Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam | 68th Shiva Sthalams(One of the Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam) |
Region | Chola Naadu - North |
Chola Naadu - North | 14th Shiva Sthalam |
Pathigam | Saint Thirugnanasambanthar, Saint Thirunavukarasar (Appar)
and Saint Sundaramurthy (Sundarar) |
HISTORY:
This ancient temple is
more than 1500 years old. There are 12 historical names for this place –
Brahmapuram, Venupuram, Pukali, Venguru, Thonipuram, Poontharaai, Sirapuram,
Puravam, Shanbai, Seekazhi, Kochaivayam and Kazhumalam. This is the birth place
of saint Thirugnanasambanthar. There is a separate temple for him in Sirkazhi. The
name Sirkazhi is derived from Goddess Kali, as she is believed to have
worshiped the lord here (“Sree” is a respectful prefix and “Kali” refers to the
goddess).
Sri
Thoniappar:
It is believed that
there was once a great deluge that submerged the entire earth. During this
incident, Lord Shiva is believed to have carried the 64 arts with him on a raft
(“Thoni” in Tamil) and reached this shrine where he stayed with Goddess
Parvathy. Hence this place gets the name, “Thonipuram” and the lord is praised
as “Sri Thoniappar”.
Lord
Bhairavar:
Lord Bhairavar
(Sattainathar), who is believed to have quelled the arrogance of Lord
Thrivikrama (Ulgalantha Perumal) after his show of dominance over the three
worlds (the emperor Mahabali’s destruction), is worshiped here every Friday
night. A special pooja is conducted in this temple for Sri Sattainathar on
every Friday that continues till midnight. It is considered very auspicious to
worship the lord at this time.
There is also a
separate temple for Sri Ulgalantha Perumal in Sirkazhi.
Sri
Bhramapureeswarar:
Lord Brahma became vain
thinking that he was the greatest among the three lords. To teach him a lesson,
Lord Shiva made him forget the “Pranava Mantra”. Realizing his folly, Brahma
worshipped Lord Shiva here and got his memory restored. Since Lord Brahma is
believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva here, the lord is also praised as “Sri
Bhramapureeswarar”.
People
who worshipped here:
Lord Brahma,
Mahavishnu, Murugan, Indira, Guru Bhagawan, Suryan, Chandran, Rahu, Kethu,
Adisheshan, Goddess Kali, sages Parasara, Romasa, Veda Vyasa and Emperor Sibi
have worshiped the lord of this temple.
Saint
Thirugnanasambanthar:
Saint
Thirugnanasambanthar was born in this place during the 7th century.
Sambanthar was born in a Brahmin family to Sivapada Hrudayar and his wife
Bhagavathiar. Once when Sambanthar was about three years old, his father had
taken him to a nearby Shiva temple. When his father had gone to take a dip in
the “Brahma Theertham” (the temple’s tank), young Sambanthar started crying.
Noticing the crying child, Lord Shiva and his wife Goddess Parvathi appeared
before him.
It is believed that Goddess Parvathi fed him
with wisdom milk (Gnanappaal). When Sambanthar’s father returned, he was
astonished to see drops of milk on the child's mouth. He asked him who had fed
him, whereupon the boy pointed to the sky and responded with a song “Thodudaya
Seviyan” - the first hymn and verse of the revered Devaram.
Sambanthar is also
regarded as an incarnation of Lord Murugan. He is praised as "Ilaya
Pillayar" (younger son) and is also affectionately called “Aaludaya
Pillayar”.
SALIENT FEATURE:
· This is the birth place of the renowned saint Thirugnanasambanthar - the first of the four Samaya Kuravars (Nalvar).
· This is also the birth place of saint Gananatha Nayanar, one of the 63 Nayanmars.
· This temple has the highest number of hymns (devara pathigams) rendered by the Moovar - a tall number of 71 hymns.
· It is believed that there are 22 sacred water bodies (Theerthams) associated with this temple.
· Lord Shiva graces here in three forms - as Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. It is believed that they granted darshan to Saint Thirugnanasambanthar. This place is also revered as “Gurumurtham”.
· Lord Bhairava of this temple is considered to be as significant as the one in Kasi-Varanasi. Special pujas are performed for him here on Ashtami days (eighth day of new moon or full moon fortnight).
· As Lord Shiva of this temple is considered to be the maker of all laws (“Sattam” in Tamil), he is also praised here as Sri Satta Nathar.
· There is a 3-tiered shrine in this temple. In the first tier, Sri Bhramapureeswarar, is present in the form of a lingam along with Goddess Thirunilai Nayagi. The second tier has Sri Periyanayakar (Thoniyappar) with Goddess Periyanayaki on a raft (“Thoni”). Here, Sri Periyanayakar is in the form of a teacher (“Guru”).
· In the third tier, Sri Bhairavar is present as Sattainathar. He is in the unified form (“Sankamam”).
· On one particular day during the 10-day Brahmotsavam festival, the procession idol (Utsavamoorthy) of Saint Thirugnanasambanthar is taken to Sri Thiruthalamudaiyar temple at Thirukkolakka. This is another Devara Paadal Petra Sthalam situated on the outskirts of Sirkazhi. It is believed that here Sambanthar was blessed with the golden plates (Thalam) by the lord and Goddess Parvathy infused divine music into it. This incident is symbolically celebrated on this day here. Thereafter, the procession idol of Sambanthar is brought back to Sirkazhi temple in a flower-bedecked palanquin (“Poo Pallakku”).
· The entrance to the Brahma Theertham (tank) has some beautiful sculptures depicting Lord Brahma’s worship, Saint Sambanthar receiving milk from Goddess Parvathi and the saint pointing towards the lord.
· This is the place where Saint Thirunavukkarasar was affectionately called as “Appa” by Saint Thirugnanasambanthar. This why Saint Thirunavukkarasar gets the name “Appar”.
· Since Sirkazhi is the birth place of saint Thirugnanasambanthar, saint Sundaramurthy Nayanar considered this place to be so sacred that he did not want to soil it by placing his feet there. When he visited this place, he stayed in the outskirts and rendered his hymn from there. It is believed that Lord Shiva was pleased with his hymns and blessed him with his darshan.
· It is from this place that Saint Thiru Neelakanta Yazhpanar, a maestro of the Yazh (a lute) started accompanying saint Thirugnanasambanthar.
· Saint Arunagirinadhar has sang songs in praise of Lord Murugan of this temple in his revered Thirupugazh.
· This is the birth place of Saint Gananatha Nayanar - one of the 63 Nayanmars.
· The Jeeva Samadhi (monument) of Sattai Muni Siddhar, one of the 18 siddhars, is present in this temple with a peeta (stage) above it.
· It is believed that Lord Shiva of this temple has been praised by the following saints - Thirugnanasambanthar, Thirunavukkarasar, Sundaramurthy Nayanar, Manickavasakar, Arunagirinathar, Gananathar, Nambiandar Nambigal, Pattinathar, Sekkizhar, Arunachala Kavi Rayar and Muthu Thandava Dikshithar.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri
Brahmapureeswarar, Sri Uma Maheswarar, Sri Sattainathar, Sri Thoniappar, Sri
Vadukanathar |
|
Ambal |
Sri
Thirunilai Nayagi, Sri Periyanayaki, Sri Sthira Sundari |
|
Theertham |
Brahma
Theertham |
|
Sthala
Vriksham |
Parijadam
/ Pavazhamalli |
BELIEF:
Vanity and arrogance
are often considered to be curses. Devotees believe that worshiping the lord
here helps them to look past their own ignorance.
Devotees involved in
litigation matters seek the lord’s blessings to help them win their
cases.
|
Tamil Month |
English Month |
Festival Name |
|
Chithirai |
April-May |
10-day annual Brahmotsavam “Thirumulaippal
Urchavam” is celebrated |
|
Adi |
July-Aug |
Aadi Puram |
|
Maasi |
Feb-Mar |
Maha Shivrathri |
|
Karthikai |
Nov-Dec |
Karthikai Deepam |
|
Purattasi |
Sep-Oct |
Navarathri |
|
Markazhi |
Dec-Jan |
Thiruvadhirai |
HOW
TO REACH:
Sirkazhi is situated at
a distance of about 20 kms from Mayiladuthurai and 19 kms from Chidambaram. It
is on the Chidambaram to Kumbakonam route.
Sirkazhi has a railway
station and this temple is about 2 kms away from the station.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri Brahmapureeswarar
Temple,
Sri Sattainathaswami Devastghanam,
Sirkazhi,
Nagapattinam,
Tamil Nadu – 609110.
LOCATION:
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