Annamalaiyar Temple – Third Prakaram –
Chidambareshwarar Shrine
This shrine is very similar to the Ekambareswarar shrine
except in the adhishtana which exhibits upana, jagati, yalivari, kanta and
vedhi. Vimana is the Vesara type. This is situated on the south of the Ekambareswarar
shrine. In front of this shrine, there is a Vilva tree sacred to Lord Siva.
This shrine might to have been built in the ninth century.
The Chidambareshwarar Shrine represents Akash (ether).
The architecture of the Chidambareshwarar shrine appears older than that of the
others and it must have been built in the 9th century, whereas, the other three
Shrines appear to have been built in the 10th century A.D.
“The very thought of Thiruvannamalai will bring
salvation. The Sthalapuranam says that one can attain salvation by being born
in Tiruvarur, by meeting with death in Varanasi (Kasi), by worshipping at
Chidambaram and by mere thinking of Thiruvannamalai.