Main Deity: Kailasanathar
Goddess: Periya Nayagi Amman
Holy Tree: Plantain Tree and Vilva Tree
Holy Water: Chandra Theertham and River Cauery
Color: White
Gem Stone: Moonstone/Pearl
Season: Winter
Auspicious Day: Monday
Direction: North West
How to reach: 35 kms from Kumbakonam
The Kailasanathar Temple is situated in the village of Thingalur which is 18 kilometres from
Kumbakonam and this temple is known to be sthalam for the presiding deity Chandran (Soma
or moon), one of the navagrahas. The main deity in the temple is Kailasanathar (lord Shiva).The
Chandran (the moon) is said to be the grandson of Brahma, born to his son Athri and wife
Anusuya and Puranas also says that Chandran was born out of ‘paar kadal’ while it was being
churned for nectar of life (the ‘amudham’). Due to his bias towards one of his wife Rohini,
ignoring the rest of his twenty seven wives, Datchan, one of his father in law cursed Chandran
to lose his beauty and glamour and he prayed to Lord Shiva. He restored his beauty saying that
he will regain his figure slowly in a fortnight and But because of the curse he wanes every
fifteen days. Due to this only the waxing and waning of the Moon occurs.
In Kailasanthar temple, in the left side one can see the snactum for Suryan and proceed
towards south, one can see the sanctum of mother goddess Periyanayaki facing south. As one
walk clockwise from there can see ganapathy, Subramanya, Dakshinamurty, Gajalakshmi,
Chandikeswarar and Bhairavar. In the sanctum sanctorum of this temple, Lord Shiva is called
Kailasanthar bless the devotees who faces towards east and Close to that sannithi, one can see
the sannithi for Chandran, praying to Chandran here will reduce the bad influence of Moon.
Due to the prayers, the devotees are blessed and releived of their sufferings.