Thiru Talai Changa Nanmadhiam
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Thiru Talai Changa Nanmadhiam is one of the 108 pilgrimage centres of Alwars in the Vaishnava sampradaya. It is a small village that is 13 kms from Seergazhi on the Seergazhi-Nagapattinam road. From Mayavaram, the temple is 6 kms. It is also close to Akkur railway station and is approximately about 3kms on Mayavaram-Akkur route. Kaveri Pumpattinam (famous as the capital of early Chola kings) is also very near to this place.[1]
Introduction
"Thiru Talai Changa Nanmadhiam is a very old but beautiful hamlet surrounded by acres and acres of endless pastoral fields and coconut groves. Located in a serene and remote spot, the silent village temple is quiet in tune with its pious austerity. The mild smell of exotic trees, shrubs and flowers, the chirping of wood pecker, mynahs and myriad other birds, the whistle of the unpolluted breeze, no mans land, a silent village temple, the gentle river flowing, the mango groves, the plantain farms, the sugar cane fields, the strong smell of wild flowers present a calm but an exotic atmosphere.", says Prof. S. Narayanan.[1]
| Vishnu here is referred to by the names | Nan Madiya Perumal, Vyoma Jothi Piran, Vensudar Perumal, Lokanathan, etc. |
| Lakshmi here is referred to as | Talai changa Nacchiar, Senkamalavalli Thayar, etc. |
| Vimana is called | Chandra Vimana |
| Pushkarni is called | Chandra Pushkarni |
| Hymns | Two |
| Location | 3 kms on Mayavaram-Akkur route |
Structure
Mahavishnu enshrined here as Nan Madiya Perumal is also known as Ven Chudar Perumal, Vyoma Jyoti Piran and Lokanathan. Mahalakshmi is known as Sengamalavalli Thayar. The temple tank goes by the name of Chandra Pushkarni and the vimana is Chandra vimana. Nestled in a one-acre land, the shrine has a very small prahar and the Lord is seen standing facing east. Though the temple does not have a tower or the customary Dvaja Stambha and Bali Pita, it has a separate shrine for Mahalakshmi, the Goddess of wealth and prosperity and the Anjaneya and Garuda shrine at the entrance.[1]
Legends
Like all great places of worship, this Divya Desha also goes back in history to the ancient days of Chola kingdom. However, it has not been possible to determine the exact period to which the temple belonged as there is no inscriptional evidence. Though it doesn't boast of any superior architecture, the temple in its present form is rich in legends and traditions. The Brahmanda purana glorifies the sanctity of this kshetra in unending terms.
- It is said that Mahavishnu appeared before Chandra, (the Moon deity) here and cured him of his wasting disease. Therefore, Mahavishnu came to be known as Nan Madiya Perumal.
- As time passed by, the temple was lost to antiquity due to inadequate patrons. It was then that Mahavishnu asked Thirumangai Alwar to compose a few hymns in praise of his form and the kshetra which Thirumangai Alwar obliged with two of his hymns.[1]