Unique Pilgrim Centre
According
to legend, once upon a time the sacred cow Kamadenu was cursed
by Lord Shiva when it ate meat. Later feeling guilty of its action it
god rid of its sin by praying to perumal in this temple. After getting
rid of the Sin, Kamadenu offered its milk which later become Porkulam
the milk pond, which is located behind the temple. It is the holy water
point of this temple. Vasista Maharishi performed a pooja here,
by making a lingam from the butter in the pond. After completing
the pooja he tried to move that lingam, which sticked to that place,
and never moved. As a result Vasista Maharishi regarded this place as
Sikkal.
During the month of Iyppasi a ten day festival is celebrated for Lord Muruga. On the fifth day after the completion of car festival, lord Muruga returns to his Sannidhi with the weapon (vel) which he got from the goddess here. After few hours sweat drops are seen on the statue of Lord Muruga, which is unbelievable. The local proverp is "Get the Vel in Sikkal and perform Surasamharam in Tiruchendoor".
This temple is one of the important Murugan temple in Tamilnadu,
and in particular one of the noted temples in Nagapattinam. It is located in
the village of Sikkal, which is five kilomenters west of Nagapattinam
and eighteen kilomenters east of Tiruvarur on the way to Nagapattinam.
The scene where Lord Muruga gets vel from his mother
Gnanambigai is spectacular. The front mandalam (figure) of
Lord Muruga appears bright like gold, due to sun rays falling on it.
With music from four types of organs in the background and a smilling
face, Lord Muruga returns to Somaskandhar sannidhi very quickly like an
arrow shot from a bow. Sweat appear like snow on the figure of Lord Muraga,
even when cooled with peacock feather, and dried with silk and rose petals.
Even if a part of weat drops found on the walls of sannidhi sprinkles, one
will attain the benefit of this life.
Presiding Deity
The presiding deity of this temple is known as Sri
Navaneethaswara Swami in Sanskrit, since
Vasista Maharishi has worshipped this deity by making
a statue with butter. Navaneethaswara Swami helped Kamadenu
to get rid of its sins.
Pressing Goddess
The presiding goddess of this temple transformed
her powers into “Velayutham” a weapon for
Lord Murugan to destroy Suran.
Daily Pooja Schedule
Six Kala pooja is performed in this temple every day,
following Kaaranagama procedure
Uchsakaalam |
5.30 AM |
Kaalasandhi |
9.00 A.M |
Uchikaalam | 12.30 P.M |
Saayaratchi | 4.30 P.M |
Second time pooja | 8.00 P.M |
Arthajamam | 9.00 P.M |
Art & Architecture
This temple established by Ayodhya rulers several hundred
centuries ago, was constructed by Sochchengat Cholan in 4th Century.
Rajagopuram found before the temple conotains seven
stages, it is eighty feet in height. Beautiful plaster sculptures portraying the destruction of Suran are found ibn the Rajagopuram of this temple. Also there are paintings in Vasantha Mandapam also known as Karthigai Mandapam, depicting puranas like Kanda Puranam, Kandan Tiruvilaiadal, and the career of Lord Muruga from birth to his marriage. Plaster sculptures of Lord perumal and scenes depicting Marisha Vadham are found in this sanctum sanctorum of this temple. Plaster figures of Dhashinamoorthy, Murugan, Natarajar, Thiyagarajar, Pathanjali, Viyakorapathar, and of Gajendra motcham, penance of saint Dhuruva are present here. Beautiful painting depicting the marriage of goddess parvathi is seen in Kalyana Mandapam. There is a beautiful sculpture of Vaikundanathan seated in Perumal Sannidhi. Inscription are found in this temple. Two cars with scultptures, kalyana chariot, golden vehicles are present in this temple. Gold plated horse, peacock, goat and silver rishaba vehicle are present in this temple.
Welfare Schemes
For the well being of general public purified water is provided.
Devotees Endowment
Nithya pooja scheme, Geedeepam scheme, Kartigai scheme
Transport Facilities
Bus service is available around the clock as it is on the State highway connecting Nagapattinam and Trichy upto Sikkal, which is located three stone distance west from Nagapattinam.
Temple Administration
The HR & CE department has appointed an Executive Officer for the adminisitrations of this temple. Alsothere are 20 subordinate officials working under his control. The annual revenue of this temple is about sixteen lakhs rupees. Other course of revenues are from offerings. The temple has 175 acres of dry land and 929 acares of wet land. This temple is the foremost temple under the control of HR&CE Department.
Close by Picnic Spots:
Nagore is located seven kilometers from Sikkal (bus facility is available) Velanganni shrine is located twelve kilomenters from Sikkal (Bus facility is available)
Lodging Facilities
Lodging facilities are available near this shrine.
Boarding Facilities
Boarding facilities are available near this temple.
Details chariot
A silver chariot renovated with a budget of ten lakh rupees is kept in a separate mandapam in the south-eastern part of Sancturn Sanctorum. Also there are two wooden chariots. One is used during chitrai festival and trhe other is used during kandhasasti festival.
Train Service:
Train service is available upto Sikkal, the temple is just one and half kilometers from the station.
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Holy Water Points
Parkulam (milk pond) formed by Kamadenu, and Ammakulam Gayatheertham, Ilakkumi Theertham, Virutha Kaveri are the holy water points in this temple.
Religious Festivals
Chitrai brahmotsavam, Kandasasti festival, Vishakam, monthly Karthigai festivals are celebrated in this temple.
Temple Lore
According to legends the sacred cow Kamadhenu’s face turned into a tiger’s face due to its sins. It got back its face, after it took bath in the holy water point of this temple and worshiped here, as tole by Lord Shiva. While taking bath in the pond, milk secreted from Kamadhenu. Soon the whole pond was mixed with milk and it turned into a milk pond Vashista Maharishi (saint) formed in lingam from the butter of this pond and worshipped Lord Shiva here. After completing the pooja when he tried to move the Lingam from that place, it got sticked to that place like a stone (kal) and did not moved. As a result this place came to be known as Sikkal It is believed that this is the statue of Sri Navaneethaswarar, we see here in Sikkal.
Literature and Hymns
Tiru Gnanasambandar has sung about this temple.
Inscriptions
The following inscriptions are found in this temple.
Offering fee structure
Kodideepam
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Rs. 3
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Gee Deepam for a Year
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Rs. 500
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Monthly Karttikai Endowments
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Rs. 300
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For foreign nationals
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Rs. 500
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Nithya Pooja scheme(for a single kalam)
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Rs. 1,000
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Daily pooja (for each day)
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Rs. 6,000
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Halls for worship
The following mandapams are found in this temple. Kalyana mandapam. This mandapam is found in front of the temple. It is full of artistic works. This mandapam is huge measuring 300 feet in length and 60 feet in width. It can accommodate more than 4,000 people. It was constructed in 1932.
Karttikai Mandapam. This mandapam charming to look at contains paintiangs from Kandhapuranam. Abhisekam is performed to Singaravelar here during Karttikai festival.
Nearby Temple
There are temples in Nagapattinam which is three kilometers from Sikkal. The temples are Sri Kayaroghanaswamy Temple, Sri Neelayadatchi Amman Temple, Sri Saundiraraja Peruma temple, and Sri Dhamodara Narayana Perumal Temple in Tirukunnakudi which is one among the 108 Vaishnavaite temples.
Sannidhi Specialities
Singhara Velan Sannidhi is given more importance than the Sannidhis of presiding deity and goddess. Sikkal is known for Lord Singaravelar. The moment we spell Sikkal, Singaravelar comes to our mind. Sikkal ploayed and important role in cine field, the music and songs portrays the pride of Singaravelar who obtained vel from goddess is seen facing toward sound in his sannidhi, just like Sri Nataraja Perumal seen facing toward south in Chitrambalam, after cosmic dance before Pathanjali Viyagrapatha Saint.
It has all the three features of a temple known as Moorthi (Idol), Teertham (holy water) and sthalam. Arunagirinathar has sung in praise of this temple in his work”Tirupugal” According to legends sweat appears on the deity of this temple, three hour after sweating, salts due to the sweat can be seen on the body. A commissioner of East India Company has indicated about this in his note. Even when it is raining outside sweat drops appears on the walls of the sannidhi and on the deity's body.
Devas reported to Tirumal, the troubles caused to them by Mogabali Chakravarti who is ruling the earth. Lord Tirumal manifested himsellf and took the form of Vaman, and reached Sikkal. He created the Gaya Teertham. He took holy nath in the theertham and prayed to Sri Navaneethaswarar to provide strength to destroy Magabalichakravarti, and the equipments requested by devas. Sri Navaneethaswarar appeared before him and blessed him with strength to destroy magabali. Tirumal destroyed Magabali Chakravarti and brought relief to devas. Tirumal temple is remaining as a pride to this tempsle in Sikkal. Now he is blessing the devotees with the name
Kolavamana Perumal.
Anjaneyar
Lord Anjeneyar blessing the devotees has a separate sannidhi in the north west corner of this temple. Devotees offer curd rice footbag so that their wishes are satisfied.
Recent Renovations
The development work of this temple was started with the renovation works of mandapams, towers (gopuram) and vimanam.
The people of Natukkottai constructed and renovated many temples with large funds and spread belief god.
Ramanathapuram district Aathikadu Therkoor Tiru Karumuthu Alagappa Chettiyar remained as trustee this temple for 35 years from 1899. Karumuthu A.L. Tyagaraja Chettiyar also constributed for the better
administration and Tiruuppani works. Noted industrialist and philanthropist madurai Tiru Karumuthu T. Kannan followidng the good will of his ancestors has done Rajagopuram Tiruppani and other development works for the temple now.
Tirukalyana Mandapam a huge hall was constructed, golden vehicles, Ornaments,
gold vests were made by Tiru .Karumuthu Alagappa Chettiyar. Mahakumbashikam
was conducted on 5.6.1933 with 8 lakhs Rupees (including development works) later
Kumbabhishekam was conductred in 28.8.1960 and 26.4.1991. Now the Tiruppani work
is going on speedy by the donors under the instructions from the HR & CE
Administration Department and by expected consecration by February 2004.
Note:
Every fullmoon and Newmoon day ghee pasted to the moolasthanam (Navaneedheswarar) for rectifying our sins and get entire blessing of Lord Navaneedheswara.
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