Chidambareswarar Temple, Choolai – The Temple
The temple is facing
east with an entrance between two concrete buildings. Stucco Idols of
Dwarabalakar can be found at the entrance. The front mandapam arch has the
stucco idols of Vinayaka, Lord Murugan with his consorts Valli & Devasena, Nataraja,
Shiva and Parvathy sitting on Rishaba, Mother Parvathi on Rishaba, Nandikeswarar,
Brahma and Manikkavasakar. Balipeedam, Nandi and Dwajastambam can be found
facing the sanctum immediately after the main entrance.
Important and unique feature
of the temple is to have the stone idols of Nataraja and Sivakami. Generally,
only utsav (processional/metal) idols of Nataraja is found in the other
temples. Presiding Deity is called as Chidambareswarar / Nataraja and Mother is
called as Sivakami / Umaiyambigai. Presiding Deity Nataraja with his consort
Sivakami is on an elevated sanctum and people are not allowed on the
platform in front of presiding deity for dharshan.
Abhishekam is conducted 6
times in a year to presiding deity and daily two times (Morning 08.30 AM and Night
08.30 PM) abhishekam is done for spadika Lingam kept in a box. Most
of the procedures followed are very much similar to Chidambaram Nataraja
Temple. The corridor (prakara) has the shrine of the Goddess Sivakami / Umaiyambigai.
There is a shrine for Govindaraja Perumal with his two consorts Sridevi &
Bhoodevi and his mount Garuda found in the prakara.
There is a separate shrine for
Tirumoolanathar (Shiva Linga) with Ambal Thirupurasundari. Dakshinamurti,
Chandikeswarar, Nalvars, Navagraha, Kala Bhairava and Durga idols are also
found in the temple. There is a small shrine for Ganesha along with Lord Murugan
with his consorts Valli and Devasena. Sthala Vriksham is Vilvam Tree. Idols of
Ganesha and Shiva Linga are found below the Sthala Vriksham (Sacred tree).
