Re: Chidambaram Photos 1993
Not my intention to barge in on what is obviously a shaiva thread, but I have been here many times, the latest being 2012 and wanted to add my experiences.
There is a Vaishnava divya desam within the temple complex. Bhagavan there is Govindaraja Perumal. His consort is Pundarikavalli Thayar who has her own sannidhi as well.
The shaiva section is called 'chiRRambalam', whereas vaishnava section is called 'thiruchitrakootam'.
Two azhwars have waxed eloquent on this perumal. Kulasekhara Azhwar summarizes the entire rAmAyaNa in his pathigam. Thirumangai Azhwar, in his praise of this perumal, asks all tapasvIs to stop doing panchAgni vidyA penances such as living on air and roots, meditating on the five fires and instead come to worship Govindaraja, which will confer the fruits of all these penances automatically.
The sthala puranam of this shrine is common to both shaivas and vaishnavas and I will state it here.
Once, Shiva and Parvati had a dancing competition. They invited everyone to see their dance and Brahma was made the judge to see who was better. Brahma, however, was unable to make a decision and told them to dance in front of Vishnu. So, they invited Vishnu and danced. While dancing, Shiva lifted his leg in typical 'tAndava' pose. Parvati, being a lady, was shy to do that. Upon seeing this, sriman nArAyaNa declared Shiva as the victor. Parvati was angry and assuming the form of kAli, went away to a place near chidambaram that is now known as 'thillai kAli'. Then, after she and shiva had settled their differences, Bhagavan vAsudevA named Shiva as 'Nataraja'. Shiva asked Bhagavan mAdhavA to come and stay at this place as well, so he acceded to the request and became known as 'Govindaraja'.
Is this sthala purAna true? The idea is that the apaurushEya vedA is pramAna. Whatever contradicts the vedA is rejected. This story does not contradict the vedA and is accepted. All temples have such sthala purAnAs.
Of course, we vaishnavas will argue that the Govindaraja Sannadhi is observed to be slightly above the Shiva sannidhi and Bhagavan Govindaraja, in a lying posture on Adi Sesha, has his lotus feet directed towards the Nataraja Sannidhi, ie, at Nataraja himself. Though, Shaivas will not accept it!
Hope I didn't spoil your thread with that one!
This sthalam was also the witness of famous vedAntic debates in the past, such as that between Sholingur mahAchArya of Vishishtadvaita and Appayya Dikshitar of Shaiva Advaita. The shaiva section follows the shaiva agama-s whereas the vaishnava section follows the pAncarAtra agama-s.
So, whether you are shaiva or vaishnava, a visit to this temple and worship as per your inclination, vAsanas is a must!
Last edited by Sri Vaishnava; 15 May 2013 at 08:15 AM.
[CENTER][COLOR="Black"][COLOR="Red"][COLOR="DarkRed"]No holiness rules over my freedom
No commands from above I obey
I seek the ruin, I shake the worlds
Behold! I am blackest ov the black
Ov khaos I am, the disobediant one
Depraved son who hath dwelt in nothingness
Upon the ninth I fell, from grace up above
To taste this life ov sin, to give birth to the "I"[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]
[B]~ "Blackest Ov the Black" - Behemoth.[/B]
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P-JdwtK1DY[/url] [/CENTER]
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