Sikkal Singaravelan Temple

Sikkal Singaravelan Temple

Sikkal Singaravelan Temple is a traditional and popular Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Murugan. The temple is located in the village of Sikkal in Nagapattinam.

The temple is believed to have been built by Muchukunda Cholan, associated with the Tiruvarur legend. Singaravelan Temple is found in the premises of Sikkal Navaneetheswarar Temple which is the main temple. One very unique feature of the temple is that it houses the shrines of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.

Legend behind the Sikkal Singaravelan Temple

A myth associated with the temple states that Kamadhenu, the Goddess with a cow’s trunk lived in this place which was once a jasmine forest. When once Kamadhenu got cursed by Lord Shiva for eating meat, she managed to get rid of the sin by taking a bath in the holy water of the temple. She later offered her milk and the pond came to be known as Parkulam (meaning the milk pond).

The Parkulam of the temple is where Sage Vashistha is believed to have performed a pooja by making a Lingam with the butter from the Parkumal. When he tried moving the Lingam after completion of his pooja, it never moved and got stuck to the place. This is the reason the sage regarded the place as ​sikkal (getting stuck).

It is also believed that Lord Murugan had got his divine weapon (​Vel) from his mother Parvathi at Sikkal. He used this weapon to kill the demon Surapadman.

Deities in the Temple

The presiding deity is Lord Shiva manifested as Navaneetheswarar and Goddess is worshipped in the form of ​Velnedunganni. Lord Murugan is worshipped here as ​Singaravelavar. The other deities found in the temple
complex are that of Ganapathi, Mahalakshmi, Nataraja, 63 Nyanmars, Bhairava, Surya and Chandra.

The seven tiered Rajagopuram adorning the entrance to the temple is 80 feet high.

Temple Timings – Sikkal Singaravelan Temple

The temple is open for worship from ​5:30 AM to 12:30 PM​ and from ​4:30 PM to 9:00 PM​ in the evening.

Pooja Timings – Sikkal Singaravelan Temple

Pooja Timings
Usha kalam 5:30 AM
Kalasanthi 9:00 AM
Uchikalam 12:30 PM
Sayaratchai 4:30 PM
Irandan Kalam 8:00 PM
Arthajamam 9:00 PM

Festivals of Sikkal Singaravelan Temple

The most important festival observed by the temple is Soora Samharam- killing of the demon Soorapadman during the Tamil month of Aipasi (October-November). Brahmottsavam is celebrated with religious pomp for Lord Shiva during the Tamil month of Chittirai (April-May).

How to reach Sikkal Singaravelan Temple

Sikkal is situated about 5 kilometres from Nagapattinam and 18 kilomteres in the east from Tiruvarur. The nearest railway station is located at Sikkal less than a kilometre away from the temple. The nearest airport is at Chennai (300 kilometres away).