakshmi, Devendralingam, Bairava, Surya, Kalipureeswarar, Nataraja, Dakshinamurthy, Lingotbavar, Durha, Navagrahas

Sattainadhar Sirkazhi temple and town is known by 12 names – Brahmapuram, Thonipuram, Pugalinagar, Venguru, Poontharai, Sirapuram, Puravam, Shanpai, Seekazhi, Kochaivayam, Kazhumalam. A 5 tier rajagopuram welcomes you and it is a wonderful sight inside with the large temple tank and the three tiered sanctum sanctorum. This is where Thirugnanasambandar (7th Century CE) was born. The ground level has the main deity. The upper level has Thoniappar with Umadevi and the top level has Sattainadhar. The Goddess is in a separate shrine west of the temple tank.

Holy Water (Theertham) – Brahmatheertham and 21 other Theerthams

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Parijatham (Nyctanthes arbor-tristis), Moongil (Bamboo – Bambusa sps)

History

The earliest mention of Sattainadhar Sirkazhi is found in the history of the Chola King Kochengannan from the Sangam Age (3rd century BCE to 4th century CE). The enlargement of the original temple happened during the period of Kulothunga Chola I, Vikrama Chola, Kulothunga Chola II and Kulothunga Chola III. The town has been ruled by the Medieval Cholas, Later Cholas, Later Pandyas, the Vijayanagar Empire, the Marathas and the British. The great Saiva Saint Tirugnanasambandar, foremost of the Saiva Nayanars, was born here in the 7th century CE. The Chola Kings ruled over the region for more than four centuries, from 850 to 1280 CE, and were well known temple patrons. There are 41 inscriptions from the Chola era in Sattainadhar Sirkazhi that record various gifts like land, sheep, cow and oil to the temple. Thevaram Hymns have been rendered for the lord here at Sattainadhar Sirkazhi by Thirugnanasambandar, Thirunavukkarasar and Sundarar (7th – 8th Century CE).

Legend

It is believed that during one of the biggest Pralayam (Deluge) that submerged the planet, Lord Shiva is said to have carried the 64 arts on a Thoni (raft) and thus the presiding deity is called “Thoniappar”. Brahma is believed to have worshiped Shiva here at Sattainadhar Sirkazhi, giving the name “Bhramapureeswarar” Shiva is believed to have subdued the arrogance of Vishnu, after showing his dominance over the three worlds and hence the name “Sattainathar”. Thirugnanasambandar, as an infant, is believed to have been fed with the milk of wisdom by the divine mother Parvati on the banks of the temple tank. His father saw the drops of milk on the child’s mouth and asked who had fed him. Thirugnanasambandar pointed to the sky and responded with the song ‘Thodudaya Seviyan’, the first verse of the Thevaram.

Directions

Sattainadhar Sirkazhi is about 19 Kilometers south of Chidambaram after you cross the Kollidam River.

Stay and Food

There are a few good restaurants in Sirkazhi. There is a small and nice hotel just after you cross a bridge across the Uppanar River after Sirkazhi towards Vaitheeswaran Kovil.

Padal Petra Sthalams

Tamilnadu Temples