Thillai Kali Temple,
Chidambaram – The Temple
This
Temple is facing towards west with three tiered
Rajagopuram. There is Mandapam in front of the Rajagopuram with stucco image of
Kali on the parapet wall of the Mandapam. Balipeedam and Trisula can be seen in
this Mandapam facing the sanctum. An inscription can be seen on the Rajagopuram
entrance. Shrines of Prasanna Vinayaga on the left and Murugan Shrine on the
right can be found immediately after the Rajagopuram. Both the shrines are
facing east.
The Sanctum Sanctorum consists of Sanctum, Antarala, Artha Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam. Thillai Kali Shrine is situated in Artha mandapam. Thillai Kali Amman is furious in appearance. She is housed in east facing shrine. She is eight armed and in standing posture. Devotees worship here on Sundays between 4.30 p.m – 6.00 p.m. (Rahukalam time) and on Poornima (full moon days) and on new moon (Amavasya days) seeking boons.
Shrines of Utsava idols and Aghora Veera Bhadra can be seen near Thillai Kali Shrine. Dwarapalakis Durga and Jaya Durga can be seen at the entrance of the sanctum. Presiding Deity is called as Brahma Chamundeeshwari and is facing west. She is housed in the sanctum. She appears with four faces as Lord Brahma. She is four armed. Her upper right hand holds Rudraksha Mala, lower right hand holds Kamandala, upper left hand holds Soolam and lower left hand holds Amalorpavam.
She is in sitting posture. She is also called as Naanmukhi as she has four faces. Moon light falls on Mother in Masi Pournami days at 06.00 pm and sun rays falls on mother after 2 days from Pournami at 6.00 pm to 6.15 pm. There is a sculpture of Chola Kings in worshipping posture in the wall opposite to the sanctum.
The Vimana over the sanctum is of single tier with five Kalashas on top. Brahma Swarubini, Naga Vaishnava Swarubini, Kadambavana Dakshina Swarubini and Veena Vidyambigai are the Koshta Idols located around the sanctum. Brahma Swarubini is four faced with writing rod and manuscript in her hands. She is facing towards north.
Naga Vaishnava Swarubini holds deer and axe in her hands. She is facing towards east. Kadambavana Dakshina Swarubini is facing towards south. Probably, this is the only temple where Lord Dakshinamurthy appears in a female form called as Kadambavana Dakshina Swarubini. Veena Vidyambigai is facing towards west.
There is a shrine for Lord Vinayaga in the southern prakaram. He is having seven arms and in dancing posture. Sarva Vidyambigai can be seen playing Veena in standing posture near this Vinayaga. Shrines of Durga, Nagas, Chandikeswarar and Bhairavar can be seen in the northern prakaram. There is a shrine for Veera Perumal (Hero Stone (Arikandam)) can be seen in the temple premises.
Arikandam was a practice of soldiers, offering their heads to Kali, to get victory in the war or for the wellbeing of the King during Chola & Pallava period. Subsequently, a hero stone would be erected in front of Kali. Veera Perumal is one such hero stone. Shivapiriyai Theertham can be found in front of the Rajagopuram. It is also considered as one of the 10 Theerthams associated with Chidambaram Nataraja Temple.
