Nilathingal Thundam Perumal Temple, in Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, honours Nilathingal Thunda Perumal, form of Vishnu, with consort Nilathingal Thunda Nayagi (Lakshmi). It is also known as Sri Nilathingal Thundathan Perumal Temple, Chandrasoodeswarar Perumal, Ver Oruvar Illa Valli.
This shrine is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham composed by the Alvar poet-saints, with a hymn here by Thirumangai Alvar. It is not a separate standalone structure but a distinct Vishnu sannidhi located within the Ekambareswarar Temple complex, a major Shiva temple that already has its own separate listing in this directory. This makes it one of only a small number of Divya Desams housed inside a Shaivite temple, and unusually, rituals for this Vishnu shrine are performed by Saivite priests rather than Vaishnavite ones. According to temple legend, Parvati performed penance under an ancient mango tree at this site.
Tamil Nadu carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Land of towering gopurams and living Dravidian temple traditions, from the Chola masterpieces to the great Pancha Bhoota Sthalas.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 6:00 AM to 12:00 PM |
| Evening | 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM |
This shrine is visited as part of the Ekambareswarar Temple complex; sources give slightly different hour ranges, so confirm current timings locally before visiting.
Poojas and daily rituals
Six daily rituals are performed: Ushathkalam (7 AM), Kalasanthi (8 AM), Uchikalam (12 PM), Sayarakshai (6 PM), Irandamkalam (7 PM) and Ardha Jamam (10 PM)
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Vaikunta Ekadasi | Tamil month Margazhi (December to January), a ten day observance | The most prominent festival at this shrine |
History and architecture
Architecture
Dravidian style shrine set in the northern part of the Ekambareswarar Temple complex, southwest of the main Shiva sanctum; the Vishnu shrine faces west while the main Ekambareswarar shrine faces east. It sits within the same vast complex that includes the Aayiram Kaal Mandapam (thousand pillared hall) and a 59 metre gopuram, one of the tallest in South India
History
According to temple legend, Parvati performed penance under an ancient mango tree at this site. When Shiva tested her devotion with fire, Vishnu took the crescent moon from Shiva's head to shield her with its cooling rays, an episode said to give Vishnu here the name Nilathingal Thundam (bearer of a piece of the moon) and Shiva the name Ekambareswarar.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Within the Ekambareswarar Temple complex in the northern part of Kanchipuram town; Kanchipuram is well connected by road and rail from Chennai (roughly 70 to 75 km away)
Where this information comes from
Confidence: High. Confidence level as originally recorded for this entry; no further explanatory note was written at the time