14th
& 15th September 2019.
The
visit to this temple was a part of the "Temple Visit in and around Sirkazhi" on the 14th
and 15th of September 2019. After the darshan of Sri Raghavendra at the
Raghavendra’s birthplace temple, Bhuvanagiri, on the way to Sirkazhi, I visited this temple at Chidambaram. This
temple is about 2 km from the Nataraja Temple.
Deity
: Sri Thillai Kali Amman
Some
of the important features of this temple are…
The
temple faces west with a mandapam, and Kali’s stucco image is on the parapet
wall of the mandapam. Soolam with balipeedam is in the mandapam. Vinayagar is on
the left and Karthikeyan (Arumugam) is
on the right in front of the Rajagopuram. A 3-tier Rajagopuram is at the
entrance of the sanctum sanctorum complex.
Kali Amman is in the sanctum with four faces. In
koshtam Brahma Sworubini, Naga Vaishnava Sworubini, Kadamba Vana Dakshina
Sworubini, Sri Veena Vidya Ambigai. In
praharam Urchava Ammans, Veerabhadra, Nagars, Bhairavar, and Chandikeswarar.
In
the mandapa on the left, sannadhi for Veeraperumal (A hero Stone Arikandam),
Navakanda statues, and Kali with ferocious face (Nisumbasoothini). Fully
covered with a saree / vasthra and kungum are sprinkled over the vasthiram. The Veera
Perumal is a Hero Stone, Arikandam, or Navakandam. During the Chozha and Pallava periods, it was the practice of soldiers to offer their heads to Kali to get victory in the war or for the well-being of
the King. A Hero stone will be erected in memory of the heroes in front of Kali.
ARCHITECTURE
The temple consists of the sanctum sanctorum, antarala, artha mandapam, and a mukha mandapam. The
sanctum sanctorum is on a simple prati bhandha adhistana with jagathy, vrutha
kumudam, and viyyalavari. The prastaram consists of valapi, kapotam, and viyyalavari. In the prastaram, adhama
padmam in the valapi and viyyalavari on the bhumi desam. A single-tier salakara vimana with 5 kalasas is on the sanctum sanctorum. The main 3-tier Rajagopuram
is with 7 kalasas.
Amman Vimana back side
HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS
The
presence of Kali as Nisumbasoothani with hero stones indicates that the temple might
have existed during the Pallava or Chozha
period as a brick temple. As per the 12 inscriptions
(between 1229 – 1278 CE) available, this temple was reconstructed as a stone temple by Kadava King Kopperunchinga-I (1216-1242 CE) (who called themselves the descendants of Pallavas or Latter Pallavas).
The inscriptions (South Indian Inscriptions V-8,
706 to 717) speak about the reconstruction of this temple, the donation of land, and pooja articles like Turmeric, Kungumam, Oil, and naivedyam offered to Kali. As
per the inscriptions, Kali was called Pidari. The Inscription SI V-8, 717,
speaks of the donation of land measuring 50 kuzhi with periphery limits of the land.
The
temple is under the control of the Tamil Nadu HR & CE Department. Kumbhabhishekam
was conducted in 1987 and 2007.
Ref:
South Indian Inscriptions Volume-8
LEGENDS
The Sthala Purana of the Thiruvalangadu temple is also applied to this temple. As per the Sthala Purana, the argument of who is superior, between Lord Shiva and Parvati, was resolved through a dance. It was agreed that whoever was defeated should go outside the limits of Chidambaram. Knowing well, Lord Shiva performed the “Oorthuva Tandav”, which Parvati couldn’t perform due to modesty and shyness. So Parvati, as Kali, went to the north side of the city limit with anger. Kali was pacified by Brahma through the chanting of the Veda and praising her. Since Brahma pacified Kali, this Thillai Kali has 4 heads.
TEMPLE TIMINGS:
The
temple will be kept open from 06.00 hrs to 12.00 hrs, and from 16.30 hrs to
20.30 Hrs with 4 kala poojas.
CONTACT DETAIL:
The temple may be contacted on landline 04144 - 230251 for further details.
The temple may be contacted on landline 04144 - 230251 for further details.
HOW
TO REACH:
The
temple is about 1 km from Chidambaram Natarajar Temple and 55 km from the District
headquarters.
A lot of buses are available from various parts of Tamil Nadu.
The nearest
Railway Station is Chidambaram.
LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE: CLICK HERE
Amman Vimana - view from the south
Bhairavar Sannadhi
Thillai Kali Amman - with a ferocious look
Veera Perumal - A Navakanda (Arikanda) Hero Stone
Navakanda Hero stones
---OM
SHIVAYA NAMA---
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