Govindaraja Perumal Temple (Thiruchitrakoodam) stands in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, is dedicated to Govindaraja Perumal (Vishnu) in reclining Bhoga Sayana posture and consort Pundarikavalli Thayar (Lakshmi). It is also known as Thiruchitrakoodam, Chitrakoodathan Temple.
This temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams, the Vishnu temples glorified in the Naalayira Divya Prabandham composed by the Alvar poet-saints, and is notable as one of the rare Divya Desams located within a Shiva temple complex. The Govindaraja idol is said to have been removed from worship during the reign of the Shaiva king Kulothunga Chola II, and was reinstated by the Vijayanagara governor Krishnappa Nayak between 1564 and 1572.
Tamil Nadu carries a distinct temple identity of its own: Land of towering gopurams and living Dravidian temple traditions, from the Chola masterpieces to the great Pancha Bhoota Sthalas.
Darshan hours and daily worship
| Session | Timing (as published) |
|---|---|
| Morning | 6:30 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Evening | 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM |
Darshan generally follows the schedule of the larger Thillai Nataraja Temple complex; sources also list six named daily ritual times (see poojas).
Poojas and daily rituals
Six daily rituals: Ushathkalam (7 AM), Kalasanthi (8 AM), Uchikalam (12 PM), Sayarakshai (6 PM), Irandamkalam (7 PM) and Ardha Jamam (10 PM), each including decoration, food offerings and lamp waving accompanied by nagaswaram and tavil music
Festivals and special-day timings
Regular darshan hours are usually extended, or set aside entirely, on these dates.
| Festival | Period | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Chittirai festival (Vasanthotsavam) | Tamil month of Chittirai (April-May) | A ten-day festival, the temple's most prominent annual celebration |
| Gajendra Moksha festival | A secondary annual celebration |
History and architecture
Architecture
Dravidian style shrine with a Saathveeha Vimanam, situated within the larger Thillai Nataraja Temple complex, just opposite the Nataraja sanctum; the complex includes numerous temple tanks such as Pundareeka Saras
History
The Govindaraja idol is said to have been removed from worship during the reign of the Shaiva king Kulothunga Chola II, and was reinstated by the Vijayanagara governor Krishnappa Nayak between 1564 and 1572. An 1849 court case upheld Vaishnava worship rights over the Govindaraja idol within the complex. Saints Kulasekara Alvar and Thirumangai Alvar composed hymns glorifying this shrine. It is one of only a small number of Divya Desams situated inside a Shiva temple complex.
Planning your visit
How to reach
Located within the Thillai Nataraja Temple complex in the heart of Chidambaram town, Cuddalore district. Chidambaram has its own railway station on the Chennai-Tiruchirappalli line and is well connected by bus from Chennai, Puducherry and Cuddalore; the nearest airports are Puducherry and Tiruchirappalli.
Where this information comes from
Confidence: Medium. Exact visiting hours vary between sources since darshan follows the larger Nataraja temple complex schedule