Sirkazhi
Encyclopedia
Sirkazhi is a city and a municipality
in Nagapattinam district in the India
n state
of Tamil Nadu
. It is located just 10 km from the Bay of Bengal
; 5 km from Kollidam; 20 km from Chidambaram
; 250 km from Chennai
and 90 km from Pondicherry.
, Sirkazhi had a population of 32,084. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Sirkazhi has an average literacy rate of 76%, significantly 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. Sirkazhi residents include Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Hindus account almost 93% of the population. Sirkazhi is a multicultural city where people of all backgrounds live in harmony. As such, the crime rate is low in the area.
is said to have carried the 64 arts with him in a raft, in this shrine, hence the name Toniappar, and Tonipuram. Brahma
is believed to have worshiped 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 worshiped 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.
r (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
(outer courtyard) of the Toniappar shrine by a flight of steps. The enlargement of the original temple happened during the period of Kulothunga Chola I
, Vikrama Chola, Kulothunga Chola II
and Kulothunga Chola 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 temple has been glorified in the divine songs of Thevaram. One of the four great divine poet, the Saiva saint Thirugnana Sambandar was bestowed with the divine grace by Lord Siva and Parvathy here. Every year in the Tamil month of Chithirai, Thirumulaippal festival is celebrated in a grand manner.
There is big Perumal Kazheesirama 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. 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 Vaitheeswaran Temple
(also called Vaitheswarn Kovil). Sirkazhi is Surrounded by Temples. Chidambaram Nataraja Temple,Thirukadiyur,Vaitheswaran Kovil, Sattanathar Temple are the notable ones. There are totally 15 Divys desams around Sirkazhi.
In south Sirkali (Thenpathi) has new Anjaneya Temple with a large Anjaneya Statue of 33 feet (10.1 m) near Sabari Nagar & TPS Nagar.
, famed for his work in film
s, was born in this town, which is very much associated with music. Thirugnana Sambanthar (Thevaram
) was born here. Thirumangai Azhvar born in a village adjacent to Sirkazhi. Tamil Isai Moovar Arunachala Kavi
rayar, Muthu Thandavar
, Marimutthu Pillai
lived here. They are known as the Tamil Trinity of Carnatic music.
The Great Astrologer S. V. Krishnamoorthy Iyer lived here until 1995.
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.
Cognizant Technology Solutions
' President & Managing Director (Global Delivery), R Chandra Sekaran was born in Sirkazhi and did his schooling there.
S.M.H. Higher Secondary School is one of the largest and most reputed schools in the area.
Other schools include L.M.C School, Shiyamala Girls Higher Secondary School, Vivekanandha Matriculation Higher Secondary school.
Srinivasa Subbaraya Polytechnic College is located in Puttur (Between Sirklai & Chidambaram) Which is away 7 km from Sirkali.
The town has three cinema theatres and two bus stations including a major bus terminus.
.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in Nagapattinam district in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. It is located just 10 km from the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
; 5 km from Kollidam; 20 km from Chidambaram
Chidambaram
Chidambaram is a fast growing industrial city in Eastern part of Tamil Nadu and the taluk headquarters of the Cuddalore district. It is located in 58 km from Pondicherry, 60 km from Karaikal, and 240 km south of Chennai by rail...
; 250 km from Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
and 90 km from Pondicherry.
Geography
Sirkazhi is located at 11.23°N 79.73°E. It has an average elevation of 4 m (13.1 ft).Demographics
As of the 2001 India censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
, Sirkazhi had a population of 32,084. Males constitute 50% of the population and females 50%. Sirkazhi has an average literacy rate of 76%, significantly 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. Sirkazhi residents include Hindus, Muslims and Christians. Hindus account almost 93% of the population. Sirkazhi is a multicultural city where people of all backgrounds live in harmony. As such, the crime rate is low in the area.
Legends
During the great deluge that submerged the earth, ShivaShiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
is said to have carried the 64 arts with him in a raft, in this shrine, hence the name Toniappar, and Tonipuram. Brahma
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
is believed to have worshiped 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 worshiped 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.
Temples
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 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 BhairavaBhairava
Bhairava , sometimes known as Bhairo or Bhairon or Bhairadya or Bheruji , Kaala Bhairavar or Vairavar , is the fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva associated with annihilation...
r (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
Prakaram
A Prakaram, also spelled Pragaram or Pragaaram) in Indian architecture is an outer parth around the Hindu temple sanctum. These may be enclosed or open and are typically enclosed for the inner most prakaram....
(outer courtyard) of the Toniappar shrine by a flight of steps. The enlargement of the original temple happened during the period of Kulothunga Chola I
Kulothunga Chola I
Kō Rājakēsarivarman Abaya Kulōthunga Chōla was one of the greatest kings of the Chola Empire. He was one of the sovereigns who bore the title Kulottunga, literally meaning the exalter of his race.-Early life:...
, Vikrama Chola, Kulothunga Chola II
Kulothunga Chola II
Kulothunga Chola II was a 12th century king of the Chola Dynasty of the Tamil people of South India. He succeeded his father Vikrama Chola to the throne in 1135 CE. Vikrama Chola made Kulothunga his heir apparent and coregent in 1133 CE, so the inscriptions of Kulothunga II count his reign from...
and Kulothunga Chola III
Kulothunga Chola III
Kulothunga Chola III was the ruler of the Chola empire from 1178 to 1218 AD, after succeeding Rajadhiraja Chola II. Kulothunga Chola III gained success in war against his traditional foes. He gained victories in war against the Pandyas of Madurai, Cheras of Venad, Hoysalas of Mysore, the Sinhala...
(as in Chidambaram
Chidambaram
Chidambaram is a fast growing industrial city in Eastern part of Tamil Nadu and the taluk headquarters of the Cuddalore district. It is located in 58 km from Pondicherry, 60 km from Karaikal, and 240 km south of Chennai by rail...
- 11th through the 13th centuries). The temple is a holy site for Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and thousands of devotees come to pay homage to the deities. This temple has been glorified in the divine songs of Thevaram. One of the four great divine poet, the Saiva saint Thirugnana Sambandar was bestowed with the divine grace by Lord Siva and Parvathy here. Every year in the Tamil month of Chithirai, Thirumulaippal festival is celebrated in a grand manner.
There is big Perumal Kazheesirama Vinnagaram
Kazheesirama Vinnagaram
Kazheesirama Vinnagaram or Tadalan Kovil is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu located in Sirkazhi in Nagapattinam district, Tamil Nadu, India. It is one of the "Divya Desams", the 108 temples of Vishnu reverred by the 12 poet saints, or Alwars....
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. 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.
Chidambaram Temple
Thillai Natarajah Temple, Chidambaram is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the town of Chidambaram, East-Central Tamil Nadu, South India. The temple is known as the foremost of all temples to Saivites and has influenced worship, architecture, sculpture and performance art for over two...
; 30 km away is the Thirunallar Saneswarn Bahvan Temple, and 6 km away is located is the famous Vaitheeswaran Temple
Vaitheeswaran Temple
Vaitheeswaran Temple or Pullirukkuvelur is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Shiva located in Tamil Nadu, India. Shiva is worshipped as Vaitheeswaran or the "God of healing" and it is believed that prayers to Vaitheeswaran can cure diseases. It is one of the nine Navagraha temples associated...
(also called Vaitheswarn Kovil). Sirkazhi is Surrounded by Temples. Chidambaram Nataraja Temple,Thirukadiyur,Vaitheswaran Kovil, Sattanathar Temple are the notable ones. There are totally 15 Divys desams around Sirkazhi.
In south Sirkali (Thenpathi) has new Anjaneya Temple with a large Anjaneya Statue of 33 feet (10.1 m) near Sabari Nagar & TPS Nagar.
Notable people
The singer Sirkazhi GovindarajanSirkazhi Govindarajan
Sirkazhi Govindarajan was a leading vocalist in Carnatic Music.Govindarajan, born in Sirkali in Madras Presidency) and started performing at the age of eight in Tirupurasundari Temple. His son Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram is also a Carnatic singer....
, famed for his work in film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
s, was born in this town, which is very much associated with music. Thirugnana Sambanthar (Thevaram
Thevaram
Thevaram is a panchayat town in Theni district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.Thevaram located in the border of Kerala separated by western ghats-Demographics:...
) was born here. Thirumangai Azhvar born in a village adjacent to Sirkazhi. Tamil Isai Moovar Arunachala Kavi
Arunachala Kavi
Arunachala Kavi was a Tamil poet and a composer of Carnatic music. He was born in Tillaiyadi in Thanjavur District in Tamil Nadu. The three Tamil composers Arunachala Kavi, Muthu Thandavar and Marimutthu Pillai are considered the Tamil Trinity, who contributed to the evolution of Carnatic...
rayar, Muthu Thandavar
Muthu Thandavar
Muthu Thandavar was composer of Carnatic music. He was an early architect of the present day Carnatic kriti format, which consists of the pallavi , anupallavi and charanam. He lived in the town of Sirkazhi in Tamil Nadu. His contributions to Carnatic music have been largely forgotten and not many...
, Marimutthu Pillai
Marimutthu Pillai
Marimutthu Pillai was a composer of Carnatic music and along with Arunachala Kavi and Muthu Thandavar was one of the pioneering Tamil Trinity of Carnatic music. He was a contemporary of Arunachala Kavi....
lived here. They are known as the Tamil Trinity of Carnatic music.
The Great Astrologer S. V. Krishnamoorthy Iyer lived here until 1995.
S. R. Ranganathan
S. R. Ranganathan
Shiyali Ramamrita Ranganathan was a mathematician and librarian from India. His 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...
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
Library science
Library science is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary field that applies the practices, perspectives, and tools of management, information technology, education, and other areas to libraries; the collection, organization, preservation, and dissemination of information resources; and the...
in India.
Cognizant Technology Solutions
Cognizant Technology Solutions
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. is an American global provider of custom information technology, consulting and business process outsourcing services. Its headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey, United States and is a member of NASDAQ-100, the S&P 500 and Fortune 500...
' President & Managing Director (Global Delivery), R Chandra Sekaran was born in Sirkazhi and did his schooling there.
Educational institutions
Other schools include L.M.C School, Shiyamala Girls Higher Secondary School, Vivekanandha Matriculation Higher Secondary school.
Srinivasa Subbaraya Polytechnic College is located in Puttur (Between Sirklai & Chidambaram) Which is away 7 km from Sirkali.
Economy
Agriculture and Fishing forms the backbone of the Sirkazhi economy. Tourism is another major institution. Sirkali has many banks/financial institutions including Sirkali Coop Urban bank, State Bank of India, Indian bank, Indian Overseas Bank and Kumbakonam Central Coop Bank, and City Union Bank. Sirkali Coop Urban Bank founded in 23 Apr 1918 is the oldest Bank in Sirkali. There are 5 ATMs currently in the city.The town has three cinema theatres and two bus stations including a major bus terminus.
Transportation
Sirkazhi is on the main line (Broad Gauge) between Chennai and Trichy via Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Kumbakonam and Thanjavur. All express trains stop at Sirkazhi.Real estate
Real estate in the Sirkazhi-Kollidam region has been booming over the past decade. Due to significant infrastructure development and arable, fertile land, the area is a prime hub. Land prices hover around anywhere from 2-15 crores per acre depending on the road frontage and area of the city. The area around Sattanathapuram (By Pass Road) is in the process of significant development. Proximity to the upcoming information technology region, power infrastructure projects, and a medical center and university are all contributing factors to the desirability of the area.Politics
Sirkali assembly constituency (SC) is part of Mayiladuturai (Lok Sabha constituency)Mayiladuturai (Lok Sabha constituency)
-Assembly segments:Mayiladuturai Lok Sabha constituency is composed of the following assembly segments :#Sirkali #Poompuhar#Mayiladuturai#Kumbakonam#Thiruvidamaradur#Papanasam-Members of the Parliament:...
.