Kailasanathar Temple, Thingalur (Chandra Navagraha Temple)
Shiva (as Kailasanathar), with a shrine for Chandra (the Moon) temple · Thingalur (near Thiruvaiyaru), Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
The Kailasanathar Temple at Thingalur, a village near Thiruvaiyaru in Thanjavur district, is the temple of Chandra, the Moon, in the Navagraha circuit of the Kaveri delta. The village name itself comes from thingal, the Tamil word for the Moon.
The main deity is Shiva as Kailasanathar, worshipped in the form of a lingam, while Chandra has his own shrine within the temple. Thingalur is also remembered as the home of Appudhi Adigal, one of the 63 Nayanars, and the temple is widely known for the rite of a child's first rice feeding.
Faith & Tradition
Religious Significance of Kailasanathar Temple, Thingalur (Chandra Navagraha Temple)
Wikipedia records a legend that Chandra married the daughters of Daksha but favoured only one of them; the others complained to their father, whose curse made the Moon lose his radiance. Chandra is believed to have worshipped Kailasanathar at Thingalur and regained it. Wikipedia also notes a tradition that in the Tamil months of Purattasi (September–October) and Panguni (March–April) moonlight falls directly on the lingam.
The temple's best-known custom is annaprasanam, the first feeding of rice to an infant. According to the Dinamalar temple guide, families perform it here on particular star days during the Chandra hora (the hour governed by the Moon), and the child is shown the moon and a cow before being fed. The Thanjavur District Collectorate notes the belief that visiting the temple brings a comfortable and long life; devotees, Dinamalar adds, also pray here for marriage, children and progress in studies. These are traditions of worship rather than promised results.
The temple is counted as one of the nine Navagraha temples of Tamil Nadu. Wikipedia notes that Thingalur is mentioned in the Tevaram hymns of Appar, but because the hymn does not address the deity of this shrine, it is classed as a Vaippu Sthalam rather than a Paadal Petra Sthalam.
Heritage
History of Kailasanathar Temple, Thingalur (Chandra Navagraha Temple)
The story of Appudhi Adigal is told by the poet Sekkizhar in the Periya Puranam, in 46 verses according to Dinamalar. Appudhi Adigal revered the saint Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) so deeply that he named his sons and every charity he founded after him. When Appar visited Thingalur, Appudhi Adigal's son was bitten by a snake while fetching plantain leaves for the feast; according to the tradition retold by Wikipedia, Dinamalar and The Hindu, Appar's hymn restored the boy to life. Images of Appudhi Adigal and his family are installed in the temple.
The temple's exact date is uncertain. The Thanjavur District Collectorate's tourism page says that historians agree it existed before the beginning of the Bhakti period, that is, before the seventh century. Wikipedia states that the original complex is believed to be a Chola foundation and that the present masonry structure dates from the Nayak period in the 16th century.
The temple is listed by the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department as Arulmigu Kailasanathaswamy Temple, Thingalur, under its Joint Commissioner at Thanjavur.
Architecture and sacred features
Wikipedia describes a recently built three-tiered rajagopuram and a single prakaram (enclosed courtyard). The gopuram and central shrine face east, while the main entrance faces south. Chandra's image, of black granite and usually dressed in white cloth, is in the first precinct; there are also shrines for the goddess, Subramanya, Gajalakshmi and Bhairava.
The temple tank is called Chandra Pushkarini, and the sacred tree (sthala vriksha) is the vilva, according to Dinamalar.
Plan Your Visit
Darshan and Visitor Information
The temple keeps morning and evening darshan hours with a midday break. Families planning an annaprasanam should check the suitable days and arrangements with the temple in advance. Confirm current timings, dress expectations and puja bookings with the temple office or the HR&CE Department before travelling.
Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department (TM014150) before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.
Sacred Calendar
Festivals at Kailasanathar Temple, Thingalur (Chandra Navagraha Temple)
Maha Shivaratri
The night of Shiva, one of the major festivals listed by Dinamalar and Wikipedia.
Margazhi Thiruvathirai
Festival on the Thiruvathirai star day.
Panguni Uthiram
Festival on the Uthiram star day of Panguni.
Thirukarthigai
Festival of lamps.
Location
How to Reach Kailasanathar Temple, Thingalur (Chandra Navagraha Temple)
Dinamalar places Thingalur 4 km from Thiruvaiyaru on the road to Kumbakonam. Wikipedia gives the distances as about 16–18 km from Thanjavur and 33 km from Kumbakonam on the Kumbakonam–Thiruvaiyaru road.
The nearest railway station named by Dinamalar is Thanjavur, and the nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli.
Location: Thingalur (near Thiruvaiyaru), Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India
Nearest airport: Tiruchirappalli
Nearest railway station: Thanjavur
More in Hindu temples in Tamil Nadu · Shiva (as Kailasanathar), with a shrine for Chandra (the Moon) temples · Temples in Thiruvaiyaru Taluk · Temples in Thanjavur District
Questions
Kailasanathar Temple, Thingalur (Chandra Navagraha Temple): Frequently Asked Questions
Which Navagraha is associated with Thingalur?
Chandra, the Moon. Thingal is the Tamil word for the Moon. The main deity of the temple is Shiva as Kailasanathar, and Chandra has his own shrine.
Why is Thingalur famous for annaprasanam?
The temple is known for the first rice-feeding of infants. Dinamalar says families perform it on particular star days during the Moon's hora, showing the child the moon and a cow before feeding.
Who was Appudhi Adigal?
One of the 63 Nayanars, who lived at Thingalur and revered the saint Appar. According to the Periya Puranam, Appar restored his son to life after a snakebite. Images of Appudhi Adigal and his family are in the temple.
Is Thingalur a Paadal Petra Sthalam?
No. Appar mentions Thingalur in the Tevaram, but not its deity, so Wikipedia classes it as a Vaippu Sthalam.
How old is the Thingalur temple?
Its date is uncertain. The Thanjavur District Collectorate says it existed before the seventh century; Wikipedia dates the present structure to the 16th-century Nayak period.
How do I reach Thingalur?
Thingalur is about 4 km from Thiruvaiyaru on the Kumbakonam road and about 16–18 km from Thanjavur. The nearest railway station is Thanjavur and the nearest airport is Tiruchirappalli.
Sources and attribution
- Dinamalar — Sri Kailasanathar temple, Thingalur – temple details
- Wikipedia — Kailasanathar Temple, Thingalur
- District Collectorate, Thanjavur (NIC), archived 2013 — Navagrahas – Thingaloor
- The Hindu — An exploration on foot (5 May 2006)
- Tamil Nadu HR&CE Department, archived 2020 — Thirukoil – Temple List for Tamil Nadu (TM014150)
- OpenStreetMap — Thingalur Chandran Koil (way 360453735)
Further reading: Kailasanathar Temple, Thingalur (Chandra Navagraha Temple) on Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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