Sirkazhi

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?Sirkazhi Tamil Nadu • India
Coordinates: (find coordinates)
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s)	Nagapattinam
Population	32,084 (2001)

Sirkazhi (சீர்காழி) is a city and a municipality in Nagapattinam district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located just 10 km from the Bay of Bengal; 250 km from Chennai and 90 km from Puducherry.

1 Demographics
2 Legends
3 Temples
4 Notable people from Sirkazhi
5 External links
6 References

[edit] Demographics

As of 2001 India census^[1], Sirkazhi had a population of 32,084. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Sirkazhi has an average literacy rate of 76%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 81%, and female literacy is 71%. In Sirkazhi, 12% of the population is under 6 years of age.

[edit] Legends

During the great deluge that submerged the earth, Shiva is said to have carried the 64 arts with him in a raft, in this shrine, hence the name Toniappar, and Tonipuram. Bhramma is believed to have worshipped Shiva here, hence the name Bhrammapureeswarar. Bhairavar or Sattainathar (who is said to have quelled the arrogance of Trivikramar, after his having shown his dominance over the three worlds) is worshipped each Friday night.

The association with Tirugnanasambandar: Sambandar as an infant is said to have been fed with the milk of wisdom by the divine mother Parvati on the banks of the temple tank just prior to the commencement of his authorship of the anthology of Tevaram hymns commencing with Todudaiya Seviyan.

[edit] Temples

Sirkali Bhramapureeswarar is a vast 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 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 (Toniappar) at the upper level, and Bhairavar (Sattanathar) again at the upper level.

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).

There is big Perumal (Thirukkazhiseerama Vinnagaram) temple also inside the town. In and around the town of Sirkazhi are twelve divya desams celebrated by Tirumangai Alvar. Sri Taadaalan at Sirkazhi and the 12 sthalams known collectively as Tirunaangur divya desams.

Also another big old Siva Temple (Thirukolakka) is there.

In ancient period, this town had 12 different names, including Brahmapuram,Venupuram,Thonipuram, Kazhumalam, Pugali, and Shri Kali.

[edit] Notable people from Sirkazhi

The singer Sirkazhi Govindarajan, famed for his work in films, was born in this town, which is very much associated with music. Thirugnana Sambanthar (Thevaram) was born here. Thirumangai Azhvar born in a village Thiruvaali Thirunagari nearer to Sirkazhi. Tamil Isai Moovar Arunachala Kavirayar, Muthu Thandavar, Marimutthu Pillai lived here. They are known as the Tamil Trinity of Carnatic music.

S. R. Ranganathan was born in Sirkazhi. He was an innovative mathematician and librarian whose most notable contributions to the field were his five laws of library science and the development of the first major analytico-synthetic classification system, the Colon classification. He is considered to be the father of library science in India.

Coordinates: 11°14′N, 79°44′E Sirkazhi residents are Hindu, Muslims and Christians. However Hindu community having major population in Sirkazhi. S.M.H. Hr. Sec. School is the one of the biggest schools. Other schools include L.M.C School, Shiyamala girls hr. sec. school, Vivekantha Metriculation and Best school.

There are 4 Mosque's (Masjid) in Sirkazhi town. One big masjid is located in the chidambaram road, one is in Kamarazar street, one is near the railway station and another one is in Vilanthida samuthiram. In the environs around Sirkazhi are other famous temples: just 20 km away chidambaram nataraja temple, 30 km away thirunallar Saneswarn bahvan temple, and 6 km away is located astrology famous vaitheswarn kovil.

Currently the town has 3 cinema theatres and two bus stations.