Kailasanathar Temple is one of the Navagraha temples and is at Thingaloor, Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu.The presiding deity is Soma (moon). However, the main idol in the temple is that of “Kailasanathar” or Shiva. The main deities here are Kailasanathar (Lord Shiva) and Periyanayagi (Goddess Parvati).
Further, it is here that Chandran prayed to Lord Siva and got his blessings. Chandran is the Lord of Kadaga Rasi and he faces the South-East direction. Also, Thingaloor Temple has Dravidian architectural style, with a five tiered gopuram over the shrine which has carvings. The sanctum enshrines main deity, the glorious Lingam of Kailasanathan.
What is the history of Thingaloor?
According to history, Rajasimma Pallavan constructed Thingaloor around 7th century. This is built similar to the Dravidian architecture. “Appothiyadigal” one of the Nayanmar out of 63 Nayanmars is from this town Thingalur. Due to the affection towards the Lord Shiva he kept his sons name as “Mootha Thirunavukarasu” and Ilaya Thirunavukarasu.”
He was doing lot of charity work for Shiva devotees in the name of Thirunavukarasu. One day by hearing that Thirunavukarasar has arrived to Thingalur, Appothiyadigal went to meet him. Latest he has asked to Thirunavukarasar to visit his home and have food. Appothiyadigal send his son to cut and bring banana leaves to serve the food for Thirunavukarasar.
There was a snake in the backyard of his home and that bite his son. If he tells that his son is dead, Thirunavukarasar won’t eat the food at his home so he wanted to hide that sad news. When Thirunavukarasar came to know the news he carried the body of Appothiyadigal’s son and worshipped to the god. The son also came back alive is the story of this temple.
Another legend
According to another legend the Devas and asuras were churning the Paarkadal using Mandhira Malai and the snake Vasuki. The asuras held the head portion of the snake and the Devas, the tail portion. When Lord Vishnu was distributing the Amrutham amongst the Devas, at the behest of Shukracharya, one of the asuras in the guise of a deva consumed the nectar.
Suryan and Chandran noticed this and complained to Lord Vishnu. An angry Vishnu used his chakrayudham (discus) to cut the Asura into two and threw them away. The head joined with a snake’s body to become Rahu Bhagavan. The body portion kept growing because the Asura had consumed Amrutham. This later joined with the head of a snake and became Kethu Bhagavan.
Now, Rahu and Ketu did not forgive Suryan and Chandran. Rahu went after Chandran and started consuming him. It is here that Chandran prayed to Lord Shiva and got his blessings.
Shiva blessed Chandran with the power to grow back to full size in 15 days after being consumed by Rahu. That is why we have the waxing and waning moon. Shiva also blessed Chandran by adorning Chandran on his forehead so that anyone who prays Shiva will have to pray Chandran.
What is the significance of the Thingaloor Temple?
Here’s the significance of Thingaloor Temple:
- Thingalur Kailasanathar temple is important for first rice feeding of the infant child known as Anna Prasanam. Kailasanathar Temple is one of the Navagraha temples in honour ofMoon god.
- Before feeding the child with rice (Annaprasana) the priest shows the child moon and a cow, thus bringing the blessings of Jaladevadha (water God) and Oushadhi Devadha (God of medicines). Devotees also believe that Jaladevadha would protect the child from cold, fever etc.
- Mental retardation, skin and nerve problems, jaundice, and fluid accumulation are the diseases that occur because of Chandra dosham. By praying to Lord Chandran, one an overcome the above afflictions. He provides his devotees with wealth, mother’s/wife’s happiness, Govt’s help, ownership of vehicle, marriage, offspring’s, prosperity, and foreign travel.
- The special offerings to moon god are Oleander flowers, cloths of white color, and raw rice with jiggery and paddy.
What are the timins ofThingaloor Temple?
Here are the timings of Thingaloor Temple:
Timings | From | To |
---|---|---|
Morning Darshan | 7:00 AM | 1:00 PM |
Evening Darshan | 4:00 PM | 8:00 PM |
What are the festivals celebrated at Thingaloor Temple?
Some of the festivals celebrated at Thingaloor temple are:
- Pournami Festival: A full moon in the Tamil month of Chitra (month of April and May), and an exalted Sun in the sign Aries mark the day of Chitra Poornima. This auspicious day is also for Lord Indra, the God of Devas. Chithra pournami is famous for Meenakshi amman and Kallazhagar also.
- Mahashivarathri Festival: The festival is celebrated on the new moon day in the month of Maagha according to the Hindu calendar. Devotees also believe that the one who performs sincere worship of Lord Shiva on the auspicious day of Shivratri attains moksha. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Shiva, who is the spouse of Kali Ma, Parvati and Durga.
- Margazhi Tiruvadhirai Festival: Tiruvathirai, or Thiruvathirai festival, in Tamil culture is observed on the day when Lord Shiva performed the Tandava. The festival is also a commemoration of Shiva’s Nakshatra (Birthday Star) Ardra.
- Panguni Uthiram Festival: It falls on the day the moon transits in the asterism of Uttara-phalguni or Uthiram in the twelfth month of the Tamil solar calendar i.e. Panguni (March-April). Devotees of Lord Muruga even pierce their bodies with needles and spikes as a sign of their devotion to the Lord.
What are the Poojas and Rituals at Thingaloor temple?
Puja at this temple is recommended for those in whose horoscope the position of Moon is weak. Chandra graha also controls the five senses of human life. Moon is the ruler of the mind and all the senses that it controls. Oblations to the Moon God at this temple helps keep all these factors on a balanced note.
How to Reach the Thingaloor Temple?
Here’s how to reach the Thingaloor Temple:
- Air: The nearest domestic airport is Tiruchirapalli Airport or Trichy Airport, 90 km east of Kumbakonam. T
- Train: The nearest railway station is Ariyalur railway station which is 29 Km from the temple.
- Road: Thingaloor Temple is about 36 km from Kumbakonam, on the way to Tiruvaiyaru.
Where to stay near Thingaloor temple?
Some of the places to stay near the temple are:
- Sri Hari Residency Contact: 99, West Raja Street, Near Sri Kumara Kottam Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu
- M.M.Hotels Contact: No. 65/65, Nellukara Street, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502
- Hotel Ramco Residency Contact: SH58, Ennaikaran, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631501
- Sree Sakthi Residency Contact: 71, Nellukara St, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu 631502
Where to eat near Thingaloor Temple?
Tamilian’s staple diet is rice and most of their food consists of grains, lentils and vegetables. ‘Sadhams’ (rice dishes) with different flavours are their specialty. Spices give a distinctive taste to dishes. Tamil Nadu Food is very different from the food of other regions like Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. There are many restaurants near the temple that offers delicious food.
- Cascade Restaurant Salem Contact: Junction Main Road 5/315 Devi Chit Funds Complex
- Tandooriwala Salem Contact: Junction Main Road
- Sri Saravana Bhavan Contact: Omalur Main Road State Bank Colony
- Selvi Mess Contact: Arthanari Nagar Opp New Bus Stand
What are some temples near Thingaloor Temple?
Some of the temples near Thingaloor Temple are:
Brihadeeswarar Temple: Thanjavur Brihadeeswara temple is one of the most ancient temple, in the city of Thanjavur in Tamil Nadu, India. Also, a long prakaram surrounds the great temple (500 feet/250 feet), and the walls surrounding the prakaram again go back to Raja Raja Cholan’s period. The walls house long pillared corridors, which abound in murals, Shiva Lingams and Nandis.
Naganathaswamy Temple: Thirunageshwaram Sri Naganathaswamy Temple is another temple, 6 kms away from Kumbakonam on the southern banks of Cauvery in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. Also, the presiding deity of Thirunageswaram Rahu Temple is Lord Naganathaswamy (Lord Shiva) and his consort Giri Gujambika (Goddess Parvathi) who is enshrined with Goddess Lakshmi and Goddess Saraswati by her side.
Apatsahayesvarar Temple: Apatsahayesvarar Temple, Alangudi is one of the Navagraha (nine planets) temples dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the village of Alangudi in the Valangaiman taluka of Tiruvarur district. Further, the uniqueness of this place is that it has Dakshinabhimukh Avatsak of Lord Shiva.
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R Saikumar says
Is the temple now open for darshan on account of this pandemic?
Please furnish postal address of the temple and telphone no.