I have posted a couple of blogs on odd unexplainable Phenomena in Temples of India.
Temples are places where Hindus worship, though it is not mentioned in the Vedas.
In fact the Vedas do not advocate collective worship at all.
This practice came into being after the advent of the Agamas.
For details on this subject please read my posts on Agamas under Hinduism,Indian Philosophy.
Hinduism is intertwined with the lives of the Hindus to such an extent that even many who are Hindus do not know that they are practicing what Hinduism said without realizing it.
Islam and Christianity have adapted themselves to Hindu thought processes in some respects.
Christians call The Bible, in Tamil Nadu, Vedagamam; women apply stickers in their foreheads(Kungumam, Tilak);wear Mangal Sutra;
Churches like Shrine Velankanni celebrate their Christian festivals with Dwajarohanam and pulling of chariots.
Muslims in Tamil Nadu also follow the practice of Dwajarohanam and Chariot pulling (Nagore Dargah Chandana Kood(Sandal Canopy Festival)
Such is magnetism of Hinduism that Human beings apply all attributes of Man to God.
One becomes tense and sweats in anger and Righteous Indignation.
This one notices.
In God?
Yes.
There is a Temple near Tiruvarur/Nagapattinam , Tamil Nadu, where Lord Subramanya Sweats !
Legend has it that he was handed over A Spear by Mother Goddess Parvati, to slay the Demon Soora Padma.
Amidst the Festivities of Kanda Shasti, Parvati hands over the Spear(Vel) to Lord SingaraVelar, when Sweat Beads break out on the forehead of the Idol that has been taken out in procession!
Incidentally, The Idol is the most beautiful of all the idols of Lord Muruga.
‘Sikkal’ in Tamil means, literally ‘knots’, here meaning inextricable problems.
It is believed that such serious problems will be resolved if one prays at theis temple.
Read On.
“Sikkal Singara Velan Temple is one of the most popular Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Muruga and a contender for the unofficial seventhPadaiveedu of Muruga, along with the popular Arupadaiveedu (six abodes of Lord Muruga). It is located in the village of Sikkal, near Nagapattinam inTamilnadu. It is believed in Hindu mythology that this place was once a jasmine forest and due to it pleasant smell, the semi-human goddess in Hindu mythology, Kamadenu lives here. It is one of the rare traditional Hindu temples that has both Shiva (Navaneeteswarar) and Vishnu(Venaipperuman) deities in the same complex.’
“History
Sikkil was also called Mallikaranyam in olden days as the area had jasmine flowers in abundance. A curse befell on Kamadhenu, the celestial cow, who descended to the earth to perform penance to get rid of the curse. She chose Sikkil, drained her milk which formed into a tank and she took the form of a tiger and roamed aimlessly in the fragrant forest.
One day, Sage Vasishta was passing through the forest and since it was time for his ablutions he searched for a pond where he could have his bath and perform the rituals. The sweet-scented fragrance of the flowers pervaded the atmosphere and the sage felt the presence of god there. He came to the holy pond of milk and took a dip and did his ablutions. Kamadhenu, in the form of a tiger, came in contact with the sage and was redeemed of her curse. She regained her original form.
Since Sage Vasishta wanted to worship lord Shiva, he made a Shiva Lingam, infused life into it and began his meditation. Pleased by his devotion, Shiva appeared in invisible form and an oracle was heard which declared ‘I have been caught’. The invisible voice transformed into a visible figure which was the lord himself. He came to be called Navaneeteswarar as he emerged from the cream. His consort is Vel Nedunganni Ambal. Later on, devotees constructed a temple which is the present shrine.
The holy spot is called Sikkil as the word in Tamil means catch. Since god was caught here, the place is called Sikkil.
Singaravelar
One of the foremost shrines dedicated to lord Subramanya, Sikkil attracts the devout multitude from far off places. Lord Subramanya waged a battle against demon Padmasura and in order to vanquish him, the lord came to Sikkil. Here he acquired a divine power to kill the demon. He sat in deep meditation propitiating goddess Sathyayatakshi – Parvathi. Happy with his devotion, she presented him a single-headed spear – Vel – to kill the demon.
Subramanya killed the demon after a fierce battle and since the demon was a Brahmin, the lord was cursed with brahmahathi dosha. He lost his colour and became dark. He got rid of the curse by taking a holy dip in the milky pond and regained his original colour.
Subramanya is called Singaravelar because Singara in Tamil means beautiful and since he is adorned with a spear – Vel – in his hand, he is called Singaravelar.
Kanda Sashti
Kanda Sashti is carnival time in Sikkil. Soorasamharam is celebrated with gusto at Sikkil. During Soorasamharam, Singaravelar receives his vel (spear) from his mother Shakti, during the Kanda Sashti utsavam. The temple authorities and devotees swear that the image breaks out in sweat till the vel is handed over to the lord. People in the surrounding villages and towns throng the temple to witness Soorasamharam.
http://www.chennailivenews.com/Kanda%20Sashti/Features/20102208062206/Sikkil-Singaravelar.aspx
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