during one of the biggest deluges that submerged the planet earth, Hindu god Shiva is said to have carried the 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".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sattainathar_Temple,_Sirkazhi
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sattainathar_Temple,_Sirkazhi
