Appar brought a boy back to life in this shrine

Kailasanathar temple or Chandiranathar temple is located at Thingalur, 15 kms from Thanjavur. Lord Shiva is called Kailasanathar in this temple. This is one of the Navagraga Thalams (9 temples of 9 planets). Soma or Chandiran or Thingal (moon) is worshiped here. That is how this village got the name Thingalur. This is also one of the 275 Padal Petra Sthalams.

Legend has it that, a merchant Appoodi Adikal, a nayanar in the village of Thingalur who was a devotee of Shiva. Appoodi Adikal held Thirunavukkarasar (Appar) in high regards. He had many establishments in the village named after Thirunavukkarasar. One day, Thirunavukkarasar arrived at Thingalur and was surprised to see so many establishments in his name. Apoodi Adigal was fascinated to meet his idol in person and launched a grand feast. He sent his son to pick plaintain leaves to serve the feast, who was killed by a venomous snake bite while the saint was being hosted. Appar, moved by Appoodi Adikal's devotion is said to have miraculously restored the lad to life by praying Lord Kailasanathar with his Tevaram song “Ondru Kolam”. Saint poet Sekkizhar mentions the story of Appudhi Adigal in Periya Puranam with 46 verses.

As per another legend, Chandra (moon), the handsome looking deity, married 28 daughters of Dakkan. He showed preference only to the last one among them, which infuriated the others. They all complained it to Dakkan, who cursed moon to lose all his powers. Chandra is believed to have worshiped Kailasanathar at this place and was restored all his powers.

The temple is one of the popular Navagraha pilgrimage in the state, as it houses the Shrine of Moon (Thingal). The planets are believed to influence the horoscope, which is computed based on time of one's birth and subsequently influence the course of life. Each of the planets are believed to move from a star to another during a predefined period and thus sway over an individual's fortunes. The Navagrahas, as per Hindu customs, are believed to provide both good and bad effects for any individual and the bad effects are mitigated by prayers. As in other Navagraha temples, the common worship practices of the devotees include offering of cloth, grains, flowers and jewels specific to the planet deity. Lighting a set of lamps is also commonly followed in the temple. As per local legends, Shiva, the overlord of the nine planetary deities, allowed them to freely grant wishes based on devotion of the devotees. The temple is frequented by devotees with mental illness and family problems as this is the parigara sthalam for Chandra.

Devotees pray for mental health, progress in education and for child boon in this temple. There is a common ritual among thousands of families in Delta region that they commence here in Thingalur temple with infants of the family for their first rice feeding. Usually this function is celebrated on Revathy, Ashwini, Uthiram, Mrigaseerisham, Swathy, Thiruvonam and Sathayam star days, during the Chandra Horai time (Chandra Horai is the best time of the day for doing good things). This is called ‘Annaprasana’. Before feeding, the child is shown the moon and a cow, thus bringing the blessings of Jala Devatha (Water God) and Aushadhi Devatha (God of Medicine) for the good health of children.