Govindaraja Perumal Temple, Chidambaram – Literary
Mention
The temple is glorified in the Divya Prabandha, the
early medieval Tamil canon of
the Azhwar saints from the 6th–9th centuries AD. It is one of
the 108 Divyadesam dedicated
to Vishnu. Thirumangai Alwar and Kulasekara Alwar has sung hymns (Mangala
Sasanam) on Lord Vishnu of this Temple. Thirumangai Alwar had sung 32 Paasurams
and Kulasekara Alwar had sung 11 Paasurams.
Thirumangai
Azhvaar’s praise:
Thirumangai Alwar found Govindaraja to be still like a
portrait or picture enchanting himself in the stunning dance of Lord Nataraja
here at Ponnambalam - Chidambaram. So, among the 32 Paasurams he composed, the
first 10 are of the Sankarabharanam Raga. Sankarabharanam Raga is the favourite raga of
Lord Shiva.
“Don’t take the pain of performing penance for long
years by eating fruits alone, suffer under speedy winds or stand amidst five
types of fire for the grace and darshan of Lord. Simply keep Lord with
Mahalakshmi in his chest in your thoughts, go to Thillai Tiru Chitra Kudam,
where his temple exists with sounds of Vedic Mantras and smoke of sacred
Yajnas”, says Tirumangai Azhwar.
Thirumangai Azhvaar has praised, in his Paasurams,
Nandivarma Pallava’s contribution to this temple.
“பையின் பொன்னும் முத்தும் மணியும் கொணர்ந்து
படைமன்வைன் பல்லவர் கோன் பணிந்து
செம்பொன் மணி மாடங்கள் சூழ்ந்து
தில்லைத் திரு சித்ரா கூடம் சென்று சேர் மின்களே”
படைமன்வைன் பல்லவர் கோன் பணிந்து
செம்பொன் மணி மாடங்கள் சூழ்ந்து
தில்லைத் திரு சித்ரா கூடம் சென்று சேர் மின்களே”
Kulasekara
Azhvaar’s praise:
Kulasekara Azhwar mentions this temple as
Thillai Chitrakoodam and equates Chitra Kooda of the
Ramayana fame with this shrine. Kulasekara Alwar considers Govinda Rajan
as Sri Kalyana Rama and composed all his 11 Paasurams posing Govindaraja as Sri
Rama only. Listening to Kulasekara Azhvaar’s praise of the Chitrakoodam Lord is
equivalent to listening to the entire Ramayana.
