Govindaraja Perumal Temple, Chidambaram – The Temple
The 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. Perumal's shrine has its own
circumambulatory passage and a set of towers. This shrine was renovated during
the period of Vijayanagar rule. Standing in the front mandapam, the devotee can
have the joint darshan of Lord Nataraja, Lord Govindaraja and Lord Brahmma on his
naval chord simultaneously. This Shiva – Vishnu – Brahmma 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 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, Lords 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 Azhvaar’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.
There are 12 Theerthams associated with this Temple. It
is believed that Visvakarma created 12 Pushkarini here in Chitrakoodam and they
are Pundareega Saras, Amudha Koobam, Thiruparkadal, Shesha Theertham, Cauvery
Theertham, Garuda Pushkarini, Swedha Pushkarini, Iyambaga Seshana Theertham,
Indhra Pushkarini, Agni Theertham Samy Theertham and Nirjara Pushkarini. Among
them, Pundareega Pushkarini is the holiest Theertham. In the temple tank, Pundareega
Pushkarini, on the northern side, fishes come out of the water and on to the
ground to pick up eatables thrown in by the devotees.
