sekkizhar was born in the village of kundrathur in kancheepuram district in the indian state of tamil nadu. he was a scholar in vedas as well as tirumurai (later his work was also been added as a tirumurai). his real name is ramadevan. he was an inmate in a vaishnavite shrine near kanchipuram. he started his works of "periya puranam" when he was in chidambaram. among all puranas in tamil, sekkizhar's periya puranam stands first. kulothunga chola ii began to restore tamil shaivism that was begun by his ancestors because he was a great devotee of lord nataraja (shiva) at chidambaram. the king called upon sekkizhar to compose a poem on the life of shaiva saints.