My Journeys In India: March 2019

50 Acre temple complex with the main sanctum golden roof consisting of 21600 golden tiles and 72000 golden nails, 2500 year old tree, World's second largest Mangrove forest with 11+ Sq.Kms, 300 tonne chariot...... Yes all are detailed here in this blog... Read on...

Thillai Nataraja Temple

A big temple with 50 acres complex and 9 temple towers. The towers on main entrances of all sides seem to have been built around 1150 CE. The temple towers rebuilt during 13th century, This is one of 108 Divya Desams of Lord Vishnu. Wondering ? Yes it is. You get to see both Lord Nataraja on one side and Lord Govindaraja on other side. If you happen to be there in evening around 6:45PM or 7PM there is a pooja performed to both Nataraja and Govindaraja at the same time and you can watch standing in center. .

Among Pancha Bootha sthalas, this Chidambaram represents Akasha or Aether.

The other four elements and their temples are : Click the links to read respective Blogs.

The unique feature of this temple is the main deity Lord Shiva represented in the form of dancing rather than Lingam in other temples. The cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja represents the motion of universe as sustained by him. There are also architectural marvels in this temple.

Aani Thirumanjanam which is during the Tamil Month of Aani i.e. Between June mid to July mid is the very famous festival. Also Aarudra Dharisanam during the Tamil month of Margazhi i.e. Dec Mid to Jan - Mid is very famous here. Near the Temple tank there is a stage where Bharatha Natyam is performed.

Significance of the temple design - Taken as is from this temple site

The layout and architecture of the temple is replete with philosophical meanings.

The 9 gateways signify the 9 orifices in the human body.
The Chitsabai or Ponnambalam, the sanctum sanctorum represents the heart which is reached by a flight of 5 stairs called the Panchaatchara padi - pancha meaning 5, achhara – indestructible syllables – "SI VA YA NA MA", from a raised anterior dias - the Kanakasabai. The access to the Sabhai is through the sides of the stage (and not from the front as in most temples).
The Ponnambalam or the Sanctum sanctorum is held by 28 pillars – representing the 28 agamas or set methodologies for the worship of Lord Shiva. The roof is held by a set of 64 beams representing the 64 forms of art and is held by several cross-beams representing the innumerable blood vessels. The roof has been laid by 21600 golden tiles with the word SIVAYANAMA inscribed on them representing 21600 breaths. The golden tiles are fixed using 72000 golden nails which represents the no. of nadis exists in human body. The roof is topped by a set of 9 sacred pots or kalasas, representing the 9 forms of energy. (refer Umapathy Sivam’s Kunchitaangristhavam)

Lot more details found in Wiki here.

Isn't it Amazing ? ... What a wonder .... God is great !

Beautiful Temple Tank and the Tower

Thillai Nataraja Temple Tower Chidambaram

West Tower, do you see the multi-headed statue on left bottom? The same is seen in Thiruchendhur and in Madurai Meenakshi Temple towers as well

Distance chart from major locations

Chennai : 232 Kms
Bangalore : 400 Kms
Kumbakonam : 74 Kms

Stay options

We stayed in Hotel Saradaram which is kind of ok and not so great, but you get few other options(Hotel Akshaya...etc) as well. Refer to review sites to choose the option you need.

For food, Chennai Saravana bhavan and Hotel Krishna of East Car street are good options.

How to reach

From Mysore or Bangalore you can book the train which starts from Mysore and run till Mayiladuthurai. From the last stop which is Mayiladuthurai, Chidambaram is 40 Kms from here. I would advise you take a taxi to visit all the places. For Navargraha temples as well you will need a taxi.

Places to see in and around Chidambaram in their order - Map links are given

Thillai Chidambaram Nataraja Temple details are given above and all photos can be seen in this blog below.

Thillai Kali Amman in Chidambaram

Thillai Kali appear with four faces 1. Brahma, 2. Saraswati, 3. Dakshinamurthi in female form known as Dakshina Rupini and 4. Kali. Those who visits Thillai Natarajar Temple always visit this Amman Temple as well for sure.

Towards Pichavaram

1. [Must Visit, Nature] Pichavaram Mangrove Forests

Towards Virudhachalam and Srimushnam

2. [Meditation Center] Vadalur Thiru Arut Prakasa Vallalar Deiva Nilayam
3. [Historical Temple, 2500 year old Vanni tree] Sri Virudhagiriswarar Temple, Virudhachalam
4. [Temple] Arulmigu Kolanjiappar Temple, Virudhachalam
5. [Historical Temple] Sri Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple and Rama Temple, Srimushnam

Towards Thiruvarur

6. [Historical Temple, Unique] Sirkazhi Sattainathar Temple
7. [Historical Temple, Navagraha Temple - Planet Mars] Vaitheeswaran Koil
8. [Historical Temple, 60th Marriage] Thirukkadaiyur Temple
9. [Historical Temple, Navagraha Temple - Planet Saturn] Thirunallar Saniswara Temple
10. [Historical Temple, 300 tonne chariot] Thiruvarur Thiyagaraja Swamy Temple

Towards Kumbakonam

11. [Must Visit - Historical Monument] Gangaikonda Cholapuram Peruvudaiyar Temple (35 kms from Kumbakonam)
12. [Must Visit - Historical Monument] Darasuram Airavatesvara Temple (4 kms from Kumbakonam)

In and Round Kumbakonam

13. Kumbakonam Temples, Navagraha Temples and Nearby places
For all the places, Temples In and Around Kumbakonam, ready my exclusive blog here. Click this link.

Towards Thanjavur

14. [Must visit - Architectural Wonder of the World] Thanjavur Brihadeeswarar Temple

Planning tips

To see all the places listed above from 1 to 10, you need two full days with one night stay at Chidambaram. At the end you can reach Kumbakonam and get a comfortable stay. Read my other blog to plan all the places in and around Kumbakonam and it need minimum of 3 days.

Moving onto the places and photos

1. Pichavaram Mangrove Forest - 15 Kms from Chidambaram

Second largest Mangrove forests in the World covering 11+ Square Kilometers. Birding season is again from November to January. Very beautiful place and a Must visit. They have pedal boat, motor boat and nominal charges. One get to see Red, Black crabs all the time on Mongrove. You may avoid this during rainy season. October and November the sea may be rough and better to avoid.

The Black Crab

The Mangrove Flower

So dense and green.... really amazing to be here

Yes, you get to go inside it...

The Red Crab

Another Red Crab

Useful Info Board of List of Places near Chidambaram

View of the Boat house

Mangrove Leaves

2. Vadalur Thiru Arut Prakasa Vallalar Deiva Nilayam (Ramalinga Adigalar) - 31 Kms from Chidambaram

Sri Ramalinga Swamigal is one of the famous Tamil Saints and Gnana Siddhar (who attained higher wisdom). He endeavored to eliminate caste system. He advocated the concept of worshiping the flame of a lighted lamp as a symbol of eternal power. In 1867 he established a center for feeding the poor people. On the inaugural day he lit the fire of the stone stove, with a declaration that the fire be ever alive and the needy shall be fed forever. And since then i.e. from 23rd May 1867, the fire is still alive and ready to cook food anytime of the day and feed the needy. It is never put off since then. Around 1872 he established the "Sathya Gnana Sabai", hall of True Wisdom Forum and ensuring it was entirely secular. There is a Maha Mantra in Tamil by Vallalar "Arut Perum Jyothi Arut Perum Jyothi Thani Perum Karunai Arut Perum Jyothi". Remember this is not a temple, and daily poojas are only at 11:30 AM and 7:30 PM for the lamps. Read more from here (Dinamalar Temples site).

When you travel from Chidambaram to Vadalur, on the way you get to see the village "Marudhur" and the house where Ramalinga Swamigal was born. Even here the lamp is lit and continuously burning from his time. On the way you also get to see full of paddy fields, so green and cool to your eyes.

Vadalur Thiru Arut Prakasa Vallalar Deiva Nilayam

Meditation center and Ramalinga Adigalar Deiva Nilayam

Marudur Ramalinga Adigalar Birth place and house

Birth place and house of Sri Ramalinga Adigalar - Marudur, On the way from Chidambaram to Vadalur

Info Board at Vadalur

Info board in Tamil about the Seven Jyothi Darshan

3. Sri Virudhagiriswarar Temple, Virudhachalam (2500 year old Vanni tree is here) - 56 Kms from Chidambaram

This is 1000 to 2000 year old Shiva Temple. When there was a Pralaya flood this temple was unaffected. There are huge compound walls and a Inner Prakaram. This is as famous as Kasi - Varanasi and the benefit measure is little more than Kasi. The Vanni tree inside the temple complex is 1700 year old as per Wiki (but the board says 2500 year old ? See the photo below).

List of places (in Tamil) which were unaffected during Pralaya floods

Inner Prakaram

History of Sri Virudhagiriswarar Temple Virudhachalam

History of the Temple in Tamil

4. Arulmigu Kolanjiappar Temple Virudhachalam - 2.5 Kms from Sri Virudhagiriswarar Temple

This is a Lord Murugan Temple and swayambumurthi. Saint Sundarar sang the glory of Lord Muruga here and got his blessings. Since there are too many Kulanjee trees, this place is named this way.

5. Sri Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple and Ramar Temple, Srimushnam, 37 Kms from Chidambaram

Believed to be a 10th Century temple, and Lord Varaha perumal is Swayambhumurthi on Salagram stone. The pillars are very beautiful.

Main Temple Tower

Temple Entrance

Sri Rama Temple, Srimushnam (right opposite to Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple)

Ornate Pillars

Inner Prakaram

If you donate towards free food here, you are sure to reach heaven after death

About Mustha Chooranam made of Korai Kilangu

6. Sirkazhi Sattainathar Temple

This temple again survived and unaffected during Pralaya floods. There are three stories. Brahmapureeswarar shrine at lower level, Thoniappar and Goddess Parvathi on middle level on Thoni, and Sattainathar (Bhairavar) on the third level. At second level Shiva and Parvathi shrine is close to 8 feet high and so beautiful. This cant be seen in any other temples and it is very unique. When Thirugnana Sambandar was a child, his father left him on the bank of the tank and went for bath. The child started crying for milk as he was hungry. Lord Shiva asked Parvathi to feed the boy and she fed milk with wisdom in it. And the child sat happily after having the milk. With the milk spilling over his lips, his father shouted at him for accepting milk from unknown persons. And surprisingly the child started singing "Thodudaiya Seviyan..." and made his father realize it was goddess who fed him.

Main Temple Tower

The Three Tier structure as seen from below

Info Board in Tamil

Temple Tank

7. Vaitheeswaran Koil

This is the temple for Lord Shiva with Healing powers. The meaning of Vaitheeswarar is "God of healing" and prayers can heal diseases. This place is also famous for Naadi Astrology or palm leaf astrology. This is one of the Navagraha Temple (Nine planets) and associated with Planet Mars or Angaraka. Hence you will see all time crowd.