Divya Desam – Lord Vishnu | One of the Divya Desam Vishnu Sthalam |
Region | Chola Naadu |
Chola Naadu | 40th Vishnu Sthalam |
HISTORY:
The
temple is among the 108 divyadesams of SriVaishnavas and comes under Choza
naatu divyadesams. The presiding deity is Sri Govindaraja perumal in reclining
posture and thayar in a seperate sannadhi is Pundarikavalli thayar. This
divyadesam is inside Lord Nataraja's temple in Chidambaram - similar to Kamakshi
amman and Ekambareshwar temple in Kanchipuram wherein Lord Vishnu's shrine is
inside a Shaivite temple. There are two utsava moorthies in the temple by the
names Sri Parathasarathy perumal and Sri Chitrakootattilullaan. The Lord gives
darshan in three forms - standing, sitting and reclining posture. The shrine of
Sri Govindarajar is just besides the Natarajar shrine and is a mini temple in
itself with small sannadhis around the seperate prakaram. Listening to
Kulasekara Azhvaar's paasurams on Chitrakoodathullan is said to be equivalent
to listening to the entire Ramayana. Natarajan and Govindarajan in the same
temple complex. Vishnu is said to have watched the dance duel between Shiva and
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.
It
is believed that Cauvery’s parents undertook penance at this place uttering the
name of Govinda. And were blessed with Moksham. Hence this Lord came to be
called Govindarajan. One can see the Lord in 3 postures here- Standing, Sitting
and in Bhoga Sayanam.
This
is a land devotees seek 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 everyday 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.
As
a tradition, Lord Brahma on the naval chord of Lord Vishnu is seen in a sitting
form. Differing from this tradition, Brahma 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. Lord is looking at the sky as the place come under the Akash category.
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.
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.
Mother Pundarikavalli graces from a separate shrine. 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.
One
can see the Chidambaram Rahasyam (the Lord in the ‘form of a Yantram’) inside
the sanctum of Nataraja, to his right. The Chidambaram Rahasyam is covered with
a screen and is shown to devotees at regular intervals.
In
the temple tank, on the northern side, fishes come out of the water and on to
the ground to pick up eatables thrown in by the devotees.
The Vimana above the sanctum sanctorum is called Sadvika Vimana. Procession
deity Devadhi Devan is in a sitting posture with Mothers. Another procession
deity in a standing posture is with presiding Lord near His feet. Lord
Govindaraja is in a separate temple with His flag post in the temple known as
Chitra Sabha. Standing in the front mandap, the devotee can have the joint
darshan of Lord Nataraja, Lord Govindaraja and Lord Brahmma on his the naval
chord simultaneously.
TEMPLE INFORMATION:
|
Moolavar |
Sri Govidarajan |
|
Ambal |
Sri Pundareegavalli |
|
Theertham |
Pundareega Pushkarani Theertham |
BELIEF:
People pray here to be
fair on their part in their endeavours.
The
10-day Chittirai festival celebrated during the Tamil month of Chittirai (March
- April) and Gajendra Moksha festival are the prominent festivals celebrated in
the temple.
HOW
TO REACH:
The
temple is close to Chidambaram railway station and Chidambaram is on the
Villupuram -Mayavaram rail route. Chidambaram is well connected with important
cities of Tamilnadu by road.
TEMPLE
ADDRESS:
Sri
Govindaraja Perumal Thirukkoil,
Thiruchitrakoodam,
Chidambaram,
Cuddalore,
Tamil Nadu – 607001.
LOCATION:
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