Thirutalaichanga Nanmadiyam is traditionally enumerated as number 19 among the 108 Divya Desams — the sacred abodes of Sri Maha Vishnu sung by the Alvars.
This place is a very small village. The temple is also in a very dilapidated condition. This place is about 13 kms. away from Sirkazhi on the Sirkazhi-Nagapattinam road. It can also be reached by getting down at Akkur railway station on the Mayavaram Tharagampadi railway route. After alighting at Akkur, one has to take a bus to this village.
Once upon a time, this place was'a thick forest. ‘Forest’ in Tamil is known as ‘kadu’. It is filled with Palasa trees. ‘Sangu’ means conch. Kaveripoompattinam is about seven kilometres from this place, In the olden days beautiful conches used to be sold at Kaveripoompattinam, a sea-side town. Perhaps, it is the combination of the availabilities of the chanku (i.e.) conches and the existence ofa thick forest (i.¢.) kaadu which contribute to the name of the town viz. Chanku kaaddu. Thalai only represents a prime position of importance. May be, due to efflux of time, the thalai chanku kaadu became through usage as Thalaichankadu. This place is mentioned even in Silapathikaram. Obviously therefore this is an old town.
The Perumal temple is almost in the midst of the village fields. The Moolavar is known as Nan Madiya Perumal. The Perumal is also known as Ven Sudar Perumal. He is seen in a standing posture facing east. The Utsavar is known as Vyoma Jyothi Piran as also Ven Sudar Piran. He is also known as Loganathan. Thayar is known as Sengamala Valli Thayar. The pushkarani is Chandra pushkarani and the Vimanam is Chandra Vimanam.
Moon God (i.e.) Chandra is known in Tamil as Mathi. Once upon a time, He was cursed and day by day he was waning. He was standing in a very sad mood, almost bent double with the weight of his worries. In Tamil, this posture is referred to as Naani. On that occasion Perumal is said to have appeared before Him and hence the Perumal is known as Nan Madiya Perumal. God is also believed to have appeared to Deva Brindangar. The Deity has a conch as its pillow. Some
Thalaisangu Nan Mathiyam (Thalaichangadu) 165
therefore say that the place got its name as the Perumal here has underneath His head (in Tamil Thalai represents head) a chanku (i.e.) conch.
There is a garbagriha only for the Moolavar. There is no separate shrine for the Thayar. There is no Vimanam even for the Thayar. There is only a small mandapam in the front. The utsavar is kept outside garbagriha.
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