- Overview
- Legends
- Anna Prasanam: the first rice
- The moonlight event
- Architecture and shrines
- Nearby places
- How to reach
- Festivals
- Photos
- Timings
- Questions
- Sources
Overview
Kailasanathar Temple at Thingalur is the Navagraha temple of Chandra, the Moon, among the nine temples near Kumbakonam. The name Thingalur comes from thingal, the Tamil word for the moon, which is also the Tamil name for Monday.[2][1]
Thingalur is the birthplace (avatara sthalam) of Appoodhi Adigal, one of the 63 Nayanmars, and the temple has separate shrines for Appar and for Appoodhi Adigal with his wife and two sons.[2]
Legends
Why the moon waxes and wanes
Chandran married the daughters of Daksha but favoured Rohini. The others complained, and Daksha cursed him to lose his lustre. Chandran surrendered to Shiva, who decreed that the waning would last half a month, with waxing during the other half. In gratitude Chandran adorns Shiva's locks as a crescent. Wikipedia says he married 28 daughters of Daksha; the TN Temples Project says 27, and the number is flagged.being verified[2][1]
A second legend tells that after the churning of the ocean an asura slipped into the line of devas. Suryan and Chandran pointed him out, and his head was cut off. The head, joined to a snake's body, became Rahu, who sought revenge by consuming Chandran, and Chandran took refuge with Shiva.[2]
Appoodhi Adigal and Appar
Appoodhi Adigal was a follower of Appar (Tirunavukkarasar). He set up water stations and food camps in Appar's name and named his two sons Tirunavukkarasu. When Appar visited and was invited to a meal, Adigal's son had just died of a snake bite while cutting plantain leaves, and Adigal hid it. Appar sang the pathigam beginning Ondru Kolam, and the boy rose as if from sleep.[2][3][1]
The poet Sekkizhar tells Appoodhi Adigal's story in 46 verses of the Periya Puranam.[3]
Where Shiva left the crescent
The TN Temples Project says the path Shiva took toward Swamimalai, to learn the meaning of Om from Murugan, is considered sacred. Because the lesson had to be received alone, Shiva left his attendants and accoutrements along the way, and Thingalur is where he left the crescent from his hair.[2]
Anna Prasanam: the first rice
The temple is noted across Tamil Nadu for Anna Prasanam, the ritual first feeding of rice to an infant. It is held on the star days of Ashwini, Mrigasheersha, Uthiram, Swati, Tiruvonam, Sadayam and Revathi, during Chandra Hora, described as one of the best times of the day.[3]
Before the feeding, the child is shown the moon and a cow, to bring the blessings of the water god and the god of medicines, who are believed to protect the child from cold and fever. The listing notes there is a spiritual aspect to showing the moon, as well as the aim of cheering the child.[3]
Devotees also pray here for the removal of obstacles in marriage talks, for a child, and for progress in education.[3]
The moonlight event
Wikipedia reports that moonlight falls directly on the deity in the Tamil months of Purattasi (September-October) and Panguni (March-April).[1]
Architecture and shrines
The temple faces east, but the recently built three-tiered east gopuram opens onto fields with no access road, so entry is from the south. A single ardha mandapam houses the east-facing main shrine and the south-facing shrine of the goddess, along with separate shrines for Appar and for Appoodhi Adigal with his family.[2][1]
The vimanam over the sanctum is square. Dakshinamurti is in the south niche and Durga in the north. The prakaram has shrines for Vinayakar, Murugan, Gajalakshmi, Chandikeswarar, Bhairavar, the Navagrahas and a separate Chandran shrine facing the main deity.[2][1]
Chandikeswarar's shrine is placed beside the abhishekam water outlet, which the TN Temples Project says symbolises that even waste water should not leave the temple. His consort Chandikeswari shares his shrine.[2]
Nearby places
How to reach
- Thingalur is 4 km from Tiruvaiyaru on the Kumbakonam road. The nearest railway station is Thanjavur and the nearest airport is Tiruchi.[3]
- Distances given by the TN Temples Project: Thanjavur 16 km, Ariyalur 34 km, Kumbakonam 36 km, Perambalur 58 km. Wikipedia gives 16 km and 18 km from Thanjavur in different places.[2][1]
Festivals
Photos
Timings
- 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM; on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays it opens at 6:00 AM — TN Temples Project [2]
- 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM — Dinamalar Temples [3]
Frequently asked questions
Why is Thingalur a Moon temple?
Chandran is believed to have worshipped Shiva here and was blessed so that his waning would last only half a month.[2][1]
What is Anna Prasanam?
The ritual of an infant's first rice-feeding. The temple is noted for it and holds it on particular star days during Chandra Hora.[3]
Is Thingalur a Paadal Petra Sthalam?
No. It is a Tevaram Vaippu Sthalam, praised in one of Appar's pathigams that does not name the main deity.[2]
Who was Appoodhi Adigal?
One of the 63 Nayanmars, born at Thingalur and a devotee of Appar, who revived his son after a snake bite with the pathigam Ondru Kolam.[2][3]
How far is Thingalur from Thanjavur?
About 16 km, according to the TN Temples Project.[2]
Sources
- Kailasanathar Temple, Thingalur — WikipediaEncyclopedia (secondary) · accessed 2026-10-31
- Kailasanathar, Thingalur, Thanjavur — TN Temples ProjectTemple database (secondary) · accessed 2026-10-31
- Sri Kailasanathar Temple, Thingalur — Dinamalar TemplesTemple guide (secondary) · accessed 2026-10-31
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