Sirkazhi

Sirkazhi is a municipal town in Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu. Sirkazhi is located 13 km from the coast of the Bay of Bengal, and 250 km from the state capital Chennai. Sirkazhi was a part of Thanjavur district until 1991 and has later been part of Nagapattinam district. The town covers an area of 13.21 sq km and as of 2011 had a population of 34,927 and is administered by a second grade municipality. a Sirkazhi is part of the Cauvery delta region and agriculture is the major occupation. Roads are the main means of transportation; the town has 51.47 km of district roads, including a national highway.

The town is believed to be of significant antiquity and has been ruled by the Medieval Cholas, Later Cholas, Later Pandyas, the Vijayanagar Empire, the Marathas and the British. The Tamil trinity of Carnatic music; Arunachala Kavirayar (1711-78), Muthu Thandavar (1525-1600) and Marimutthu Pillai (1712-87), originated from Sirkazhi. The Saiva saint Tirugnanasambandar, foremost of the Saiva Nayanars, was born here in the seventh century. The history of the town is centred on the Sattainathar Temple, which is dedicated to Hindu god Shiva.

Sattainathar Temple
Sattainathar temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in Sirkali. The temple is incarnated by the hymns of Thevaram and is classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam.

Sirkali Bhramapureeswarar is an ancient temple complex with 3 different Shiva Shrines. 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, its gopurams 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 (Toniappar) at the medium level, and Bhairavar (Sattanathar) at the upper level.

Sirkazhi Govindarajan
Sirkazhi Govindarajan was a leading vocalist in Carnatic Music. Govindarajan was born at Sirkali, a small town in Madras Presidency (Tamil Nadu). Sirkali was the birthplace of Thirugnanasambandar, one of the Samaya Naalvar and the 63 Nayanmar of the Saiva faith. It was little wonder that he became a child prodigy performing at the Tirupurasundari Temple at the age of eight on the occasion of the Gnana Paal Festival. His son Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram is also a Carnatic singer.