Sirkazhi, also known as Shiyali in olden days, is a city and a municipality in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Sattainathar Temple

Sirkali Bhramapureeswarar is an ancient temple complex with 3 different Shiva Shrines. The temple is very bi. If one want to see it completely then it would take around 3 hours. The Bhramapureeswarar shrine is housed in the lower level. The second level houses Periyanakar with Periyanayaki on a ‘Thoni’, hence the name Thoniappar. Sattainathar/Vatukanathar is also housed here. From the steps leading to the Toniappar and the Vatukanathar shrine, one can grasp the entire layout of this vast temple and its towers and mandapams. There are 22 Theerthams associated with this shrine. Three different forms of Shiva are worshipped here, the Shivalingam (Bhrammapureeswarar), a colossal image of Uma Maheswarar which is 16 ft tall (Thoniappar and Uma in medidating posture) in the first floor, and Bhairavar (Sattanathar in Nirvana posture) in the second floor.

The temple has 3 vast courtyards with high walls of enclosure. There are two sets of 7 tiered gopurams in the outer walls of the enclosure. The original shrine during the period of the Nayanmars included the shrine of Bhrammapureeswarar, on the southern bund of the temple tank; the Toniappar shrine on a mound west of the central shrine, and the Sattanathar shrine in the second floor reached from the southern prakaram of the Toniappar shrine by a flight of steps. The enlargement of the original temple happened during the period of Kulottunga I, Vikrama Chola, Kulottunga II and III (as in Chidambaram – 11th through the 13th centuries). The temple is a holy site for Hinduism and thousands of devotees come to pay homage to the deities.

This is the place where Thirugnanasambandar was fed the gnana pal ( holy milk) be mother godess Uma maheswari.

Thirukkazhiseerama Vinnagaram Temple

There is Perumaltemple also available inside the town. This temple comes under 108 divya desams. Perumal standing in a posture called Ulagalanda Perumal in this temple. A small anjeneyar temple also available just opposite to this temple.

In and around the town of Sirkazhi are twelve divya desams known collectively as Tirunaangur divya desams. In ancient times, this town had 12 different names, including Brahmapuram,Venupuram,Thonipuram, Kazhumalam, Pugali, and Shri Kali. In addition, a large, ancient Siva Temple (Thirukolakka) is there. Sirkazhi is located near other famous temples: just 20 km away is the Ancient Chidambaram Nataraja Temple; 30 km away is the Thirunallar Saneswarn Bahvan Temple, and 6 km away is located is the famous Vaitheswarn Kovil. In south Sirkali has new Anjaneya Temple with a large Anjaneya Statue of 33 feet near Sabari Nagar.

Sattainathar Temple Photos