Sri Natrajar temple
Location
| Near by city: | Chidambaram. |
|---|---|
| Near by Railway station: | Chidambaram junction. |
| Address: | Sri Natrajar temple,Chidambaram-608001 |
| Phone: | 04144-220771 |
OTHER NAMES OF THE TEMPLE
| Thillaivanam | As this region was filled with thillai trees, it is called as thillaivanam, Presently you can see these trees in available in pichavaram mangrove forest , Thillai vanam becomes shorten into Thillai. |
| Perum-patra-Puliyur | Pulipadar a saint with intense devotion worshipped here and hence it is called by this name. |
| Chidambaram | Chit means Knowledge, Ambaram means vast unmeasurable space hence it is acquired this name. |
| Ponnambalam | Ambalam denotes a sabha(assembly or hall),Villiputtur Azhwar uses this term ponnambalanathan in his work. |
| Veda Nayaki | The four faces of the thillai kali represent four vedas so she got this name. |
| Puliyur | |
| Vyaghrapuri | |
| Bhoologa Kailas | |
| Pundarikapura |
SPLENDOUR OF TEMPLE
| ☀ The deity of this temple is Natraja who dance to rhythm of the cosmic sound in the form of OM the pranava Mantra. |
| ☀ The dance of Natraja the essence of the five sacred syllables interprets the five manifestation |
| ☀ Creation,Preservation,Destruction,Illusion,Salvation |
| ☀ Lord Natraja activates the five functions through his Dance, Further this is the only temple where The Trinities Brahma,Vishnu and Rudra are enshrined |
THE GREATNESS OF THE TEMPLE
| ☀ The holy tree othe temple is the thillai tree, in the west of the western prakara of the tirumulanathan koil, chiselled in granite |
| ☀ Chidambaram is one of the pancha bhuta temple (Five elements) being akasa (space) |
THE NAMES OF THE LORD
| ☀ In this temple, the god and the goddess have taken their abode in two places, Tirumulattanam and Tiruchitrambalam |
| ☀ Tirumulattana temple |
| ☀ The lord's name here is Mulattanesvarar and Tirumulanathar. |
| ☀his lord got the name Mulattanesvarar as the energy of siva in all other saivite shrines withdraws into this linga after the midnight worship, the goddess is known as Umai Ammaiyar. |
| ☀ Tiruchitrambalam |
| ☀ The name of the Lord who performs the eternal dance of sabha Nayakar |
Literature mentions his name as follows
| ☀ Koothaperuman |
| ☀ Nataraja |
| ☀ Vidangar |
| ☀ Meruvidangar |
| ☀ Dakshinameru Vidangar |
BUILT
| ☀ The temple of thillai koothan is spread over an area of 51 acres, Four imposing towers in East,West,South and North of the temple enhance the beauty of the temple. |
| ☀ Each of these towers rise135 feet,(40.5 meter) with seven storeys and 13 big copper finials. The basement of these tower is90 feet(27meter) long and 60 feet(18 meter) wide being oblong in form. Built of granite for 36 feet it rises straight.then the top portion slants into a pyramid to end in the shikara.The shikara is apsial in shape. |
| ☀ The thresholds of the four towers are also very impressive each being 40 feet(12 meter) high. |
| ☀ On both sides of the raja gopura are seen sculptures of Bharatha natya with karanas. As lord Natraja dances facing south, the banner of the deity is exhibited over the south tower. Even though Natraja is installed facing south, on all festive occasion. The deity is taken out from the eastern gopura. One can see vinayakar andsubramania temple in the south and north tower side respectively. Even if one were to enter by the south tower, vinayaga and subramania are sighted in small size in the gopuram, in the West tower, cells for the two Dvarpalakas atkondar and uyyakondar are on both sides. A granite wall of 30 feet(9 meter) hight have been built enclosing the four rajagopurams. It was renewed during the period of virappa nayakar and hence the wall got the name veerappa nayakar wall. |
ADMINISTRATION
| ☀ HINDU RELIGIOUS & CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS DEPARTMENT, TAMILNADU. |
TIMINGS
| Morning | 6.00 am to 12.30 pm |
| Evening | 4.30 pm to 10.00 pm |
ABHISHEKAM
| Abhishekam for Bramma samundeshwai is carried out with all liquids , where as for thillai kali only Gingelly oil abhisekam is carried out.Devotees perform abishek with oil, offer white vastras and archanas with Kumkum. |
EVENTS
| Maha kumbabhishekam on 14.06.1987. |
| The Raja Tower and other towers renovation done and in fornt of thillai kali one meditation hall was BUILT , the outter wall was rebuilt with stones and the Holy kumbabhishekam was held on 14.06.1987. |
| Maha kumbabhishekam on 31.08.2007 |
| As every 20 years kumbabhishekam need to be carried out for that in front of Raja Tower one hall was built and all tower renovation carried out and kumbabhishekam done on 31.08.2007.. |
FESTIVALS
| Brahmotsavam | Every year in the tamil month of Vaikasi thithi and one day before the no moon day brahmotsavam will start and celebrated for ten days in the temple. If the car festival for thillai amman happens in vaikasi then only in Aani thillai Natrajar car festival will happen. |
| Purattasi Navarathri | Every year Purattasi Navarathri in September-October is grandly and devotionally celebrated in the temple. |
| Adi perukku | Every year in the tamil month of Adi, Adi peruku day the lord kali will visit the kollidam river and take bath, this festival is grandly celebrated. |
| Masimagam | Every year in the tamil month of masi, the amman eill take samuthra theerthavari on masi magam day , for this festival amman will be carried to Killai and fisher man will celebrate the festival grandly. |