Veerasekarar Temple, Sakkottai, Sivaganga
Veerasekarar
Temple is dedicated to Hindu God Shiva located at Sakkottai in
Sivagangai district near Karaikkudi. This was called Veeravanam in olden
days. Moolavar is known as Veerasekarar (Thirumudithalumbar). Mother
is called as Umayambigai (Umayaval). Lord Shiva in the temple is a
swayambumurthy. Boiled rice is offered as nivedhana to the Lord.
The
Brahmotsavam is conducted for 10 days in the month of Aani. Kanda Chola,
Pandya kings have worshipped at this sthalam. U.Ve Swaminatha Iyer
has sung the praise of this Lord. The temple is maintained by 130 pulli
Devakottai Nagarathars through former Chief justice A R Lakshmanan and his
family. They have their madam which was renovated recently.
Legends
Shiva curing leprosy of a King:
A hunter
who wandered here once, dug a place to pick the Valli roots under the ground,
but was shocked to find a Linga bleeding from there. He immediately
informed the king. Sooner the king heard the news; he was cured of the leprosy
he was suffering from. In expression of his gratitude, the king built this
temple.
Miracle of Veerai Tree changing to Jack Tree:
A Pandya
king who visited the temples doubted the miracles performed by Lord. When
he went round the Lord first, the Veerai tree changed into a Jack tree. Shocked
king sought the pardon of the Lord. God told him that his illness would be
cured if he consumed the fruits of the tree. After his doing so, the tree
became Veerai tree again. It is believed that after worshipping the Lord, if
they worship the tree, their wishes would become a reality.
Boiled Rice as Nivedhana:
Saint
Manickavasagar, during his services for the Pandya king, was on his way to buy
horses for the king. As he had no raw rice for Lord’s nivedhana, he used
the boiled rice he had with him for the purpose. From that day onwards,
the boiled rice nivedhana has come into vogue in the temple.
Lord punishing Cheaters:
A
childless Shiva devotee donated some of his cows to a Brahmin and sold the rest
to another man. The donated cows went in search of the sold cows and
joined them. When the Brahmin demanded his cows, the other man refused to
part with them and claimed that the cows belonged to them. The case went
to the king. The king asked both parties to have a dip in the sacred spring. The
cheater lost his eyes. He handed over the Brahmin’s cows and sought Lord’s
pardon. The Lord renders justice to the affected and punishes those who
aspire for the wealth of others, is the lesson drawn from the story.
The Temple
The
temple is facing east with a 7 tier Rajagopuram and a temple pond in front
with a mandapam. The temple was constructed in stages like a mada temple. There
is no inscription on the Moolavar sanctum but available in the front mandapam,
which is of latter period. In the inner prakaram 63 Nayanmars, Bairavar
Subramaniyar, Gajalakshmi, Perumal (This Vishnu statue was unearthed
during renovation at Nandavanam), Bairavar, Natarajar, Navagrahas, Veeramaram
in stone with Nagars are located. In koshtam Vinayagar, Dhakshinamurthy,
Brahma, Durgai are located.
Ambal
Sannadhi is in the front mandapam with separate Dwajasthambam, Balipeedam and
Nandhi. There are about 4 statues of Nagarathars sculptured on the pillars.
They might have done Thirupani to this temple. There is a central Mahamandapam
and one prakaram. On the inner side, to the north of the prakaram is
the Vahana Mandapam which houses processional vahanams for the
deities with exquisite workmanship.
In the
east is the temple tank, Chola theertham. There is a path round the temple
for the processional chariot. Presiding deity is called as Veerasekarar
(Thirumudi Thazumbar) and Mother is called as Umayambigai. Sthala Vriksham is
Veerai Tree. Sri Vinayaka of the temple is praised as Lord Vikrama Vijaya Vinayaka.
Lord
Veera Sekhararar and Mother Umayambigai bless the devotees from their
respective separate shrines. Lord Bhairava graces with two dog Vahanas. For
the recent period inscription it was learnt that the kumbhabhishekam was
conducted during 1887 and from other inscriptions, the temple might have
constructed during 15th to 16th century.
Temple
Opening Time
The
temple is open from 6.00 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and 4.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.
Festivals
Ten day
Aani, Aadi months covering June to August; Shivrathri in February-March and
Aipasi Skanda Sashti in October-November are the festivals celebrated in the
temple.
Prayers
Those
concerned with the welfare of the children (facing Puthra doshas); those suffering
with vision problems pray to Lord and Mother in the temple. Women offer
Thalipottu (Mangal Sutra) to Mother Ambika. Those facing speech troubles and
stammering tie bells in Lord’s shrine.
Contact
Sri
Veerasekarar Temple,
Sakkottai-
630 108,
Sivaganga
District
Phone: +91- 4565 - 272
117
Mobile: +91 - 99943 84649
Connectivity
Sakkottai
is 10 km far from Karaikudi. Bus facilities are available. The temple is
very near to Karaikudi, can be reached through Taxi and frequency of the bus is
limited. Nearest Railway Station is located at Karaikudi and Nearest Airport is
located at Madurai.
