Brahmapureesar Temple, Sirkazhi
| Location of the temple | Sirkazhi |
| Lord Shiva known as | Brahmapureesar, Sattainathar, Thoniyappar |
| Female deity known as | Thirunilainayagi, Sthira Sundari |
| Pathigam | Sambandar – 67 (Sambandar’s birthplace) Thirunaavukarasar – 3 |
| How to reach | Sirkazhi can be reached by road from Chennai and from many other parts of Tamilnadu. It is 260 Kms from Chennai by road, 17 Kms from Chidambaram and 58 Kms from Kumbakonam. Another Paadal Petra Sthalam Tirukolakka is situated at a distance of about 1 Km. from this temple. |
| Temple address | Arulmighu Brahmapureesar Temple Sirkazhi Sirkazhi Taluk Nagapattinam District PIN 609110 |
Sirkazhi, known for the famous temple for Lord Shiva known as Brahampureesar, is also associated with the birth of Tirugnanasambandar, one of the 3 most revered Nayanmars of that time. When Sambandar as a 3 years old child was crying on the banks of the temple tank, Goddess Parvati appeared in person and fed him with Gnanapaal, (wisdom of milk). Thereafter, Sambandar started singing in praise of the God Shiva with his first and famous Pathigam “Thodudaya Sevian”.
Accoding to mythology, when the great deluge (pralayam) started submerging the whole earth, God Shiva carried the 64 arts in a Thoni (boat) with him and landed at Sirkazhi which was not submerged in the great deluge. God Brahma after worshipping Shiva here, started afresh his job of creating life forms. Becuase Brahma worshipped Shiva, he is known here as Brahmapureesar and also as Thoniappar for carrying the 64 arts with him in the Thoni (boat).
Temple: The Shiva temple at Sirkazhi is a big complex and there are 3 separate shrines for God Shiva here – Brahmapureesar, Thoniappar and Sattnathar. The main shrine for Brahmapureesar is on the banks of temple tank facing east. The shrine for Thoniappar is situated on an elevated site to the west of the main shrine. The Sattanathar shrine can be reached from the southern side pathway of Thoniappar shrine by climbing a few steps. The shrine for Tirugnanansambandar is located on the outer prakram. The female deity Thirunilaianayagi’s shrine is situated adjacent to Sambandar shrine.
Brahma, Murugan, Kali, Guru, Indiran, Chandran, Suryan and Sage Vyasar are believed to have worhsipped the god Shiva at this place.
One of the 108 Divya Desam shrines for Lord Vishnu is also situated at Sirkazhi at a distance of 1 Km from the bus stand.