Chandra, also known as the Moon, is the second of the nine Navagrahas. Cancer, the fourth house in the natal chart, is ruled by the Moon. Mother, the Divine Goddess, is represented by the Moon. The Moon’s presiding deity is Goddess Parvati. The feminine creative force is represented by the Moon. The Moon spends roughly two and a half days in each sign, and it takes 28 days for it to circle around all twelve.
Our mental state, including our thoughts, feelings, and intuition, are governed by the Moon. Our attachment to things, people, and our ability to influence others, our moods, and our character are all governed by the Moon. Our soul is provided by the Moon. The Moon also controls fertility, childbirth, and pregnancy. Plants and vegetation are also ruled by Lord Chandra, the Moon.
Chandra is depicted as fair and young, holding a lotus and a club in two of his hands. Every night, ten white horses or an antelope pull him and his chariot across the sky. Chandra is additionally realized by a few names like Soma, Rajanipati, Kshuparaka and Indu.
During Samudra Manthan, or the ocean’s churning, Lord Chandra, according to Hindu mythology, appeared from the sea. Budha (the planet Mercury) is his child. The Nakshatras are named after the 27 daughters that he has married.
The holy Chandra Ashtottara Shatanamavali contains 100 Lord Chandra names. The Moon is praised as the lord of the wise men and as the one who takes away all sins. Additionally, it aids in the removal of ailments inherited from ancestors. The Moon is also praised in the text as the fulfillment of dreams and wishes. It is said that worshiping Chandra alleviates all suffering and enhances mental and emotional strength. Lord Shiva’s head is adorned by Lord Chandra. On Mondays, the most effective way to obtain his blessing is to worship Chandra.
If the Moon is in a strong position, it means that you are encouraging, caring, sensitive, and receptive, as well as emotionally mature, mentally strong, responsible, and helpful to others. On the other hand, an afflicted Moon is one that is in a weak position or is associated with a negative planet. Afflicted Moon can lead to personality disorders, emotional instability, confusion, poor reasoning, and mental disturbances. The energies of other planets can easily have an effect on the Moon. It is a representation of interpersonal relationships and communication. Chandra Gayatri, Chandra Kavasam, and Sri Chandra Stotram are just a few of the slokas and mantras that are devoted to Lord Chandra.
The Hindu temple known as the Chandiranaar Temple (also known as the Kailasanathar temple or the Thingalur temple) can be found in the village of Thingalur, which is 33 kilometers (21 miles) from Kumbakonam on the road between Kumbakonam and Thiruvaiyaru in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Soma, the moon, is the deity in charge. However, Kailasanathar, or Shiva, is the temple’s most prominent idol. The temple is regarded as one of Tamil Nadu’s nine Navagraha temples. Appothi Adigal, a fervent devotee of the saint Thirunavukkarasar, was born in Thingalur, but the temple does not contain any items associated with the saint.
From 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., the temple has four daily rituals and four annual festivals on its calendar. The main celebrations in the temple are Mahasivarathri, Margazhi Thiruvadirai, Panguni Uthiram, and Thirukartigai. The village is only mentioned briefly in the Tamil Saiva canonical work Tevaram, which was written in the 7th century and is categorized as a Vaippu Sthalam. It was written by Tamil saint poets known as the Nayanars.
In the Thingalur village, a merchant named Appoodi Adikal is said to have been a nayanar and a Shiva devotee. Thirunavukkarasar was highly revered by Appoodi Adikal. In the village that was given the name Thirunavukkarasar, he owned numerous businesses. When Appar (Thirunavukkarasar) got to Thingalur one day, he was surprised to find so many businesses with his name on them. Apoodi Adigal held a lavish feast because he was excited to meet his idol in person. He sent his son to pick plaintain leaves, but while the saint was being hosted, he was bitten by a venomous snake and died. It is said that Appar, moved by Appoodi Adikal’s devotion, miraculously brought the boy back to life. Moonlight falls directly on the image of the presiding deity during the Tamil months of Panguni (March-April) and Purattasi (September-October). Another legend says that Chandra, the god of the moon, married 28 daughters of Dakkan. He only gave preference to the last one, which enraged the others. Dakkan cursed moon to lose all of his powers after they all complained to him about it. At this location, Chandra is said to have received all of his powers back after worshiping Kailasanathar.
During festivals and every day, the pooja (rituals) are carried out by temple priests. The Shaivaite community, a Brahmin subcaste, employs priests, as do other Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu. Six times a day, the temple rituals are performed; Each ritual begins at 5:30 a.m. with Ushathkalam, Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 10:00 a.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m., Irandamkalam at 8:00 p.m., and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m. for Surya, Usha, and Chhaya, there was an abhisheka (sacred bath), an alangaram (decoration), a neivethanam (food offering), and a deepa aradanai (lamp waving). The worship is performed amid nagaswaram (a pipe instrument) and tavil (a percussion instrument) music, the reading of Vedic scriptures by priests, and worshipers prostrating in front of the temple mast. There are weekly practices like somavaram and sukravaram, fortnightly practices like pradosham, and monthly celebrations like amavasai (the day of the new moon), kiruthigai, pournami (the day of the full moon), and sathurthi. The main celebrations in the temple are Mahasivarathri, Margazhi Thiruvadirai, Panguni Uthiram, and Thirukartigai. The temple is known for giving rice to infants for the first time.