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Govindaraja Perumal Temple, Chidambaram
Locality/village : Chidambaram
State : Tamil Nadu
Country : India
Nearest City/Town : Chidambaram
Best Season To Visit : All
Languages : Tamil & English
Temple Timings : 6:30 AM to 12 PM and 5 PM to 10:30 PM
Photography : Not Allowed
Govindaraja Perumal Temple, Chidambaram
The Govindaraja Perumal temple is located in Chidambaram, Tamil nadu. The temple is one of the 108 Divya desams dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu. The temple is built in the Dravidian style of architecture. The temple is also a major shrine to the Hindu God Shiva. The temple has been renovated many a times by the Cholas, Vijayanagras, Cheras and the Pallava royals in the ancient and medieval periods. There are 6 daily rituals and two major annual festivals held at the temple.The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu.
According to legends, the mountain Chitrakoodamalai in North India was the place where Lord Rama once had been. When Lord Rama was sent along with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman to exile, he found a place in South India that reminded him of the mountain in the north. He named that place Chitrakoodam and stayed there during his exile. That is how Chitrakoodam got its name.
According to legend, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati once decided to have a dance duel. Lord Shiva asked Lord Brahma to judge their duel at thiruvaalankaadu. Unable to make a decision about the winner, Lord Brahma asked them to seek Lord Vishnu’s help. Lord Vishnu asked them to duel in Chitrakoodam. When Lord Shiva started dancing, his earring fell off. Lord Vishnu felt that now Lord Shiva would lose and was about to declare Goddess Parvati as the winner. However, Lord Shiva picked up the earring and put it back on with his feet and continued dancing. This greatly impressed Lord Vishnu and Goddess Parvati. Goddess Parvati conceded defeat and Lord Vishnu declared Lord Shiva as the winner.
Moolavar:
The Moolavar of this Divyadesam is Sri Govindarajan. He is giving his seva Kindantha (Sleeping) Thirukkolam in Bhoga Sayanam facing his thirumugham towards eest direction. Prathyaksham for Thillai Moovayiravar, Paanini, Padhanjali and Vyakpathra Maharishi.
Thayaar:
The Thayaar found in this sthalam is Pundaregavalli. She has a separate sannadhi in this temple.
Utsavar:
- Devadhidevan. Also known as Parthasarathy. He is in the sitting posture.
- Chitira Koodhathullan with two wives.
- Sri Rama in his Vanavasa Kolam (ie poses as in his forest surroundings).
Mangalasasanam:
- Thirumangaialwar – 32 Paasurams
- Kulasekara Alwar – 11 Paasurams.
Total – 43 Paasurams
Pushkarani:
Pundarega Pushkarani.
Vimanam:
Saathvega Vimaanam.
There are 6 pooja rituals performed on a daily basis. All the rituals have the same three steps to be followed in the same order, the Alangaram(decoration of the idol), the neivethanam(food offering to the idol) and the Deeparadanai (lighting of the lamp).during the last ritual, pipes and percussion instruments are played.
The temple priests perform the pooja (rituals) during festivals and on a daily basis. As at other Vishnu temples of Tamil Nadu, the priests belong to the Vaishnavaite community, a Brahmin sub-caste. The temple rituals are performed six times a day: Ushathkalam at 7 a.m., Kalasanthi at 8:00 a.m., Uchikalam at 12:00 p.m., Sayarakshai at 6:00 p.m.,Irandamkalam at 7:00 p.m. and Ardha Jamam at 10:00 p.m. There are also certain religious Vedic texts that are recited during each ritual. There are daily, weekly, fortnightly and monthly rituals held at the temple.
FESTIVALS:
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.
Sri Govindaraja Perumal Temple
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A really beautiful temple built according to the Dravidian architecture. Usually we have all seen idols of lord Brahma with his four faces in the sitting position on the naval cord of Lord Vishnu. But here it is quite different where in Lord Brahma is in the standing position. We were told that of the Panch Bhootas namely the space, fire, wind water and earth , here the Lord Perumal is facing the Akash,- space . People come to this temple and pray that they always remain fair in all their endeavors and be successful.