Sikkal Singaravelan Temple – It Is One Of The Oldest Hindu Temple For Both Vishnu And Shiva Dieties

SIKKAL SINGARAVELAN TEMPLE

AT

NAGAPATINAM

The temple is located in the village of Sikkal, near Nagapattinam in Tamilnadu. Sikkal Singara Velan Temple is one of the most popular Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Muruga and a contender for the unofficial seventh Padai Veedu of Muruga, along with the popular Arupadaiveedu (six abodes of Lord Muruga).

It is one of the rare traditional Hindu temples that have both Shiva and Vishnu deities in the same complex. It is one of the shrines of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams - Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar Tirugnanasambandar.The main deity of the temple is Lord Shiva as Navaneetheswarar. However, primary importance is given to Lord Subrahmanya Swamy here.

The temple is regarded as an unofficial 7th Padaiveedu of Muruga, along with the other Arupadaiveedu shrines (6 homes of Lord Muruga). This is the 200th Devaram Paadal Petra Shiva sthalam and 88th sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu. Although it is a Shiva temple it is more famous for the Murugan here and is known as Singaravelan temple. There is a perumal temple next door which is also a unique feature.

Once upon a time, Kamadenu was cursed by lord Shiva, when it ate meat. Later feeling guilty of its action, it got rid of its sin by taking bath in the holy water point of this temple and worshiped here, as told by Lord Shiva. After getting rid of the sin, Kamadenu offered its milk which later become Parkulam (literal meaning: the milk pond), which is located behind the temple.

Six worship services are offered each day here. A number of marriages are performed in this temple in the kalyana mandapam. Bhrammotsavam for Shiva is celebrated in the month of Chittirai, while the Skanda Sashti annual festival is celebrated for 10 days in the month of Aippasi.

On the fifth day of the festival, a bejeweled image of Skanda is gifted with a spear, in Velnedunkanni's shrine, and the image of Skanda is said to break out in sweat upon receipt of the spear. Karthikai asterism each month attracts large crowds here, when the processional image of Singaravelar is placed in the Karthikai Mandapam.

It is this holy water point (The Parkulam) of the temple where Vashista Maharishi performed a pooja here, by making a lingam with the butter from the Parkulam. After completing the pooja he tried to move that lingam, but it sticked to that place, and never moved.

As a result Vashista Maharishi regarded this place as Sikkal. Here the Lord Shiva is called ‘Thiru Vennai Nathar’ (Vennai means butter) as he was made up of butter. Interestingly, Thirukkannankudi - a Vaishnava Divyadesam (near Keevalur nearby) has a legend associated with Vasishta offering worship to an image of Krishna which he had fashioned out of butter.

It is also said that Lord Murugan had got his Vel (weapon) from his divine mother at Sikkal, to kill the Asura, Soorapadman in Srilanka. He performed Soora Samharam (literal meaning: killing Soorapadman) by setting up the base camp in Thiruchendur

The day before the ‘Soora Samharam’, Singaravelar (Lord Murugan) would get the “Vel” (a weapon) from Ambal and the following day he would quell Soora. Prior to this Singaravelar would appear indignant and he couldn’t manage the power of Vel and he started sweating.

Even today, a day before Soora Samharam he will sweat and when they try to wipe the sweat using silk cloth it won’t stop. This is a wonder here and it is called “Sweating wonder”.The temple worship timings are from 5.30 AM to 12.30 PM and evening: 4.30 PM to 9.00 PM.

By Air

Nearest Airport is located at Chennai. 

By Train

Nearest Railway Station is located at Sikkal

By Bus

It is 5 kilometers in the West from Nagapattinam and 18 kilometers in the East from Thiruvarur on the way to Nagapattinam

Nagore Dargah – Pilgrims Believe That All Aliments Cures From The Blessings Of Mian Sahib

NAGORE DARGAH

AT

NAGAPATINAM

The Nagore Dargah of Meeran Sahib Abdul Qadir Shahul Hamid Badshah is a spiritual and scared shrine in South India . It is one of the biggest popular pilgrimage centers for Muslims in Tamil Nadu. It can be reached through a short drive from Nagapattinam, Nagore seems to be a busy pilgrimage, with bus-loads of tourists arriving from all over the state. The features of this famous Dargah include beautiful domed arches and lovely minarets.

The Dargah is also visited by Hindus and is a fine example of the harmonious co-existence of Hindu – Muslim communities. Nagore Dargah is an important and revered pilgrimage place in Nagore. This Muslim shrine is dedicated to Meeran Sahib Abdul Qadir Shahul Hamid Badshah.

This dargah attracts thousands of devotees all through the year Tamil Nadu adventure tours. The structure of the Dargah is attractive with domed arches and lovely minarets. The largest tower has a height of 131 ft and is known as ‘Periya Minara’. There are five minarets and a water tank known as Peer Kulam. It is believed that the water in this tank has curative powers.

It is established in an area of 5 acres with four impressive entrances on all four directions. The 131 ft tall Minaret called ‘Periya Minara’ was built by the Thanjavur King Pratap Sing in the 18TH Century, about 200 years after Meeran Sahib passed away.

It is believed that a carpenter who was cured of his disease by the miracle of Mian Sahib, presented him a pair of sandals made from finest wood. The same was used by Mian Sahib and it is said to be kept in a Golden Box next to the tomb. Kanduri festival is a 14-day event that is celebrated as the annual urs(anniversary).

The Dargah is Famous because of Hazrath  SYED SHAHUL HAMEED QADIRI ( QADIRI ) QADIR WALIHazrath  SYED SHAHUL HAMEED QADIRI ( QADIRI ) QADIR WALI is direct 22nd  Decentant of Halarath Syedina Shah Ahmed Mujthaba Muhammad Mustafa (Sallalahu Alaihi wassalam) And 9th Direct Decentant from Halarath Syed Mohideen Shaik Abdul kaadhir Jeelani bagdhahi Raliyallahu thaalanahu.

Mian sahib was born in Manikpur of Ayodyapuri and at the age of 5 he was qualified as Hafiz al Quran. He was a great scholar in Arabic and Persian. He went to Gwalior at the age of 18, to be the disciple of Syed Mohammed Houdu Sathari, a Preacher and Social Reformer.

Mian Sahib took over the service and followed the foot steps of his Teacher and taught many youngsters about Islam and took them to the Ajmer Dargah and then to Meeca and Medina and performed Hajj. On his return, he began his Islamic Tabligh and he reached Kayalpattinam of the then Thanjavur Kingom via Ponnali Harbour of Malabar Coast.

King Achuthappa Nayakar of Thanjavur, had donated 5 acres of land on which the Dargah Shrine is located, as a gesture for curing the disease the Kings was suffering from.Vanjur Shrine is located 2 Kms from the Dargah where Mian Sahib meditated for nearly 40 days in an underground cave.

One Km from the main campus is the Silladi Shrine over looking Bay of Bengal. Thousands of Pilgrims throng this Dargah every day with the belief that Mian Sahib still blesses and cures all ailments including the Mental illness.

By Air

The nearest airport is at Trichy situated in Tamilnadu at a distance of 150-km from Nagore.

By Train

The nearest railway station is at Nagapattinam, at a distance of 4-km from the Dargah.

By Bus

There are regular buses to Nagore from Nagapattinam (4-km), Karaikal (12-km), Thanjavur (78-km), Chennai (90-km) and other neighbouring cities and towns. Nagore Dargah is a Awesome Place For Vacations.

Velankanni Church Gearing Up To Receive Lakhs Of Devotees For 11 Days Festival

VELANKANNI FESTIVAL

AT

NAGAPATINAM

The festival starts on August 29 with the hoisting of the church flag and would end on September 8.

A total of around 800,000 devotees are expected to render their prayers at the basilica Our Lady of Health located in Velankanni – a small town in Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu – during the 11 day festival, said an official. The festival starts on August 29 with the hoisting of the church flag and would end on September 8.

“Around seven-eight lakh devotees from different faiths are expected to visit Velankanni church during the festival that starts on August 29. On certain days the number of people will go up to 300,000,” Fr E.J.Thomas, Director, Shrine Media told IANS over phone from Velankanni. He said people from the southern states and also from Maharashtra, Odisha and other states would visit Velankanni during the festival time.

A police official in Velankanni told IANS that security and other arrangements have been made to handle the devotees who congregate in large numbers. “There are open space around the church and crowd management will not be an issue,” the police official added not wanting to be quoted.

According to Thomas, special mass will be held in Tamil, English, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi and Konkani. During the festival, the church car will be pulled by the devotees.

He said this is the first festival after the renovation of the main shrine. The state-owned transport corporation and Indian Railways have announced special services to handle the additional passenger load to Velankanni from different places.