Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Parimala Ranganathar	Ambal / Thayar:	Parimala Ranganayaki, Chandra Saaba Vimochana Valli
Deity:	Perumal	Historical name:	Tiruindalur
Vriksham:		Teertham:	Indu Pushkarini
Agamam:		Age (years):	1000-2000
Timing:	6.30 to 11.30 & 5 to 8.30	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Divya Desam	–
Sung by:	Tirumangaiazhvar	Temple set: Pancha Ranga Kshetram
Navagraham:	Chandran	Nakshatram:
City / town:	Tiru Indalur	District:	Mayiladuthurai
Maps from (click):	Current location	Mayiladuthurai (3 km)	Kumbakonam (41 km)
	Tiruvarur (46 km)	Nagapattinam (55 km)

Location

Indalur is located on the outskirts of Mayiladuthurai.

Sthala puranam and temple information

King Ambarishan undertook Ekadasi vratam regularly. The belief is that a person completing 1000 such vratams, is elevated to the status of the Devas. The devoted king completed his 1000^th vratam, and was required to break his fast at a prescribed time the following day. Worried about this, the Devas sought the help of Sage Durvasa. The sage therefore went to the king and asked him to eat with him, which would delay the king’s breaking of fast. The king’s advisors therefore advised him to drink some water, to formally complete his vratam. When the king did so, an angered Durvasa ordered a demon to kill the king, who took refuge under Lord Vishnu here, and was therefore protected from the curse.

It is regarded that the concept of Ekadasi vratam gained popularity through this incident.

The name Parimala Ranganathar references the fragrance that Vishnu imparted to the Vedas, after retrieving them from the demons Madhu and Kaitabha during the Matysa Avataram.

Once, Vishnu wanted to have some fun and entertainment at the expense of Tirumangaiazhvar, and so He shut the doors of the temple when the Azhvar was coming to visit, reasoning that he was late. The Azhvar got into an argument with the Lord – he argued that he had come all the way to worship here, and by shutting the doors, He did not allow anyone to see Him, and kept his beauty and divinity to Himself. Despite threats and persuasions, Tirumangaiazhvar could not convince the Lord, and was about to leave. Lord Vishnu asked Azhvar to sing in His praise, which was rejected. Then Vishnu argued, that if Azhvar could sing about other Perumals just sitting in one place, why would he not sing about Perumal here. This worked, and Azhvar sang his pasurams, after which a pleased Perumal opened the doors!

Indalur gets its name from Indu, referring to Chandran (the moon). According to the Puranas, Chandran is the son of sage Atri and Anusuya, and emerged before Lakshmi during the churning of the ocean (and is therefore considered Her elder brother).

Chandran married the 27 daughters of Daksha, under the promise that he would love each one equally, but was particularly fond of Rohini. The other siblings complained, and Daksha made Chandran’s lustre wane every 14 days. (Side note: There are several puranams related to Daksha around Mayiladuthurai, mainly Daksha Sira Samharam at Keelparasalur, and the connection with the Tirunangur Divya Desams and Rudra Peethams.) This made Chandran go to his guru – Brhaspati – for advice and help, very reluctantly (as he had earlier been with Brhaspati’s wife Tara, who had borne Budhan as their love-child). Under advice from his guru, Chandran came to this place and prayed to Perumal here and at Srirangam and Thalachangadu, and to Lord Siva at Needur, as penance. Thayar, along with Perumal, provided him with relief, and is called Chandrasaapa Vomochana Valli here.

Due to his importance to this kshetram, Chandran is present in the garbhagriham. Here, the river Kaveri is considered equivalent to river Ganga, and serves as Perumal’s headrest here (somewhat like at Tirucherai, where Vishnu sat on the lap of the Kaveri).

This is a Navagraham temple for Chandran (though not one of the Vaishnava Navagraham temples), and a Chandra Parikara sthalam.

The pillars in the corridor before the ardha mandapam have several amazing sculptures, which are not to be missed!

This is one of the Pancha Ranga Kshetrams – temples of Lord Vishnu in as Ranganathar, located on the banks of the river Kaveri. Here, Perumal is in Veera Sayanam.

Other information for your visit

There are several important temples including Paadal Petra Sthalams nearby, including Abatsahayeswarar at Ponnur, Arul Somanathar at Needur and the Mayuranathar temple at Mayiladuthurai. Also within and around Mayiladuthurai are several other temples of importance.

Mayiladuthurai has decent budget and mid-range accommodation, and several options for food.

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