This is the third temple in the Sapta sthana temples of Nagapattinam. This temple is more famous as Sikkal Singara Velar Temple of Shri Muruga. It is situated at a distance of 7 kilometers of Nagapattinam on Nagapattinam - Thiruvarur route. It is one of the Padal Pethra Sthalam on the southern bank of Kaveri. The original temple must have existed even before sixth century and believed to have been built by King Muchukunda. It was converted into a Mada Kovil by Chola King Kochengat Chola. This is one of the 28 Shiva temples in which we come across a shrine for Shri Vishnu. It is also considered as a Shakti Peetha. Saint Arunagiri Nadar has praised Shri Muruga of this temple. Inscriptions in the temple denote the contributions made by the Pandya kings, Vijayanagar Kings and The Maratha kings in the upliftment and maintenance of the temple.
Mulavar: Shri Navaneedhishwarar, Shri Palvennainayanar, Shri Vennaiperuman, Shri Vennailingeshwarar
Devi: Shri Satyaydaakshi, Shri Velnedunknni
Kshetra Vruksha: Jasmine
Sacred Teertha: Kshirapushkarini, Palkulam, Gayatri Teertha, Lakshmi Teertha,
Puranik Name: Malligai (Jasmine) Aranya, Thirusikkal
Present Name: Sikkal
Kshetra Purana:
Sikkal:
According to Purana, once there was a great famine. The divine cow Kamadhenu consumed meat due to scarcity of food. When Shri Shiva came to know about this he cursed Kamadhenu. He turned her into a cow having tiger head. When she begged for forgiveness he directed her to this place. He advised her to take a dip in temple tank and worship him. While she was a taking dip in temple tank, milk from her udder filled temple tank. Hence temple tank is known as Kshirapushkarini or Palkulam. Eventually the milk got frozen and it became butter (vennai). Kamadhenu worshiped Shri Shiva and got rid of her curse. Earlier to this, Sage Vasishtha had reached this place which was known as Jasmine forest (malligai vanam). He was performing penance at this place. He used to visit the temple regularly and once he saw the butter in the temple tank. He made a shiva linga out of the butter and tried to remove it after his worship. The lingam got stuck in the Jasmine plants and hence the place got the name Sikkal. (in tamil it means getting entangled or entwined). Since the linga was made of butter Shri Shiva is praised as Shri Vennai Nadar and Shri Vennai Lingeshwarar.
Singara Velar: According to Purana, the devas were being tormented by Surapadman and other asuras. They went to Shri Muruga for help. Shri Muruga approached Shri Parvati Devi and got a sphear (vel) from her. He proceeded to Thiruchendur with a blessing of his mother with the Shaktivel and destroyed the demon and asuras. Hence he is praised as Singara Velar (Lord holding a sphear). This event is celebrated as a grand festival named Surasamhar. Shri Parvati Devi is praised as Velnedunkanni as she gave the sphear to Shri Muruga.
Kolavaman Perumal: Once the devas and rishis sought the help of Shri Mahavishnu for protection from the cruelty of the demon Emperor Mahabali. Shri Mahavishnu took Vaman avatar and came to this place and worshiped Shri Shiva. He got the blessings and the power from Shri Shiva to annihilate Emperor Mahabali. Hence Shri Mahavishnu is praised here as Kolavaman Perumal.
It is believed that idols of Shri Muruga at Sikkal, Enkan and Ettukudi were sculpted by same sculptor on the instruction of King Mutharasan. When the sculptor made the first idol at Sikkal the king did not want sculptor to make similar idols. He cut the right hand thumb of the sculptor so that he will not make any more idols. Later, Shri Muruga appeared in front of the sculptor and ordered him to make a similar idol for the temple at Ettukudi. He followed the instructions given by the Shri Muruga and completed the work without the right thumb. When the idol was installed at the Ettukudi temple, the King came to know about the same. And he blinded the sculptor. But again Shri Muruga directed him to make a similar idol for the temple at Enkan. The sculptor was working with his daughter’s help and followed the instructions given by the Lord. While working with a chisel he inflicted an injury to his daughter, a few drops of blood from the injury splashed on the sculptor’s eye. He rubbed his eyes shouting En (my in Tamil) Kan (eye in the Tamil). A that very instant his eye sight came back. When the King came to know about this incident, he came to this place and apologized to the sculptor.
Once emperor Muchukunda was afflicted with Brahmahatya dosha for killing a Brahmin. He worshiped Shri Shiva at this place and got relieved of the dosha. As a token of gratitude he built this temple.
The temple is revered by Shaiva Saints Appar and Sambandhar. The temple is spread over 2 acres. It is east facing with a seven tiered Rajagopuram and has three prakarams. There is a Kalyana Mandap in front of the temple. The Nandi idol is very huge. As this is a Mada Kovil, it has two floors and second level can be reached by climbing the stairs. There is a second level Rajagopuram which is three tiered. The Shiva Linga is a small and it has a square Avudaiyar (Base). The koshtha murtis are Shri Vinayaka, Shri Brahma, Shri Shanishwarar, and Shri Durga Devi. Near the sanctum sanctorum, we come across the shrine of Shri Chandikeshwar, Shri Somaskandarar, Shri Nataraja and utsav murty. Shri Vishnu is in a separate shrine in the northern prakaram and is praised as Shri Kolavaman Perumal. His mount Garuda faces the sanctum. By his sides, we have his consorts Shri Bhumadevi and Shri Sridevi. There is a separate shrine for Shri Hanuman in the northwest corner and he is praised as Shri Varada Anjaneya. In the second level we come across shrine of Shri Somaskanda, Shri Sringar Velar, Shri Tyagaraja. In the parikrama there are idols and shrines of Shri Ganesha, Shailesh linga, 63 Nayanmars, Shri Karthigai Vinayaka, Shri Vishnu, Shri Gajalakshmi Devi, Shri Shanmukha, Shri Bhairav, Navagraha, Shri Surya and Shri Chandra.
On the sanctum wall, we come across Sage Vashishtha and his disciples worshiping Shri Shiva and celestial cow Kamadhenu. The shrine of Ambika is on the right side of front mandap and she graces the devotees in standing position. There is an idol of Shri Ganesha known as Shri Sundar Ganapati in the lower level and by its side we have steps to reach the upper level. There is a Maragada vidanga. In the upper level, there is an idol of Shri Lingodbhavar. By the side of this idol we come across Shri Brahma with his mount Swan and Shri Vishnu with his mount Varaha worshiping the linga.
Shri Brahma is Virasan posture with Akshay mala and a snake in the upper hand, flame in the right hand. And he has a jata mukut. Front right hand is chinmudra and has palm leaves on the left hand.
In Singara Velar shrine, we have Shri Shanmukha with his consorts Shri Valli and Shri Deivanai in standing posture. In Kalyan Mandap, there are paintings which depict the marriage of Shri Parvati Devi and Shri Shiva. In the Vasant Mandap there are paintings from Purana pertaining to Shri Muruga.
People who worshiped at this place: Shri Mahavishnu, Shri Muruga, Sage Narada, Sage Agastya, Sage Vashishtha, Sage Vishwamitra, Sage Gautama, Sage Katyayana, King Muchukunda, Kamadhenu and Devas.
Festivals:
Chitrai (April-May): Annual Brahmostav festival
Vaikasi (May-June): Vishakha nakshatra festival
Aani (June-July): Thirumanjanam
Aadi (July-August): Puram festival
Aavani (August-Sept): Ganesh chaturthi
Purattasi (Sept-Oct)): Navaratri
Aipassi (Oct-Nov): Annabhishek and Skandashashthi
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Thiru karthigai
Margazhi (Dec-Jan): Thiruvathurai
Thai (Jan-Feb): Thai pusam and Pongal,
Masi (Feb-Mar): Mahashivaratri,
Panguni (March-April): Panguni Uttaram
About Skanda Shashthi festival:
In Aipassi, festival for Shri Singara Velar for 10 days is known as Skanda shashthi festival. According to Purana, Shri Muruga, received the sphear (Vel) from Shri Parvati Devi at Sikkal and slayed the demon Surapadman on the next day at Thiruchendur. After Ratha festival on the fifth day, he receives the sphear from Shri Parvati Devi. He returns to the shrine with the sphear he got from Shri Parvati Devi on the same day. Sweat drops appear on the idol of Shri Muruga in his shrine after he receives the sphear from his mother.
Pujas:
Daily Pujas: Six times a day.
Ushatkaal puja: 5.30 am
Kalasandhi puja: 9 am
Ucchikal puja: 12.30 noon
Sayaraksha puja: 4.30 pm
Second puja: 8 pm (sandhi puja)
Ardhajama puja: 9 pm
Regular pradosha puja, special puja on new moon, full moon, Krittika nakshatra sankatahara chaturthi on Mondays and on Fridays.
Prayers:
Devotees believe that by reciting the Shatrusamhar Trishati to Shri Singara Velar they will be shielded by their enemies.
Devotees pray for boon to Shri Anajaneya by offering curd rice
Devotees worship Shri Shiva for relief from various difficulties. On getting their boon, they offer butter on new moon and full moon days to Shri Vennaii Nadar as a mark of respect.
Timings: 5.30 am to 12.30 noon and 4 pm to 9 pm.
Address: Shri Navaneedhishwarar Temple (Shri Singara Velar temple), at Post Sikkal, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu, 611108
Phone: +91 4365245452, +914365245350
Priest: 8608229929
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