Sri Navaneetheswarar Temple / நவநீதேஸ்வரர் திருக்கோயில், சிக்கல், சிங்காரவேலர் கோயில் / Sikkal, Nagapattinam District, Tamil Nadu.

This is the 200^th Thevaram Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam and 83^rd sthalam on the south side of river Kaveri of Chozha Nadu. Even though this is a Paadal Petra Shiva Temple, this temple is popularly known as “Sikkal, Singaravelar Temple- சிக்கல், சிங்காரவேலர் கோயில்". This is one of 28 temples where Maha Vishnu shrine is located inside the Shiva Temple.

In Periyapuranam Sekkizhar records that Thirugnanasambandar came to this temple after worshiping Lord Shiva of Thirunagai karonam and two more temples on the way to Thiruchengattankudi. But he didn’t mentions this temple in particular.

கழிக்கானல் மருங்கு அணையும் கடல்நாகை அதுநீங்கிக் கங்கை ஆற்றுச்
சுழிக்கானல் வேணியர்தம் பதிபலவும் பரவிப்போய்த் தோகைமார்தம்
விழிக்காவி மலர்பழனக் கீழ்வேளூர் விமலர்கழல் வணங்கி ஏத்தி
மொழிக்காதல் தமிழ்மாலை புனைந்தருளி அங்கு அகன்றார் மூதூர் நின்றும்

Thirugnanasambandar and Vallalar has sung hymns in praise of Lord Shiva of this temple.

வானுலாவுமதி மந்துல வும்மதின் மாளிகை
தேனு லாவுமலர்ச் சோலைமல் கும்திகழ் சிக்கலுள்
வேனல் வேளைவிழித் திட்டவெண் ணெய்ப்பெருமானடி
ஞான மாகநினைவார்வினை யாயின நையுமே

...... திருஞானசம்பந்தர்

 -“ஓகையறா
விக்கல் வருங்கால் விடாய் தீத்துல கிடைநீ
சிக்க லெனுஞ்சிக் கற்றலோனே

...... திருஅருட்பா

Moolavar  : Sri Navaneetheswarar, Sri Vennai Nathar,
                  Sri Vennaichapiran.
Consort    : Sri Sathyathatchi, Sri Vel Nedunganni

Some of the salient features of this temple are……
The temple is facing east with a 7-tier Rajagopuram. This is one of the Mada Koil and is big in size. A Kalyana mandapam is in front of the temple. Nandavanam is in the prakaram after the Rajagopuram. The second level Rajagopuram is of 3 tiers. Kolavanna Perumal is in a separate sannadhi. Singaravelar, Somaskandar and Thiagarajar are on the upper level. Utsava murtis are in ardha mandapam. Moolavar is of swayambhu little small on a square avudayar. In Koshtam Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Sanieswarar, Brahma and Durgai. Somaskandar, Natarajar, and Urchavars are near the sanctum sanctorum.

In praharam Vinayagar, 63var, Saneeswarar, on the sanctum wall, Vashistar with his disciples worships Kamadhenu, Karthigai Vinayagar, Viswanathar, Gajalakshmi, Arumugar, Bhairavar, Navagrahas, Suriyan, and Chandran.

Ambal sannidhi is on the right side of the front mandapam. Ambal is in standing posture. After Sundara Ganapathy, steps are constructed to reach the Thiagarajar sannathi.  This is not included in one of the sapta vidanga sthalams. Vidangar is Maragatha vidangar. Singaravelar Sannathi is famous in this temple. Kolavannaperumal is in a separate Temple.

The Kshethra kovai Pillai thamizh also praises Lord Muruga as Singaravelan of this temple.

கற்பகா டவிதடவு மண்டபம் கோபுரம்
        கனகமதில் நின்றிலங்கும்
சிக்கலம் பதிமேவு சிங்கார வேலனாம்
        தேவர்நாய கன்வருகவே
திகழும்வெண் ணெய்ப்பிரா னொருபா லுறைந்தமெய்ச்
        செல்வபா லகன்வருகவே

ARCHITECTURE
The Temple Complex consists of Amman Temple, Maha mandapam, Singaravelar Sannidhi, Thiagarajar sannidhi, Lord Shiva’s VeRRu thalam / first level, Moolavar Vimanam, Mukha mandapam,  etc,.

The Moolavar sanctum sanctorum and the mandapas are on this Verru thalam/ empty floor. This is very much similar to Thiagarajar, temple. This floor is on a upanam Padma jagathy, peru vajanam, Brahmakantha pilasters Vettu tharanga pothyals, and Partibandha adhistanam. Lingothbavar and Sri Dakshinamurthy are at the ground level thalam. Dakshinamurthy is sitting in veerasana posture holding akkamala, and snake in the upper hands flame in the left hand, wearing Jadamakudam, Makara, padra kundalas, Chavadi muthu malas, yagnopaveetha, kaivalai dress below waist. Front right in Chin mudra and holding palm leaves in front left hand. Shiva’s one hand is on Rishabam in pallava hastam.

Moolavar Vimanam is of 5.57 meters square on a pratibandha adhistanam, with Jagathi, Kumuda and Vyalavari. The Bhitti starts with Vedigai, Vishnukantha pilasters, poo mottu pothyals and prastram. Prastram is with Valapi, Kapotam and Viyyalavari. Bhutaganas are in the valapi. The Karnapathi and salapathi are protruding out side as padra sala. The adhisthana sala is of Kapotabandham. Kudapancharas are in Aharai or saleelantharam ie the space between salaipathi and karnapathi. Devakoshta pancharas are supported by indra kantha pilasters. Vinayagar, Dakshinamurthy, Lingothbavar ( Brahma and Maha Vishnu are on both sides, in addition to this varaha and Annam are also on the Lingam ), Brahma are in the upper level koshtams.

The super structure above the Bhoomi desam was built with Bricks. Dakshinamurthy, Maha Vishnu and Brahma images are in the Vimanam Thala Kostas and greevam. The Sigaram is of vesara style with 4 maha nasis and alpha nasis.

The entrance of the sanctum sanctorum is with ashtamangala symbols, like, kuthuvilakku, kudam, umbrella. The entrance is supported by indra kantha pilasters and kuda pancharas are after that.     

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
This is one of the Mada temple believed to be built by Ko Chengat Chozha, latter the same was reconstructed as stone temple during Chozha period and further extended by Vijayanagara / Thanjavur nayakas. Further renovations were carried out by Nattukottai Nagarathars. Sri Alagappa Chettiar and his wife's bas relief is on the mandapa pillar.

The inscriptions recorded from this temple belongs to Pandya king Jadavarman Veera Pandyan, Vijayanagara Kings Sadasiva Maharayar and Veera Bhupathy Achyuta Deva Maharayar. As per the inscriptions Lord Shiva was called as “Pal Vennai Nayanar”.

A Grantha inscription inscribed in Vijaya year speaks about the Sikkal Mahatmyam, mentioned in Skanda Purana. Also it records those who are worshiped Lord Shiva, Trees like, Arasamaram, Aalamaram, Temple Tanks Palai Kulam, Munivars like Surabi Vasishtar, Viswamitra, Musukunda Chakravarthi, Naradar, Gouthamar, Kathyaayanar, and Agathiyar. This place was mentioned as kayasiras and Deva sannithiyam in the poem inscription.

Vijayanagara King Sadasivarayan ( Sakam 1482 is 1556 CE ) inscription records the appointment of Ramarasaiyar’s son Krishnamarasaiyar to Thiruvarur Gnanaprakasa Pandaram Temple as caretaker. Achutharaya period, land was gifted for Kumaraswamy’s utsavam.

In Veera Pandya’s inscription records the donation of money made to worship of Palvennai Nayanar. Sadasiva maharayar ( Saka 1482 ie 1560 CE ) inscription records that, as per the order of Thiruvarur Gnanaprakasha Pandaram Krishnamarayan, Sikkal, Vadakudi and Vedachery appointment as Manager of these Villages. The Achutha deva Maharayar period inscription records the endowment of burning Lamps and celebration at Kumarasamy sannathi, at Palvennai Nathar temple, for the same donations were made. 

Vijaya year inscription records the donation of Village Kandaswamy pettai by Arangapparajar.

The Temple was renovated, Rajagopuram and Kalyana mandapam was built by Nattukottai Nagarathar, Karumuthu Azhagappa Chettiar,Sannathi and Kumbhabhishekam was also conducted in the year 1932 / 35. During his period encroachers on the temple lands were cleared, and Taxes/rents were also levied on the temple buildings. The revenue from the temple buildings was utilized for the poojas and improvements. His son Karumuthu Thyagaraja Chettiar is taking care of the temple since 1944.

Ref

Nagapattinam Mavatta Kalvettukkal

Inscriptions above the sthalapurana bas-relief

LEGENDS
It is believed that Maha Vishnu, Murugan, Sages Naradar, Agasthiyar, Vasishtar, Viswamitra, Gauthamar, Kathyayana, Chozha King Muchukunda Chakravarthy and Kamadhenu worshiped Lord Shiva of this temple. This place was also called as Malligaivanam or Mallikaranyam during ancient times. 

As per the legend Devas requested Maha Vishnu to relieve them from the troubles caused by the demon King Mahabali. Since Mahabali was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva, Maha Vishnu worshiped Lord Shiva before taking the Vamana Avathar to kill Mabali Chakravarti. Lord Shiva blessed him to annihilate Mahabali. Hence Maha Vishnu is praised as “Sri Kolavanna Perumal” and his shrine is next to Sri Navaneetheswarar Sannathi.

Vasishta Maharishi made Shiva Linga out of Kamadhenu’s butter. After the poojas the Maharishi couldn’t take it, since the Shiva Linga was struck up ( Sikkal – சிக்கல்) with the base, this place was called Sikkal. Lord Shiva was called “Vennai Lingeswarar”

As per the Legend, the Devas requested Lord Shiva and Parvati to relieve them from the Soorapadman’s torture. Ma Parvati gave a Vel/spear to Lord Muruga to destroy him. Lord Muruga destroyed him at Thiruchendur. Murugan split him in two parts of which one turned as Peacock and other as hen. Lord Muruga granted Peacock as vahana and hen as Kodi / flag. This event is being celebrated as “Soorasamharam”. Lord Muruga, in this temple, is praised as “Singara Velan”.  During Soorasamharam, at the time of getting vel/spear from Ambal, sweating appears on the face of Lord Muruga, it happens even in these days also. There is proverb states that “Sikkalil Vel vaangi senthooril samharam – சிக்கலில் வேல் வாங்கி செந்தூரில் சம்ஹாரம்”.   

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS
Brahmotsavam is conducted in the month of Chithirai. A 10-day Brahmotsavam is conducted for Singaravelar. In that after 5^th day’s chariot procession, Muruga gets the Vel from Ambal to vanquish Suran.

Apart from regular poojas, special poojas are conducted on Vaikasi Visakam in the month Vaikasi ( May – June ), Aani Thirumanjanam in the month Aani ( June – July ), Aadi pooram in the month Aadi ( July – Aug ), Vinayagar Chathurthi in the month Avani ( Aug – Sept ), Navaratri in the month Purattasi (Sept-Oct), Skanda Sashti and Annabhishekam in the month Aippasi ( Oct – Nov ), Thirukarthigai in the month Karthigai ( Nov – Dec ), Thiruvathirai in the month Margazhi ( Dec – Jan ), Makar Sankranti and Thaipoosam in the month Thai ( Jan – Feb ), Maha Shivaratri in the month Masi ( Feb – March ), Panguni Uthiram in the month Panguni (March – April ) and monthly pradoshams.

TEMPLE TIMINGS
The temple will be kept open between 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs and 16.00 hrs to 21.00 hrs.

CONTACT DETAILS
The temple landline numbers +91 4365 245 452, 245 350, and Siva Gurukkal +91 86082 29929, may be contacted for further details.

HOW TO REACH 
This is on the bus route Thiruvarur to Nagapattinam.
The Temple at Sikkal is 6 KM from Nagapattinam, 22.6 KM from Thiruvarur, 23 KM from Karaikal 29 KM from Mayiladuthurai, 47 KM from Mannargudi, 61 KM from Kumbakonam, and 305 KM from Chennai.
Nearest Railway Station is Nagapattinam.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE : CLICK HERE

A squatting lion Pillar

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA ---

The Heritage visit to this Sri Navaneetheswarar Temple at Sikkal was a part of the “Mada Temples Heritage Walk in Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai Districts”, organized by “Chozha Mandala Varalatru Thedal Kuzhu – GCHRG, on 05th and 6th March 2022.   Thanks to V Ramachandran, Tahasildar of Nagapattinam, who took us to all these Temples. This is the second visit to this temple.