Navaneetheswarar Temple, Sikkal – Religious Significance

Navaneetheswarar Temple, Sikkal – Religious Significance

Mada Kovils:

Kochengat Chola was an early Chola king and one of the 63 Nayanmars (Saivite saints) of Saivism. He is believed to have attained spiritual rebirth of a spider that fought with an elephant in its previous birth over the worship of the Lord Shiva. He had red eyes during birth as he remained in his mother’s womb a little longer. His mother, looking into the baby red eyes said Kochengkannano (in Tamil Ko=king, Cheng=red, Kan=eyes), which literally means king with red eyes and hence he was named Kochengat Cholan. After becoming a king, he followed Saivism and built 70 Maadakovils, temples with elevated structure where elephants cannot reach the sanctum, in the Chola empire. It is believed that this is one of the temple built by him.

Paadal Petra Sthalams:

This Temple is considered as one of the shrines of the 276 Paadal Petra Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Thevaram hymns. This Temple is the 200^th Devara Paadal Petra Shiva Sthalam and 83^rd sthalam on the south side of river Cauvery in Chozha Nadu.

Thirupugazh Sthalam:

Lord Murugan of this Temple is praised by Saint Arunagirinathar in his revered Thirupugazh hymns.  

Shiva Vishnu Temples:

There are about 28 temples in Tamil Nadu where shrines of Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu are housed in the same temple complex. This Temple is considered one among them.

Sakthi Peethas:

This Temple is considered one among the Sakthi Peethas in Tamil Nadu.