Shri ChandraMoulishwarar Temple

This Shiva temple is located at ThazaMangai on Tanjavur-Kumbhakonam route near Papanasam.

The temple is on the banks of river Kudamurutti, which is a tributary of river Kaveri. The temple is more than 1500 years old. This is one of the Sapta-Mangai Sthala where Goddess Parvati, along with Indrani (Mahendri), one of the Sapta-Matrikas, performed Sharad NavaRatri. This temple is associated with Shri Indrani, one of the Sapta-Matrika.

Mulavar (Main deity): Shri ChandraMoulishwarar.

Devi (Consort): Shri RajaRajeshwari

Kshetra Vruskha: Screw pine flower tree (Ketaki), Thazai in Tamil.

Scared Teertha: Kaveri river.

Old name: ThazaMangai

Taluka: Papanasam 

District: Tanjavur (TamilNadu)

This is a very small temple which has only one parikrama. It has Nandi and Balipeeth. But there is no flagstaff. This is a very rare temple of Shri RajaRajeshwari as there are very few Shri RajaRajeshwari temples in the south india.

The original temple was ravaged by flood water of Kaveri, the present temple was renovated by Chola Kings and Maratha generals.

Once upon a time this place was full of screw pine flower trees, hence the name ThazaMangai or Thazavanam.

Shri Parvati Devi and Shri Indrani Devi worshiped Shri Shiva on the 6th day of Sharad NavaRatri and had darshan of crescent moon on Shri Shiva's head.

This is known as PiraiChandra (crescent moon) darshan. In Tamil, Thaz means to bow down with respect. As Shri Indrani bowed to Shri Shiva, this place is known as ThazaMangai.

Legends (Kshetra Puran):

As Chandra was more attached to Rohini (daughter of Daksha) than other daughters of Daksha, he was cursed by Daksha. Along with Rohini, Chandra came to Thazavanam, which was infested with lots of snakes (due to fragrance of screw pine flower). He did penance here along with Rohini. Due to Rohini's penance, Chandra got relief by grace of Shri Shiva. As a token gesture, Shri Shiva took the third phase of the waxing moon (3rd day of shukla-paksha) and wore it on his head.

As Shri Shiva wears the crescent moon, he is known as Shri ChandraMoulishwarar.

Shri Chandra and his wife Shri Rohini, Sage Agastya and King Rajaraj Chozhan worshiped Shri Shiva at this place.

When the King had a problem in installing the Nandi at Tanjavur temple, he was advised by the Siddha Karuvu to worship Shri Shiva at this place using sandal paste. He worshiped as per the directions of siddha on Satabhisha nakshatra and was able to install the Nandi. This place is considered as Parihar-Sthal for eye related problems.

According to Siddhas, worshiping Shri Shiva, at this place on Satabhisha narshatra in the Tamil month of Chitrai (April-May), by applying sandal paste, gives contentment and happiness for three generations.

A staunch devoted couple Shri NadaSharma and Shri AnaVidya got the divine darshan of Shri AdiParaShakti as a kumarika.

Festival in the temple:

Masi (February-March): MahaShivaRatri festival

Panguni (Mar-April): SaptaSthana festival 

Vaikasi (May-June): ShivaRatri festival

Aippasi (October-November): AnnaAbhishek

Marghazhi (Dec-Jan): ArudraDarshan (known as Thiruvathirai)

Courtesy: Various websites and blogs