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{{Short description|Temple in Tamil Nadu, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2020}}
{{Infobox temple
| name = Sattainathar Temple
| image = Sattainathar temple (20).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Gopuram of the temple
| map_type = India Tamil Nadu
| map_caption = Location in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| coordinates = {{coord|11|14|N|79|44|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
| other_names =
| proper_name =
| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Tamil Nadu]]
| district = [[Mayiladuthurai]]
| location = [[Sirkali]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = Sattainathar([[Shiva]]),<br>Bhramapureeswarar, Thoniappar
Periyanayagi([[Parvathi]])

| Direction_posture =
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| Vimanam =
| Poets =
| Prathyaksham =
| festivals=
| architecture = [[Dravidian architecture]]
| temple_quantity =
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| year_completed =
| creator =
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}}

'''Sattainathar temple, Sirkazhi''' (also called '''Brahmapureeswarar temple''' and '''Thoniappar temple''') is a [[Hindu]] temple dedicated to [[Shiva]] located in [[Sirkali]], [[Mayiladuthurai district]], [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].<ref>''Census of India, 1961, Volume 7; Volume 9''</ref> The temple is incarnated by the hymns of [[Thevaram]] and is classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]''. It is an ancient temple complex with three different Shiva shrines in three stories.

The Bhramapureeswarar shrine is housed in the lower level. Brahmapureeswarar is accompanied by Ambal ''Sthira sundari/Thiripurasundari'' or ''Thirunilainayaki'' in Tamil. The second-level houses Periyanakar with Periyanayaki on a ''Thoni'', hence the name Thoniappar. Sattainathar/Vatukanathar is also housed here. There are 22 water bodies 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 [[Bhairava]]r (Sattanathar) at the upper level. The temple is associated with the legend of child [[Sambandar]] who is believed to have been fed by [[Parvathi]] on the banks of the temple tank. The child later went on to compose ''[[Tevaram]]'', a Saiva canonic literature on Shiva and became one of the most revered Saiva poets in South India.

==Etymology and origin==
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In ancient times, this town had twelve different names, including Brahmapuram, Venupuram, Thonipuram, Kazhumalam, Pugali, Sirkazhiswaram and Shri Kali.{{sfn|City Corporate cum Business Plan for Sirkazhi Municipality|2009}}{{sfn|Pillai|1904|p=91}} As per popular belief, Kali is believed to have worshipped the presiding deity, Brahmapureeswarar, and thus the place came to be known as ''Srikalipuram'', which went on to become ''Shiyali''.{{sfn|Rao|2012|pp=20-23}}

According to Tamil legend, during one of the biggest deluges that submerged the planet earth, Tamil god Shiva is said to have carried the [[Kalā|64 arts]] on a raft (called ''Thoni'' in Tamil). The presiding deity in the temple, Shiva, is thus called "Thoniappar" (the one who carried the raft) and the region is called "Thonipuram".{{sfn|Ayyar|1991| p=244}}{{sfn|Ayyar|1991| p=42}}{{sfn|V.K.|2007|p=45}}{{sfn|Pillai|1904|p=91}} The Hindu god [[Brahma]] is believed to have worshiped Shiva here, giving the name "Bhramapureeswarar" (the one worshipped by Brahma) and so the region is also referred as "Bhramapureeswaram".{{sfn|Director of Census operations|1991|p=55}}{{sfn|Pillai|1904|p=91}} The town is thus called "Sattainathapuram", which in modern times, is a suburb within Sirkazhi. The town was known as "Kalumalam" during the early Chola period.{{sfn|Aiyangar|1911|p=92}} [[Sambandar|Thirugnanasambandar]], the seventh century Saiva [[nayanars|nayanar]], as an infant is believed to have been fed with the milk of wisdom by the divine mother [[Parvati]] on the banks of the temple tank. The child Sambandar started singing the anthology of ''[[Tevaram]]'' hymns from then on, commencing with "Todudaiya Seviyan". Sambandar refers the town as "Kazhi" in his verses.{{sfn|Ayyar|1991| p=244}}{{sfn|Ayyar|1991| p=42}}{{sfn|V.K.|2007|p=45}}{{sfn|Pillai|1904|p=91}} It was called Shiyali during [[British Raj|British rule]], and after [[India's independence|Independence]], it was renamed "Sirkazhi".{{sfn|City Corporate cum Business Plan for Sirkazhi Municipality|2009}}

The temple is maintained by [[Dharmapuram Adheenam]], a [[Saivite]] [[Matha|mutt]] or monastic institution located in the town of Mayiladuthurai, India. As of 1987, there were a total of 27 [[Shiva]] temples under the control of the ''adheenam''.

==Architecture==
[[File:Sattainathar temple (25).jpg|thumb|200px|The central shrine with three levels]]
The temple has a vast ''[[Prakaram]]s'' (courtyards) with high walls of enclosure. There are two sets of seven-tiered ''[[gopuram]]s'' on the outer walls of the enclosure. The porch on the entrance from the second to the first prakara date back to 10th to 11th century.{{sfn|Branfoot|2015|p=95}} The original shrine during the period of the [[Nayanars|Nayanmars]] included the shrine of Bhrammapureeswarar, on the southern bund of the temple tank; the Tonniappar shrine on a mound west of the central shrine, and the Sattanathar shrine in the second floor reached from the southern ''praharam''(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).{{sfn|S.|2012|p=433}} The temple is a holy site for [[Hinduism]] and thousands of devotees come to pay homage to the deities.<ref>''Later Chola temples: Kulottunga I to Rajendra III (A.D. 1070-1280)''S. R. Balasubrahmanyam, Balasubrahmanyam Venkataraman.</ref> The image of [[Parvathi]] in the form of Sthira Sundari is located in the basement in a separate shrine.{{sfn|V.|1974|p=39}}

==Tirugnana Sambandar==
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[[Sambandar]] was a young [[Saiva]] poet-saint of Tamil Nadu who lived around the 7th century CE.<ref name=date>{{cite web|url=https://tamilartsacademy.com/articles/article08.xml|title=A New Pandya Record and the Dates of Nayanmars and Alvars|publisher=Tamil Arts Academy|author=Dr. R. Nagasamy|access-date=2007-07-09}}</ref> He is one of the most prominent of the sixty-three [[Nayanars]], [[Tamil people|Tamil]] [[Saiva]] [[Bhakti movement|bhakti]] saints who lived between the sixth and the tenth centuries CE. Sambandar's hymns to [[Shiva]] were later collected to form the first three volumes of the ''[[Tirumurai]]'', the religious canon of Tamil [[Saiva Siddhanta]]. He was a contemporary of [[Appar]], another Saiva saint.<ref name="Encyclopaedia of Jainism, Volume 1, page 5468">''Encyclopaedia of Jainism, Volume 1, page 5468''</ref>

[[Sambandar]] was born to Sivapada Hrudiyar and his wife Bhagavathiar who lived in [[Sirkazhi]] in [[Tamil Nadu]]. They were a saivite Brahmins who at that point of time professed [[Rig veda]]. The group of servitors wore tuft on top of their head with a tilt towards right, as seen in all murals and statues of sambandar and also finds mention in the related hagiographies of that period and also of the later periods like that of arunagirinathar. According to legend, when Sambandar was three years old his parents took him to the Shiva temple where Shiva and his consort [[Parvati]] appeared before the child. The goddess nursed him at her breast. His father saw drops of milk on the child's mouth and asked who had fed him, whereupon the boy pointed to the sky and responded with the song ''Todudaya Seviyan'' - the first verse of the ''Tevaram''. At his investiture with the sacred thread, at the age of seven, he is said to have expounded the [[Veda]]s with clarity. Sri [[Sankaracharya]] who lived in the subsequent century has also referred to sambandar in one hymn of [[Soundarya Lahari]], praising him as a gifted Tamil child (Tamil sisu) who was fed with milk of divine gnosis by goddess [[Parvati|Uma]].{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

==Festivals==
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| footer = Gopurams of the temple
| image1 = Sattainathar temple (13).jpg
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| image2 = Sattainathar temple (6).jpg
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The temple priests perform the ''[[puja (Hinduism)|pooja]]'' (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. Like other Shiva temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the [[Shaivism|Shaivaite]] community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day; Ushathkalam at 5:30 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 8:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m. Each ritual comprises four steps: ''abhisheka'' (sacred bath), ''alangaram'' (decoration), ''neivethanam'' (food offering) and ''deepa aradanai'' (waving of lamps) for all the three Shiva shrines. The worship is held amidst music with ''[[nagaswaram]]'' (pipe instrument) and ''[[tavil]]'' (percussion instrument), religious instructions in the [[Vedas]] read by priests and prostration by worshippers in front of the temple mast. There are weekly rituals like ''{{lang|te-Latn|somavaram}}'' and ''{{lang|te-Latn|sukravaram}}'', fortnightly rituals like ''[[pradosha]]m'' and monthly festivals like ''[[amavasya|amavasai]]'' (new moon day), ''kiruthigai'', ''[[pournami (festival)|pournami]]'' (full moon day) and ''sathurthi''.

==Religious importance==
The temple is mentioned in the Saiva canonical work, ''Tevaram'', by [[Thirugnana Sambanthar]], [[Tirunavukkarasar]] and [[Sundarar]], the foremost Saivite saints of 7th–eighth century CE and is classified as ''[[Paadal Petra Sthalam]]''.{{sfn|Kodayanallur Vanamamalai|2001|p=47}} There is a separate shrine for Sambandar celebrating the miracle of [[Parvathi]] suckling the child Sambandar when he was crying for milk.{{sfn|Kodayanallur Vanamamalai|2001|p=47}}{{sfn|Anantharaman|2006|p=46}} Shiva is worshipped in three different forms; the Shivalingam (Bhrammapureeswarar), Uma Maheswarar (Toniappar) at the middle level, and [[Bhairava]]r (Sattanathar) at the upper level.{{sfn|Anantharaman|2006|p=46}} The original temple was enlarged during the period of [[Kulothunga Chola I]], Vikrama Chola, [[Kulothunga Chola II]] and [[Kulothunga Chola III]] (as in Chidambaram – 11th through the 13th centuries). Every year in the Tamil month of [[Chithirai]] (April – May), a 10-day festival is celebrated.{{sfn|Illustrated Guide to the South Indian Railway|1926|pp=50–51}}

According to a Hindu legend, [[Mahalingeswarar Temple, Thiruvidaimarudur|Mahalingaswamy at Thiruvidaimarudur]] is the centre of all Shiva temples in the region and the ''Saptha Vigraha moorthis'' (seven prime consorts in all [[Shiva]] temples) are located at seven cardinal points around the temple, located in various parts of the state.<ref name="tourist">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nGxbJqdEQrwC&q=thiruvidaimarudur&pg=PA71|last=Tourist guide to Tamil Nadu |title=Tourist guide to Tamil Nadu|year=2007|publisher=T. Krishna Press |location=Chennai |isbn=978-81-7478-177-2|ref=tourist|page=53}}</ref><ref name=Om34>{{cite journal|title=Jyothirmaya Mahalingam|last=Narayanaswami|journal=Om Sakthi|language=ta|publisher=Om Sakthi Publications|date=April 1987|location=Coimbatore|ref=Om|pages=34–5}}</ref> The seven deities are [[Nataraja]] in [[Chidambaram Nataraja Temple]] at [[Chidambaram]], [[Satyagireeswarar Temple, Senganur|Chandikeswarar temple at Tirucheingalur]], [[Vinayagar]] in [[Thiruvalanjuli Kabardeeshwarar Temple (Vellai Vinayagar Temple)|Vellai Vinayagar Temple]] at [[Thiruvalanchuzhi]], [[Muruga]] in [[Swamimalai Murugan Temple]] at [[Swamimalai]], [[Bhairava]] in Sattainathar Temple at [[Sirkali]], [[Navagraha]] in [[Suryanar Kovil|Sooriyanar Temple]] at [[Suryanar Kovil]] and [[Dakshinamoorthy]] in [[Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi]] at [[Alangudi, Papanasam taluk]].<ref name=Om34/>

Thoniappar, enshrined in Grivakostha in Thonimalai, is an aspect of [[Bhairava]].{{sfn|S.|2012|p=431}} The Ashtabhairavas (the eight Bhairava) are housed in the Valampuri mandapa in the temple. The images along with the inscriptions indicate Bhairava worship from the late 16th century. The eight Bhairavas in the group include Asitanga, Visalaksa, Marrtanda, Modakapriya, Svachanda, Vignasantusa, Khechera and Sarcaracara. The images are sported with trident, hand-drum, noose and sword.{{sfn|S.|2012|p=433}}

[[Arunagirinathar]] was a 15th-century Tamil poet born in [[Tiruvannamalai]]. He spent his early years as a rioter and seducer of women. After ruining his health, he tried to commit suicide by throwing himself from the northern tower of [[Annamalaiyar Temple]], but was saved by the grace of god [[Murugan]].{{sfn|V.K.| 2007| p= 109}} He became a staunch devotee and composed Tamil hymns glorifying Murugan, the most notable being ''Thirupugazh''.{{sfn|Ayyar|1991|pp=191–203}}{{sfn|Zvelebil |1975| p= 217}} Arunagirinathar visited various Murugan temples and on his way back to Tiruvannamalai, visited the temple and sung praises about Murugan in the temple.{{sfn|Zvelebil |1991|p= 53}}

Mayaka Kshetras are the places where Lord Brahma was reduced to ashes by Lord Shiva. Five such places are - Kasi (Varanasi) Mayanam, Kacchi (Kanchipuram) Mayanam; Kazhi (Sirkazhi) Mayanam, Nallur (Thirunallur) Mayanam and Kadavur (Thirukadaiyur) Mayanam.{{sfn|Dinamalar|2012}}

==Notes==
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==References==
{{refbegin|20em}}
* {{cite web|title=Sattanathaswamy temple|url=https://temple.dinamalar.com/en/new_en.php?id=777|publisher=Dinamalar|year=2012|ref={{sfnRef|Dinamalar|2012}}}}
*{{Cite book |last=Aiyangar|first=Sakkottai Krishnaswami |title=Ancient India: Collected Essays on the Literary and Political History of Southern India|year=1911 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-206-1850-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=htArUg0OMpcC&q=shiyali&pg=PA413}}
* {{cite book|title=Temples of South India|first=Ambujam|last=Anantharaman|publisher=East West books|year=2006|isbn=8188661422}}
*{{Cite book |last=Ayyar |first=P. V. Jagadisa |title=South Indian shrines: illustrated |year=1991 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |location=New Delhi |isbn=81-206-0151-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLSGFW1uZboC&q=shiyali&pg=PA244}}
* {{cite journal|title=THE TAMIL GOPURA: From Temple Gateway to Global Icon|publisher=Freer Gallery of Art, The Smithsonian Institution and Department of the History of Art, University of Michigan|volume=45|issue=20191029|pages=78–112|year=2015|journal=Ars Orientalis|first=Crispin|last=Branfoot|jstor=26350209|doi=10.3998/ars.13441566.0045.004|doi-access=free}}
*{{Cite book |last=Director of Census operations |title=Census of India, 1991: Thanjavur (pt. A) |year=1991 |publisher=Controller of Publications |location=Tamil Nadu }}
*{{Cite book |first=Soundara Rajan |last=Kodayanallur Vanamamalai |title=Concise classified dictionary of Hinduism|year=2001|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|location=New Delhi |isbn=81-7022-857-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H4q0DHGMcjEC&q=sirkazhi&pg=PA21}}
* {{cite book|title=Illustrated Guide to the South Indian Railway (Incorporated in England): Including the Tanjore District Board, Pondicherry, Peralam-Karaikkal, Travancore State, Cochin State, Coimbatore District Board, Tinnevelly-Tiruchendur, and the Nilgiri Railways|year=1926|page=217|publisher=Asian Educational Services|last=Illustrated Guide to the South Indian Railway|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SzWvq8EYBwUC&q=shiyali&pg=PA50|isbn=81-206-1889-0}}
* {{cite book | title=A Primer of Tamil Literature| last=Pillai| first=M. S. Purnalingam | year=1904| publisher=Ananda Press|location=Madras|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JwkrAAAAYAAJ&q=thonipuram&pg=PA91}}
*{{cite book|title=Temples of Tamil Nadu|last=Rao|first=A.V.Shankaranarayana|publisher=Vasan Publications|isbn=978-81-8468-112-3|year=2012}}
* {{cite report|title=City Corporate cum Business Plan for Sirkazhi Municipality|last=Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited|url=http://municipality.tn.gov.in/sirkazhi/sirkazhiccp.pdf|publisher=Tamil Nadu Urban Infrastructure Financial Services Limited|year=2009|access-date=8 June 2012|ref={{sfnref|City Corporate cum Business Plan for Sirkazhi Municipality|2009}}}}{{dead link|date=May 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* {{cite journal|title=Historical and iconographical study of Ashtabhairava images in Sri Sattanathaswami temple in Sirkazhi|last=S.|first=Anuradha|journal=Proceedings of the Indian History Congress|publisher= Indian History Congress|volume=73|pages=431–437|year=2012|jstor=44156234}}
*{{Cite book |last=V.K. |first=Subramanian |title= 101 Mystics of India |year=2007 |publisher=Abhinav Publications|location=New Delhi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Zso41H6D9MAC&q=sirkazhi&pg=PA45 |isbn=978-81-7017-471-4}}
* {{cite book|title=Temples in South India|last=V.|first=Meena|publisher=Harikumar Arts|location=Kanniyakumari|year=1974|edition=1st}}
* {{cite book|title=Tamil traditions on Subramanya - Murugan|last=Zvelebil|edition=1st|first=Kamil V.|year=1991|publisher=Institute of Asian Studies|location=Chennai, India}}
* {{Citation |first=Kamil |last=Zvelebil |title=Tamil literature, Volume 2, Part 1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OQ33i496MsIC&q=tiruvempavai&pg=PA105 |year=1975 |publisher=E.J. Brill, Leiden |location=Netherlands |isbn=90-04-04190-7}}.
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Sirkazhi Sattanathar Temple}}
{{Famous Shiva temples}}
{{HinduMythology}}
{{Mayiladuthurai district}}
{{Mayiladuthurai Topics}}

[[Category:Shiva temples in Mayiladuthurai district]]
[[Category:Padal Petra Stalam]]
[[Category:Bhairava temples]]
[[Category:Hindu temples in Mayiladuthurai district]]

Sattainathar Temple, Sirkazhi - Revision history

ChristenHii: Added new place - done