Sankaaranyeswarar, Thalachangadu, Nagapattinam

Basic information about the temple

Moolavar:	Sankaaranyeswarar	Ambal / Thayar:	Soundranayaki
Deity:	Siva	Historical name:	Tiruttalaichchankadu
Vriksham:	Purasu	Teertham:	Sangu Teertham
Agamam:	Karana agamam	Age (years):	2000-3000
Timing:	6 to 12 & 5 to 7	Parikaram:
Temple group:	Paadal Petra Sthalam (Kaveri Then Karai)	–
Sung by:	Sambandar	Temple set: Pancha Aranya Kshetram 2
Navagraham:		Nakshatram:
City / town:	Thalachangadu	District:	Nagapattinam
Maps from (click):	Current location	Mayiladuthurai (23 km)	Nagapattinam (52 km)
	Tiruvarur (55 km)	Kumbakonam (60 km)

Location

Thalachangadu is located 16 km from Sirkazhi and 22 km from Mayiladuthurai.

Sthala puranam and temple information

This temple’s puranam is connected to that of the Valampuranathar temple at Melaperumpallam. Vishnu worshipped Lord Siva there, and here at this temple. Upon doing so, He is said to have received his Panchajanyam (conch / sanku) here. To denote this, Lord Siva here is called Sankaaranyeswarar. The inside of the temple is said to be shaped like a conch.

The place gets its name from the fact that this place used to be a forest of shell- or conch-shaped flowers called Sangu poo in Tamil (Clitoria Ternatea).

It is said that during abhishekam of the moola Lingam, when oil is poured on it, one can see strands of hair on the Lingam.

We have heard of the concept of Somaskandar, ie, Siva with Uma and Skanda, where Skanda (Murugan) is seated between Siva and Parvati. This temple is itself built in the Somaskandar structure, such that the shines of Siva, Murugan and Parvati are in that order, from left to right.

This is one of the maadakoils built by Kochchenga Cholan. The Chola queen Sembian Madevi – a supreme devotee of Lord Siva, and mother of Uttama Chola – made gifts and grants to many temples, including this temple.

There are two sets of temples called “Pancha aranya kshetrams” in the region, which are sets of 5 temples each, located in what used to be forests. This temple belongs to one of those sets, which comprises: Thalachangadu, Sayavanam, Pallavaneswaram (Poompuhar), Tiruvenkadu, Keezh Tirukattupalli.

This temple is a prarthana sthalam for childbirth.