Thiruchitrakoodam Divyadesam - Govindharaja Perumal Temple is located in Chidambaram town itself. It is located in the same premise and just opposite to Chidambaram Natarajar Sannidhi - Sanctum Sanctorum. He is also worshipped as Chithrakoodathullan. Thayar is blessing as Pundareekavalli and Utsavar Thyaar is being worshipped as Parimala Ranganayagi. Perumal here is blessing in Huge Boga Sayana Posture facing East. Temple Vimanam is Saathveega Vimanam. Theertham is Pundareeha Saras. Sreemushnam and Kattumannarkoil are located nearby. Sreemushnam is one of the Purana Sthalangal and Kattumannarkoil is the birth place of Alavandhar and Nadhamunigal ( Who compiled Nalayira Divya Prabandham ).

Thiruchitrakoodam Sree Govindaraja Perumal Temple

Moolavar here in Thiruchithrakoodam is very big reclining in Adhisesha with Brahma, Sridevi and Bhoodevi at His feet. Adhishesha is seen with 7 heads and Perumal is wearing Salagrama Malai and Dhasavathara Belt. Visvakarma created 12 Puskarinis here in Chitrakoodam and they are Pundareega Saras, Amudha Koobam, Thiruparkadal, Shesha Theertham, Cauvery Theertham, Garuda Pushkarini, Swedha Pushkarini, Iyambaga Seshana Theertham, Indhra Pushkarini, Agni Theertham Samy Theertham and Nirjara Pushkarini. Utsava murthy is blessing as Parthasarathy as Irundha Perumal , Chitrakoodathan as Nindra Perumal and Govindarajan as Kidantha Perumal. Viswakarma built this temple and Bharadha established Bharadha natyam here only. 

Chidambara Rahasyam is kept in the Natarajar Garpa Graham and being shown to the devotees. Once there was a dispute between Lord Shiva and HIS consort Parvathi raising a question that who was a better dancer. They went to Lord Brahma Deva who judges their dances at Thiruvalangadu but failed to give a verdict. Then Shiva and Parvathi approached Lord Vishnu, who asked them to dance here in Thiruchitrakoodam. While dancing, Lord Shiva lifted His right leg above HIS head but being a female, Parvathi could not do so due to modesty. Therefore the verdict went in favour of Lord Shiva. Angry Parvathi turned into Kali and took residence near the temple as Thillai Kali. Kanva Mahirishi was advised by Lord Brhama Devar and underwent a severe penance and attained moksha.

Chidambaram - One among the Pancha Boodha Sthalams

Pancha Bootha became 5 Kalsas here in Thiruchitrakoodam. 4 Vedhas became 4 Gopurams. 36 Smrithis became 36 entrances and 1000 names of Perumal became 1000 Pillar mandapam. Ashtaksharam became the 8 steps to the main sanctum sanctorum. Till the period of Vikrama Kulothunga Chozha both Shiva and Vishnu temples existed without any problems. Being a adherent Shivite, the two kings were spent lot of money to keep of the Shiva Temple. Fearing damage, the Utsavar was kept in Tirumala Tirupati till 1538. Only durin 1539, in the period of Achudha Devaraya of Vijayanagaram, Perumal brought back here and became very prominent again. Nandhi Varma Pallavan I who was inclined to Shivism and Jainism was converted to Vaishnavism by Thirumangai Azhwar. Devotees can see all types of Carvings of Dances inside the temple premise here.