The Mystery of the Sweating Idol, Sikkal

SIKKAL. Huh? What a word? Why would a place even be named so? (To the tamil uninitiated it means “Dilemma”, as also “Caught”). And why does this tiny town go crazy with stampeding people every year sometime in October-November? Fitting answers await in this post to these perplexing questions about a shrine located near Nagapattinam dedicated to Skandha, the Commander of the Deva Army and the chief god of Kaumaram of the Shanmadas, just like Ganesha is that of Ganapathyam.

The legend takes us back to the times of Vashishta. Once, when there was a severe drought in the Devaloka, Kamadenu, the celestial cow, was forced to eat some meat to satisfy her hunger. Angered by her un-bovine actions, Shiva cursed her to be born as a tiger on earth where she could eat as much meat as she pleased. Shocked at her mistake, Kamadhenu repented, whereby Shiva took pity on her and asked to perform penance towards him, at the end of which she would be awarded suitably. Kamadhenu too, obediently headed earthwards and chose to live near the present location of Sikkal, which was abound with sweet smelling jasmine creepers thus earning it the name Mallikaaranyam. There, Kamadhenu shed all her milk from her generous udders, which overflowed to form a small pond. Then turning herself into a tiger she started her penance.

Ages passed before Vashishta, the kula guru of Ikshavakus, passed that way. Attracted by the smell and the stunningly white milk-pond, he decided to rest and offer his evening prayers at that place. He gathered the butter floating on the lake and very lovingly fashioned a Shiva Linga out of it. To this Butter Linga he offered his prayers. Since the lord was caught in the butter of Vashishta’s devotion, the place earned its name Sikkal. Some people also say that when Vashishta found that his Linga could not be moved he was caught in a dilemma (Sikkal again). The dilemma was however cleared when the lord himself appeared and granted him his darshan.

Shri Navaneetheswarar

With the arrival of Vashishta, Kamadhenu found herself to be relieved of her curse. Out of overflowing gratitude towards him, she chose to remain with Vashishta to provide him with all the requirements for an ascetic life. Thus presiding deity of the place, having been made out of butter, is known as Navaneetheswarar or Vennainaathar (The Butter Lord). The Linga, to this day bears the impression of Vashishta’s fingers which were used to model the Linga.

All this forms one interesting part of the Sthala Purana. The other part is slightly more interesting and surely intriguing.

Shri Singara Velavar

Subramanya was created by Shiva for the sole purpose of destroying Surapadman, the demon king who was giving a very hard time to the Devas. Having reached a suitable age, Skandha, chose this very place to meditate upon his parents, to pray for sufficient mental and physical strength to overcome the demon king. Parvathi, pleased with her son’s prayers created a lance or the Vel from a part of her shakthi and presented it to Skandha along with her heartfelt blessings for his success. Since the lance was given by Shakthi, it is called Shakthi Vel and the Devi in this sthala is named as Velnedunkanni Amman (She whose eyes are as shapely and sharp as the Vel).

Skandha does manage to win over Surapadman, but unfortunately, he is afflicted with the Brahmahathi Dosha. Though Sooran was an asura, he was a brahmin by birth and an ardent devotee of Shiva. Killing a brahmin is one of the geatest sins according to the Vedas, and Skandha was no exception to the rule. He returned to Sikkal and once again meditated on his parents. It is believed that when he took his perfunctory bath in the holy Ksheera Theertha or the milk pond that Kamadhenu had created, he emerged out of the pond, liberated from the Brahmahathi and shining like a million brilliant suns, all traces of his war wounds gone. Very true to this, the presiding deity of Murugan here is named Singara Velavar (the Handsome Vel bearer) and is very beautiful to behold by the shining light of a camphor. And hence the Ksheera Theertha is thought to be able to deliver a person from the worst of sins and make him a new man all over again.

Shri Velnedunkanni Amman (L) and Shri Kolavamana Perumal (R)

It is also believed that when Vishnu took his Vamana avatara to subdue MahaBali Chakravarthy, he had come and worshipped Vennainaathar at Sikkal to give him the required prowess to defeat Mahabali. He still resides in the temple precincts as Kolavamana Perumal and continues to bless the devotees who visit him. The temple has been visited by Narada, Vishwamitra Maharishi, Agastya, Kaatyaayanar, Muchukunda Chakravarthi and many others. Arunagirinathar has sung about Sikkal Singaravelavar in his Thiruppugazh as also have the Nayanmars. Hence the Vennainathar shrine too occupies its place on the list of the 274 Paadal Petra Shiva Thalangal.

The main festival celebrated is the Maha Skandha Sashti which comes in the Tamil month of Aippasi (Mid October-Mid November) and celebrates the victory of Karthikeya over Soorapadman. The festival is celebrated for six days, commemorating the six days of war with Soora Padman. On the fifth day of the festival Skandha receives his Vel from his mother Velnedunkanni, amidst much gaiety and colors, to vanquish the Asura. This is velebrated with great gusto as the “Vel Vaangum Thiruvizha” and is the highlight of the festival. The amazing fact is that when Skandha prepares to receive his Vel, the utsavar idol of Singara Velavar breaks out into profuse sweating, showcasing the tension and the anger of the lord who is ready to kill the Asura. This happens every year to this very day and defies explanation. The priests continuously wipe the idol’s face with silken handkerchiefs and the sweat is sprinkled on the crowd gathered as divine Theertha. People throng the streets to witness this miracle and hope to possibly get a drop of that sweat on themselves. The sweating subsides when Velavar returns to his sanctum, the owner of the divine Vel. On the sixth day, the Soora Samhaaram takes place. Though it is not as grand and large-scale as is celebrated at Thiruchendur, the slaying of the demon king still drives home the point ‘Evil, Beware! Guha in all his divinity will protect us’.

Vennainathar Vimanam

Sikkal is located near Nagapattinam in Tamil Nadu and happens to be a must see on my temple list. It still remains a major pilgrim center for people who find themselves in difficult situations (Sikkal) in their life. Every full moon and new moon day sees Vennainathar adorned with pure butter at the Ucchi kaala Pooja. Also the Shatru-Samhara pooja in which one prays for deliverance from one’s enemies is supposed to be very potent here. The Devas are believed to have performed the Shatru Samhara Trisathi Archana to Skanda, requesting him to deliver them from the terror of Soorapadma. Every one of us should perform the Trisathi Archana in our very hearts, asking Singaravelavar to deliver us from the worst of enemies – Kama (Lust), Krodha (Anger), Lobha (Greed), Moha (Attachment) and Ahankara (Ego). மேவிய வடிவுறும் வேலவா போற்றி! தேவர்கள் சேனா பதியே போற்றி! குறமகள் மனமகிழ் கோவே போற்றி! திறமிகு திவ்விய தேகா போற்றி! இடும்பா யுதனே, இடும்பா போற்றி! கட்மபா போற்றி கந்தா போற்றி! வெட்சி புனையும் வேளே போற்றி! உயர்கிய கனக சபைக்கும் ஓர் போற்றி! மயில் நடம் இடுவோய் மலரடி சரணம்; சரணம் சரணம் சரஹண பவஓம், சரணம் சரணம் சண்முகா சரணம் சரணம் சரணம் சண்முகா சரணம் "Oh one with the loving form, Praise be to thee. Oh Lord, the General of the Devas, Praise be to Thee! Oh Lord, who captivated Valli, Praise be to Thee! He whose form is strong and dazzling, Praise be to Thee! He who conquered Idumba, Praise be to Thee! He who wears the Kadamba flowers and is known as Kandha, Praise be to Thee!  Oh Lord of the Vel, who is garlanded with Vedchi flowers, Praise be to Thee! Oh Lord, the King of the Mountains, Praise be to Thee! I surrender at the Lotus Feet of the Lord who rides the Peacock. I surrender to Thee Lord Saravanabava . I surrender to Thee Lord Shanmuga.  I surrender to Thee Lord Shanmuga." - Devaraya Swamigal in Skanda Sashti Kavasam ©kshetrapuranas.blogspot.com, Rights reserved on specific contents