01Chandra’s release
Chandra, born of the churning of the ocean and so held to be Lakshmi’s brother, took Tara, the wife of his guru Brihaspati, and was cursed to waste with disease. The temple katha says he came to this place to worship Vishnu, bathed in the tank now called Chandra Pushkarani, and was healed. The Lord who removed his curse is Chandrasabahara Perumal, and Nanmathiya Perumal, the Lord of the bright moon; like Shiva he bears a crescent on his head. Thalai-changam means the foremost conch, for the village was known for conches in the days when Poompuhar was the Chola port, and the conch the Perumal holds is counted unique.
02A small shrine with old names
Thirumangai Alvar sings of Thalaichanga Nanmathiyam in two pasurams. The place is named in the Silappatikaram, the Tamil epic of Poompuhar, and the Chola kings patronised it. The temple has a single-tiered gopuram, one prakaram and two shrines, the Perumal’s facing east; Chandra Pushkarani lies in front. It fell into disrepair and was renovated by Suntara Ramanuja. It stands on the south bank of the Kaveri, close to Akkur, a short drive from the sea at Poompuhar.
The life of this place
- Sangam ageThe Silappatikaram names Thalaichangadu.
- Alvar periodThirumangai Alvar sings of Thalaichanga Nanmathiyam.
Near Akkur, about 20 km east of Mayiladuthurai on the Poompuhar road. Combine with Poompuhar and the Thirunangur temples.
