This place is at a distance of 18 kms from Mayiladuthurai on Mayiladuthurai-Poompuhar route via Akkur.
This is a Padala Pethra Sthalam on southern bank of Kaveri revered by Shaiva Saint Sambandhar. This Mada kovil was built by Kochengat Chola. This temple existed even before the seventh century. It was rebuilt by Chola kings and extended by Vijaynagar kings. There are ten stone inscriptions which include that of King Uttama Chola and queen Chembian Mahadevi. It is very close to Poompuhar and birthplace of Sangam epic Silapathikaram character named Madala Marayavan. During olden days, generally the people of Tamil Nadu had the habit of naming their land and villages on the basis of the names of grants. Hence this place is Thali + Shanku + Kadu = Thalaichangadu
Moolavar: Shri Shanka-aranyeshwarar, Shri Shanka-arunanathar, Shri Palashapureshwarar.
Utsav Murti: Shri Somaskandar.
Devi: Shri Soundarya Nayaki, Shri Brihad Sundarambika.
Kshetra Vruksha: Palash Tree (Purasu in Tamil).
Sacred Teertha: Shanka Teertha, River Kaveri.
Pooja/Agama: Karana agama.
Puranik Name: Thiruthalaichengadu.
Historical Name: Shanka Vanam, Shanka Aranyam, Thalaichanganam.
Present name: Thalaichengadu.
Kshetra Puran:
1. Lord MahaVishnu had worshiped Shri Shanka-aranyeshwarar in order to protect the world and human beings. Lord Shiva gave him Panchajanyam (Thalichangu in Tamil). Considered to be greatest of all conches (shanka as his weapon)
2. According to some, Sthala Puran associated with this temple is the same as that of Thiruvalampuri.
Those who worshiped at this place:
Lord MahaVishnu, Shaiva Saint Sambandhar.
Special Features:
1. The Shiva Linga is tall and its uniqueness is that it has locks of hair which can be seen when abhishek is done with Gingelly oil.
2. The structure of the temple is of Somaskanda type.
3. Sanctum Sanctorum’s entrance is so narrow that an elephant cannot enter.
4. On either side of the idol of Lingodbhavar, we come across Lord MahaVishnu and Lord Brahma worshiping him.
5. At the entrance of the sanctum, we come across relief of Sanganidhi and Padmanidhi.
6. Under the Kshetra Vruksha Palash tree, there is Shiva Linga and an idol of Lord Vinayaka.
7. This Kshetra is revered in the same manner as Swetaranya, Vedaranya, Bilvaranya, and Vadavaranya.
8. The base of the Shiva Linga (Avudayar) is in the shape of a conch.
9. There is a separate shrine of Lord MahaVishnu which is rarely found in a Shiva temple.
About the temple:
This is an east facing Mada Kovil. There is no Rajagopuram. It has two Prakarams. Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala and Ardha Mandap. Sanctum Sanctorum is in the shape of a semi circular moat (Tank). This is built on an elevation and covers an area of 2 acres. The temple tank is opposite to the temple. The temple structure is that of Somaskanda type i.e. as we enter from the left the first sanctum is of Lord Shiva, the middle one of Lord Karthikeya and third one is that of Ambika. This type of pattern we come across at Thiruvenkadu, Thirumarikadu, Thiruchayakadu. Moolavar is in the shape of a conch (Shanka). The gabhara (sanctum) is comparatively large. At the entrance to the Sanctum, we come across Sanganidhi and Padmanidhi (cosmic billionaires). The Shiva Linga is about three feet high and it is a Swayambhu Linga. Lord Shiva and utsav murti SomaSkanda are in separate shrines. If we cast a bright light at the Shiva Linga and pour gingelly oil over it, we can observe some hair roots on the Shiva Linga.
Koshta Murtis: Lord Narthana Vinayaka, Lord Dakshinamurti, Lord Lingodbhavar, Lord Brahma and Goddess Durga.
As Goddess Durga’s idol is a bit taller than the normal size, it is kept a little outside a niche. In the ardha-mandap we come across sculptures of Shaiva Saint Naalvar, King Kochengat Chola and his wife. Nearby there is a shrine of Lord Vallabha Vinayaka and a shrine of Kaveri. Goddess Ambika is in a separate shrine with Sanctum, Antarala and Ardha Mandap. She is in a standing posture with Varada and Abhaya mudra. The other shrines and idols in parikrama are Lord Vinayaka, Lord Singara Velan (Subramanya), Lord Srinivasa with Goddess Sridevi and Goddess Bhudevi, Shiva Linga, Lord Dhanakarshana Vayu Lingeshwarar, Lord Neelakantheshwarar, Lord Akhilandeshwarar, Lord Bhuvaneshwarar, Lord Valampuri Vinayaka, Lord Balasubramanya, Kaveri, Sage Agastya, Goddess Mahalakshmi, Goddess Jyeshtha Devi, Lord Bhairav, Lord Surya, Lord Pradosh Nayakar, idols of Shaiva Saint Naalvar, Pattinathar and chola king Kochengat Chola in a row. In another row there are idols of Lord Chandikeshwar, Lord Mahavishnu, Lord Jwarahareshwarar, Lord Shriram with Goddess Sita.
Prayers:
1. Women devotees worship Goddess Parvati for child boon. On full moon day they observe and worship her by fasting which is known as Pournami Vrat. They break the fast by partaking a small amount of sandalwood paste that had adorned Goddess Parvati.
2. Devotees pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati for the welfare of their children.
Pooja:
Besides daily rituals, pradosh pooja and special pooja on full moon day are conducted.
Festivals:
Some of the important festivals are:
Avani (Aug-Sept): Ganesh Chaturthi
Aippasi (Oct-Nov): Skanda shasthi, Annabhishek. During Skanda shashthi festival, laksha-archana is performed in the temple on one of the days
Karthigai (Nov-Dec): Thiru Karthigai
Maasi (Feb-Mar): Maha Shivaratri
Vaikasi (May-June): Five day festival during Vishakha nakshatra
Timing: 7 am to 11 am, 5 pm to 7.30 pm
Address:
Shri Shanka-aranyreshwarar Temple At Thalaichangadu,
At-post Akkoor,
Taluka: Tharangampadi,
TN 609301
Phone: +91-4364280757
Contact number of priest:
Shri Balachandran - 9443401060
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