Sri Govindaraja Perumal Chidambaram

Chidambaram is famous for its Lord Natarajar temple and it’s one of the pancha Sabha , known as kanaga Sabhai .

This temple ranks among the 108 Divyadesams of Lord Perumal . The Temple follows Vaikanasa Agamam . As Lord Narayana poses as Nila Thingal Thundan Perumal having inside the Ekambareswar temple premises in Kanchipuram , here at Chidambaram Thillai Nataraja Temple , he poses as Govindaraja Perumal near Lord Natarajar Sannadhi . Presiding Deity is called as Govindaraja Perumal . Govindaraja Perumal’s shrine faces east , while Nataraja’s shrine faces south .

Lord Govindaraja is in a separate temple with his flag post in the temple known as Chitra Sabha. Lord Vishnu’s shrine has its own circumambulatory passage and a set of towers . Standing in the front mandapam , the devotees can have the joint darshan of Lord Nataraja , Lord Govindaraja and Lord Brahmma on his naval chord simultaneously . This Shiva – Vishnu – Brahma darshan is available for the devotees in this temple only .

Lord is in Bhoga Sayanam (Reclining Posture) . Presiding Deity has Sangu and Chakram in his hands . He is accompanied by his consorts Sridevi , Bhudevi and Neela Devi at his feet . Adhishesha is seen with 7 heads and Perumal is wearing Salagrama Malai and Dasavathara Belt . Lord Brahmma with his four faces generally appears in a sitting posture on the naval chord of Lord Vishnu , here he appears in standing posture .

Of the Pancha Bhooda Sthalas – Space – Akash, Fire, wind, water and Prithvi the earth – this place belongs to Akash. Lord Govindaraja Perumal is facing Akash. The Vimana above the sanctum sanctorum is called Sadvika Vimana . Procession deity Devadhi Devan / Parthasarathy is in a sitting posture with Mothers. Another procession deity , Chitrakoodathullan, in a standing posture is with presiding Lord near his feet .

The speciality of this Temple is Lord can be seen in all postures . Utsava Idol Parthasarathy is in sitting posture , another Utsava Idol , Chitrakoodathan is in standing posture and Presiding Deity is in Sleeping posture . Mother is called as Pundarikavalli . Mother Pundarikavalli graces from a separate shrine. There is a shrine for Lord Rama can be seen in his Vanavasa Kolam (i.e poses as in his forest surroundings) in the Temple premises.

The Padukas of Lord are in a shrine in the prakara ensuring salvation to the devotees. Garuda Baghwan holding the devotee elephant Gajendra, Lord Narasimha , Venugopala and Maharshi Patanjali , Sri Andal and Sri Anjaneya also grace the devotees from their shrines in the prakara. There are also shrines for Chakkarathalwar , Udayavar , Narasimhar with Shanku chakram , Yoga Narasimhar , Koorathazhwar , Vishwaksenar , Alwars and Acharyas in the Temple premises .

In earlier days , there seems to have been separate temples for Vishnu and Shiva. This can be seen in Alwar’s praise of Thillai Chitrakoodam . There is said to have been a Nataraja temple known as Chitraambalam . Siru Ambalam signified that the Nataraja temple was small and Chitrakoodam (the Vishnu Lord) was the bigger temple . Chozha kings are believed to have destroyed the Vishnu temple and reconstructed the Nataraja temple and then positioned the Vishnu temple inside . 

Chidambaram corridor


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