Kailsanadar Thingalur

Saivite Temples, Thanjavur District

God

Kailasanadar, facing east

Goddess

Periyanayagi Amman, facing south

Other Deities

Ganesha, Muruga with consorts, Dakshinamurthy, Surya, Chandran, Gajalakshmi, Durga, Chandikeswara, Navagraha

Kailsanadar Thingalur is a small, east facing and very popular temple as this is one of the Navagraha Temples representing Chandran (Moon). The Sun’s rays and the Moon’s rays fall on subsequent days on the Lord here once in a year during the Tamil month of Panguni (March-April) as the star Uthiram coincides with the full moon.

Holy water (Theertham) – Chandra Puskarini

Sacred Tree (Sthala Vriksham) – Vilwam (Aegle marmelos)

History

Kailsanadar Thingalur is the birthplace of Apputhi Adigal (7th century CE), one of the 63 Nayanmars. Thirunavukkarasar (7th century CE) has mentioned Kailsanadar Thingalur in one of his Thevaram songs. Celebrated poet Sekkizhar tells the story of Appudhi Adigal in 46 verses in Peria Puranam.

Legend

Kailsanadar Thingalur temple is connected with waxing and waning of the moon. Chandran informed Lord Vishnu about an Asura who in the guise of a Deva consumed the Amrut from the churning of the ocean. Lord Vishnu cut the Asura with his discus into two. The head joined a snake’s body and became Rahu and the body continued to grow and joined a snake’s head and became Kethu. Both set out to take revenge on Chandran and Surya respectively. Chandran went to Shiva who provided him the boon of waxing back every 15 days even after Rahu consumed him. Another version is related to King Daksha giving his 27 daughters (considered as the 27 stars) in marriage to Chandran and later cursed him to lose his beauty because he showed favouritism to one, Rukmini. Lord Shiva then provided relief to Chandran with the same boon.

Once when Apputhi Adigal’s son was bitten by a snake, Tirunavukkarasar brought him back to life with his “Ondru Kolam” Thevaram song.

Directions

Kailsanadar Thingalur temple is about 3.5 kilometers from Thiruvaiyaru. Take a left before reaching Thirupazhanam, a Paadal Petra Sivasthalam, to reach Thingalur.

Stay and Food

None locally at Kailsanadar Thingalur. Closest is Thanjavur

Saivite Temples

Tamilnadu Temples