Govindaraja Perumal Temple, Chidambaram – Legends
Dance
contest between Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi:
Lord Shiva and Mother Parvathi offered a grand dance
performance in Kailash when they were in a happy mood. At the end, they wanted
to know the winner. They approached Lord Brahmma. He was not able to decide.
They sought the opinion of Lord Vishnu. He suggested a stage be built by divine
sculptor Vishwakarma for the dance contest. The contest began. For every type
of Thandavas (dancing) Shiva did, Mother Parvathi too did her part thrillingly.
They excelled each other. At the end, Lord Shiva simply lifted his right leg
and kept it above his head which Parvathi could not. Lord Shiva was declared
winner by Lord Vishnu. Lord Shiva stayed in this temple as Lord Nataraja and
requested Perumal too to stay with him. Lord Vishnu is here in his reclining
posture.
Brahma
in Standing posture:
As a tradition, Lord Brahmma on the naval chord of Lord
Vishnu is seen in a sitting form. Differing from this tradition, Brahmma is in
a standing form in this temple. It is said that Brahmma chose to stand as a
respect to Lord Vishnu who was to judge the winner in the dance competition
taking place in the Chitra Sabha.
Place
for Salvation:
Kaveran, the king of Kalinga had a daughter named
Lopamudra married to Sage Agasthya. Sage changed Lopamudra as River Cauvery.
Kaveran and his wife bathed in the river every day and asked their daughter,
Lopamudra-Cauvery the means of attaining salvation. She advised them to go to
Thillai Nagar and perform penance on Lord Vishnu to realize their wish and
darshan of Lord. Pleased with their penance, Lord appeared with Mothers Sridevi
and Bhoodevi and granted salvation to the couples.
Adisesha
had darshan of Lord Shiva here:
Divine serpent Adisesha, serving as the bed of Lord
Vishnu, desired to have the Thandava Darshan of Lord Shiva. Lord Vishnu sent
him to have his desire fulfilled. Adisesha made friends with Maharshi
Vyakrapada and had the darshan of Lord Shiva. He also had the blessings of Lord
Vishnu here and returned to the milk ocean to resume his job as bed of Perumal.
He has his shrine in the prakara at the feet of Lord Vishnu. It is believed
that prayer to Adisesha would bring the dual benefit of the blessings of Lord
Shiva and Lord Vishnu.
Thillai
Nagar:
A demon woman Dhilli by name prayed to Lord Perumal to
be a forest herself full of trees and that Lord should grace the place with his
presence. She became Thillai trees. Named after her, the place came to be known
as Thillai Nagar.
Akasha
Sthalam:
Lord is looking at the sky as the place come under the
Akash category.
Other
Names:
This place is also referred to as Thillai Nagar,
Chitrakoodam and Pundarika Puram.
Thiru
Chitra Koodam:
The Mountain "Chitra Kooda Malai" was in North
India. Lord Rama stayed in this place while he was sent to the forest. While he
came searching for his wife who was taken away by Ravana, Lord Rama found this
place in South India and compared its beauty to Chitra Kooda in North India. Thus,
it got its name.
Lord
Vishnu darshan to Sage Kanva & 3000 Dikshidars:
Legend has it that Govindaraja Perumal is
believed to have descended for sage Kanvar and the 3,000 Dikshidar of the
Thillai Natarajar temple.
Vishwakarma,
Builder of this Temple:
It is believed that Vishwakarma, celestial sculptor
built this temple.
Bharatha
established Bharathanatyam here:
It is believed that Bharatha established Bharathanatyam
here only.
Holy
place:
Pancha Bootha became 5 Kalasas here in Thiru Chitrakoodam.
4 Vedha became 4 Gopurams. 36 Smritis became 36 entrances and 1000 names of
Perumal became 1000 Pillar mandapam. Astakshara became the 8 steps to the main
sanctum sanctorum.
