Thalaichangadu Sri Sangarunaadeswarar Temple, Nagapattinam

Address

Thalaichangadu Sri Sankaranyeswarar Temple, Thalaichangaadu, Aakkoor Post,Tarangampadi Taluk,Nagapattinam district,Pin code: 609 301.Phone: 04364 – 280 757.

Diety

Sangarunaadeswarar Amman: Soundaranayaki

Introduction

Sankaranyeswarar Temple is a Hindu temple located in the village of Thalaichangadu in the Tharangambadi taluk of Nagapattinam district in Tamil Nadu, India. The presiding deity is Shiva as Somaskandar and the consort is Soundara Nayaki. The temple has been praised by Sambandar in the Thevaram. The temple is believed to have been initially constructed by the Chola king Kocengannan and renovated in the following centuries. Vishnu is believed to have worshipped Shiva at this place.The Lord of this place stands at three feet height as a swayambu moorthy. Pouring gingely oil on the icon of the Prime Deity Sankaaranyeswarar and look at the lamp light, we can see the hair-roots in the lingam. Thala Virutcham : Purasu Theertham : Sangu Theertham Agamam / Pooja : Kaarana Aagamam

Puranic Significance

Lord Vishnu, in order to protect this world and its inhabitants, had worshipped Sankaaranyeswarar and procured the Conch as His weapon. Hence, there is a separate sanctum for Lord Vishnu in this temple. The temple is structured in conch-shape. The darshan of the three prime deities Brahma, Vishnu and Siva is available in the same Siva temple. The Prime Deity and the Pratosha Lord separately bestow grace on the devotees. The cosmic billionaires, ‘Sanganidhi’ and ‘Padumanidhi’ receive us at the front portals of the temple itself. The Chola king Kochenkannan has built many Siva temples. Of these he has built temples with narrow entrance where the elephant cannot get in. This is one such ‘maadakkoil’- temple with narrow entry. The temple has the ‘somaskanda structure’. That is, when we enter the temple, on the left side is the sanctum of Lord Siva, in the center is the Lord Murugan’s sanctum and on the right is the sanctum of Ambal. It is significant that Tiruthalaichangaadu in its temple pattern follows the line of the temples in Tiruvenkaadu, Tiruccaaikaadu, Tirumaraikkaadu and Tiruttalaiyaalankaadu. This sacred place is commemorated in the five aaranyams, namely, Sankaaranyam, Swethaaranyam, Vedaaranyam, Vilvaaranyam and Vatavaaranyam.

Beliefs

Women come here for begetting issues. Those women observe ‘Pournami Vratam’ (vow on the fullmoon day), consume a small amount of the sandal-paste that has adorned Ambal’s body and pray to beget child. After the birth of the baby, they adorn Ambal’s image with sandal-paste and worship. Women devotees throng this temple mainly seeking boons for childre

Special Features

The Lord of this place stands at three feet height as a swayambu Moorthy. The temple is structured in conch-shape. The darshan of the three prime deities Brahma,Vishnu and Siva is available in the same Siva temple. The Prime Deity and the Pradosha Lord separately bestow grace on the devotees. The cosmic billionaires, ‘Sanganidhi’ and ‘Padumanidhi’ receive us at the front portals of the temple itself. The Chola king Kochenganan has built many Siva temples. Of these he has built temples with narrow entrance where the elephant cannot get in. This is one such ‘Maadakkovil’- temple with narrow entry.