History and tradition
- Architecture
- Tamil architecture
- First attested
- 9th century
Hymn
- Kulasekara Alvar
- Tirumangai Alvar
The pasuram is not yet recorded.
Vaishnava temple
Thiruchitrakoodam
சிதம்பரம் திருச்சித்ரகூடம்
Thiruchitrakoodam, Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu, India
Details are compiled from Wikimedia projects and published temple sources. Send a correction if something is wrong. Report a correction
Overview
Vishnu as Govindaraja
Consort Pundareekavalli
Vaishnava temple
Chidambaram is one of the many temple towns in the state which is named after the grooves, clusters or forests dominated by a particular variety of a tree or shrub and the same variety of tree or shrub sheltering the presiding deity. The town used to be called Thillai, following Thillaivanam, derived from the mangrove of Tillai trees (Exocoeria agallocha) that grow here and the nearby Pichavaram wetlands. According to a Hindu legend, once Shiva and Parvati wanted to judge who among them was a better dancer, and wanted their sons Vinayaka and Murugan to judge their performances. Both of them judged in favour of Parvati, after which Shiva was not satisfied. He wanted Brahma to judge, and the competition was held in Thiruvalangadu. Brahma was still not satisfied, and he wanted Vishnu to judge, and the latter wanted the competition in Tillaivanam. Shiva performed the Urthvathandavam pose of picking his earring with his legs, and wearing them in the ear with his legs. Parvati was not able to perform the feat, and due to her frustration at her defeat, became Kali at the Thillai Kali temple.
Visit information
Sources
Details are compiled from Wikimedia projects and published temple sources. Send a correction if something is wrong.