Singaravelar, Sikkal, Nagapattinam

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Singaravelar	Ambal / Thayar:	x
Deity:	Murugan	Historical name:
Vriksham:	–	Teertham:	Ksheera Pushkarini
Agamam:		Age (years):	1000-2000
Timing:	6 to 12 & 4 to 8	Parikaram:
Temple group:		–
Sung by:		Temple set:
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Sikkal	District:	Nagapattinam
Maps from (click):	Current location	Nagapattinam (6 km)	Thiruvarur (24 km)
	Mayiladuthurai (52 km)	Kumbakonam (62 km)

Location

Sthala puranam and temple information

The temple / shrine for Murugan as Singaravelar, depicting Murugan holding his Vel (spear), is located within the Navaneetheswarar temple complex in Sikkal, in Nagappatinam district. In fact, Sikkal can be said to be as well known for Singaravelar – if not more – as for the Siva temple.

Several temples speak of the legend of Murugan receiving his Vel from Parvati, prior to his battle with Soorapadman at Tiruchendur. This temple has the same puranam as well, and as a consequence, Soora Samharam is celebrated with great pomp here during Sashti. Interestingly, the murti of Murugan here is said to sprout beads of sweat, when receiving the Vel, during the annual Sashti festival! Arunagirinathar has sung on Murugan here, in his Tiruppugazh.

Murugan’s murtis at Sikkal, Ettukudi and Enkan

There is a lot of similarity among the murtis of Murugan at Sikkal, and the temples at Ettukudi and Enkan. It is said that all three were crafted by the same sculptor, who crafted the Sikkal murti first, and awestruck by it, vowed not to make another one like it. So he cut off his right thumb. But following a dream in which Murugan appeared, the sculptor crafted another idol, which is at Ettukudi. When this was done, he blinded himself. But Murugan appeared in yet another dream, and with the help of his daughter, he started creating a third murti, of Murugan on his peacock. Due to an accident, his chisel hit the girl, and the blood that sprouted from her wound hit the sculptor’s eyes, giving him back vision. The murti he crafted was installed at the temple, and the place was named Enkan (my eye, in Tamil).

A slightly different version of the above story is that after the first murti was sculpted, the Chola King Mutharasan had the sculptor’s thumb cut off. And when the second murti was crafted despite this, the king had the sculptor blinded. But after the third murti was crafted, the king realised the greatness of the sculptor and his work, and sought pardon.

This temple is unofficially considered / regarded as the 7^th padai Veedu of Murugan, in addition to the more formally recognised six Arupadai Veedu temples.