Sri Govindaraja perumal temple, Thiruchitrakoodam


About the temple

The temple is among the 108 divyadesams of SriVaishnavas and comes under Choza naatu divyadesams. The presiding deity is Sri Govindaraja perumal in reclining posture and thayar in a seperate sannadhi is Pundarikavalli thayar. This divyadesam is inside Lord Nataraja's temple in Chidambaram - similar to Kamakshi amman and Ekambareshwar temple in Kanchipuram wherein Lord Vishnu's shrine is inside a Shaivite temple. There are two utsava moorthies in the temple by the names Sri Parathasarathy perumal and Sri Chitrakootattilullaan. The Lord gives darshan in three forms - standing, sitting and reclining posture. The shrine of Sri Govindarajar is just besides the Natarajar shrine and is a mini temple in itself with small sannadhis around the seperate prakaram.

Lord Vishnu is said to have witnessed and judged the dance contest between Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and hence he is seen lying looking towards Nataraja's shrine.

How to reach

The temple is close to Chidambaram railway station and Chidambaram is on the Villupuram -Mayavaram rail route. Chidambaram is well connected with important cities of Tamilnadu by road.

Sannadhis in Govindarajar temple

Govindaraja perumal
Pundarikavalli thayar
Anjaneyar
Narasimhar/Chakratalwar
Alwars and Acharyas
Andal
Wodeyavar
Naraimhar with Shanku chakram
Venugopal
Yoga Narasimhar
Kooratazhwar
Vishwaksenar

Temple tank and vimanam

The temple tank is called Pundarika pushkarni and vimanam is called Satvika vimanam.

Temple timings

The temple is open in the mornings from 6 am to 12 noon and in the evenings from 4 pm to 9 pm.

Temples in proximity

Sirkazhi based divyadesams, Mayavaram based divyadesam

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