Part 1 - Thiru Chithrakoodam of Govindaraja at Chidambaram

[Cittirakutam = Thiru Chithrakoodam of Govindaraja at Chidambaram]

The Nataraja Temple at Tillai-Chidambaram accommodates the Cittirakutam of Govindaraja. It had a chequered history^[1]. It faces the east and has its own gopura, dvajastambha and Garuda-mandapa (Figs.1-2). The Mountain, “Cittira Kuda Malai”, was in North India near the Prayagai. In this very place, Lord Rama stayed alone while he was sent to the forest and left his pregnant wife, Sitadvi. While he came searching for his wife who was taken away by Ravana, Lord Rama found this place (Chidambaram) in South India and compared its beauty to Cittirakuta in North india. Thus it got its name. The Alvars have extolled the venue, Cittirakutam, in their hymns and the Nayanmar extol the praise of Kuttan and Tillai in their hymns. The Lord is praised by Saints, Kulasekhara Alvars and Tirumangai Alvars^[2]. Kulasekarar viewed the Lord in his Ramavarata form and considered Govindarajan as Sri Kalyana Ramar in the venue of Cittirakutam (Fig.3).

By about the 8^th -9^th Century, the Pallava ruler installed Sri Govindaraja Perumal and the presence of a temple for Vishnu is admitted by the Tamil hymns^[3]. It is one among the 108 divyadesas whereas the other two (Madhurantakam, Vaduvur and Kumbhakonam) are not.

Mythologies, embodied in the Guruparamparaprabhavam, would say that the heretic, Krmikantha Chola, destroyed the temple and threw the idol of Govindaraja into the Bay of Bengal. It was Sadasiva Raya, who in the 16^th Century, reinstituted the temple. Inscriptional evidences indicate that the reconsecration of the temple took place in 1539 CE. According to the Vaikhanasasutra^[4], the temple is called Thirucittirakutam. It also provides for nityotsava in the temple.

Another record of Srirangadeva Raya (dated in Saka 1565) maintains that the mandapas in the temple were repaired. The vimana of the Goddess Pundarikavalli was renovated and a grant of five villages was offered for the Sri Vaishnavas^[5]. The great reformer, Aacharya Ramanuja took great efforts in finding Govindaraja under the sea and found him and restored him to his original place. King Krishnappa Nayak (1564-1572 A.D.) was instrumental in installing the image of Govindaraja back in the temple.

As the Perumal Govindarajan lays still and soft, relishing the dance, the Vimanam is called “Sathivega Vimanam” where sathvigam literally means soft nature. Moolavar has Sangu and Chakaram in his hands. He is attended by his wives, Periya Piratti, Bhoomi Piratti and Neela Devi, at his feet. The celestial persons, devas, surround him. He is giving his seva Kidantha (Sleepping) Thirukkolam in Bhoga Sayanam, facing his thirumugham towards east direction^[6]. The Lord gives darshan in three forms–standing, sitting and reclining posture. Five Kumbams, considered to represent the five basic elements, dome the sanctum. Deity (Govindaraja) is lying on the bed, provided by serpent “Adissesha” with seven hoods. At His feet are the Sridevi and Boodevi. From His (naval) abdomen rise Lord Brahma, seated on Lotus flower (Figs.4-5). Utsava Moorthi is near Him, seated on a diamond Simha Asana. The temple was constructed in the Dravidian style of architecture.

Sannidhis

Lord Anjaneya, Lord Narasimha, Alvars and Acharyas, Sri Andal, Udayavar, Lord Venugoplan, Koorathalwar, Vishwaksenar also grace the devotees from their shrines in the Artha Mantapa around the prakara. In the inner ring, Dwarapalakas adorn the entrance. In front of the Perumal Sannidhi are Thiruashtaksharapadi of Raja Gopuram^[7]. In a separate enclosure is Garuda Alwar. Dwjasthambam and Balipeedam are also there.

Thayar Sannidhi

The Thayaar found in this sthalam is Pundaregavalli. She has a separate sannathi in this temple. Pundarekatchan means Vishnu, hence his wife is called Pundaregavalli, and the Pushkarani is Pundarega Pushkarani (Fig.6).

The temple at present is close to the Nataraja sanctuary. The spacious hall is shared by the temples for Govindaraja and Nataraja. The temple, in its garbhagrha, accommodates the reclining image of Govindaraja^[8].

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

R.K.K. Rajarajan, ‘Pancanrtyasabhas: Dancing Halls Five’, Religion in South Asia (UK 2014). Chidambaram and Nataraja are later usages. These names do not appear in earlier records. Kuttan, Tillai, Puliyur or Koyil are are earlier names.

[2]:

Sylvain-Fillioat et al (1999) Dance of Visnu: the Spectacle of Tamil Alvars. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society, Vol. 3:9:2, pp. 223-50.

[3]:

See the Perumal Tirumoli of Kulasekarar.

[4]:

Tennitiyakoyir Cacananakal, no. 10.

[5]:

Tennitiyakoyir Cacananakal. no. 11, Annual Epigraphical Reports 1913, no. 271.

[6]:

A.V. Rangachariyar, Thiruchitrakoota puranam, Chidambaram 2000.

[7]:

Mayilvakanan, Varalarril Chidambaram Natarajar Koil, part-I, Chidambaram, 2004.

[8]:

Meister, M.W. (1999) Encyclopaedia of Indian Temple Architecture South India Lower Dravidadesa. American Institute of Indian Studies, New Delhi.