| Description:
This Shivastalam is a maadakkovil built at an elevation in Sikkil, near Nagappattinam and Tiruvarur.
It is considered to be the 83rd in the series of Tevara Stalams in the
Chola kingdom located south of the river Kaveri. . There is a Tyagaraja Shrine here, although it is not one of the Saptavitanka Stalams.
The shrine to Singaravelar here, is of great significance. Keevalur is located in close proximity to Sikkal. Legend
has it that Muchukunda Cholan, associated with the Tiruvarur
legend built this temple.Vasishta is said to have prayed to Shiva to recover his
Kamadhenu, whose milk flowed & froze to form butter. Fashioning a Lingam out of Butter
(Venneippiran), Vasishtar vainfully tried to move it; it had gotten stuck (Sikkal).
Interestingly, Tirukkannankudi - a Vaishnava Divyadesam (near Keevalur nearby) has a
legend associated with Vasishtar offering worship to an image of Krishna which he had
fashioned out of butter. The Ksheera Pushkarini (Paal Kulam) tank is located behind
the temple.
Legend also has it that Vishnu sought the blessings of Shiva before venturing out to
the court of the demon king Mahabali, and there is a Kola Vaamana Perumaal shrine adjacent
to the temple.
The Temple: The 7 tiered Rajagopuram that adorns the entrance to this
temple is about 80 feet in height. Inscriptions from the Imperial Chola period and
from the Vijayanagar period abound in this temple which covers an area of about 2 acres.
The Kartikai Mandapam in the forefront exhibits a number of paintings depicting legends
related to Subramanya.
Festivals: Six worship services are offered each day here. A number of
marriages are performed in this temple in the kalyana mandapam. The annual Bhrammotsavam
is celebrated in the month of Chittirai. Singaravelar receives his Vel (Spear) from Devi,
during Skanda Sashti Utsavam in the month of Libra; and it is believed that his image then
breaks out in sweat. Soorasamharam is enacted here during this festival. |
