Chidambareswarar Temple

Sri Chidambareswarar Temple / Sri Natarajar Temple, Avathana Papaiah Street, Choolai, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.

There are many  temples dedicated to Lord Shiva in and around Chennai.  Some of them are  grouped as Padal Petra sthalangal, Saptha sthana sthalangal ( Mylapore and Triplicane area),  Navagraha sthalangal ( West of Chennai between Porur , Poonamallee, Kundrathur to Pozhichalur ) and Pancha Bootha sthalangal.  The pancha bootha sthalangal  in Chennai are on the northern side ( 1. Sri Kalatheeswarar – Pavalakara Street, near Thambu Chetty street,  2. Sri Arunachaleswarar –  Anna Pillai Street, Chennai 79, 3. Sri Ekambareswarar – Mint Street, 4. Sri Gangadeeswarar – Purasavakkam and 5. Chidambareswara, Avathana Papaiah Street, Soolai – People used to call this temple as Natarajar Temple ).

Moolavar    : Sri Natarajar

Consort      : Sri Sivakami

Some of the important features of this temple are ….

The temple is facing east  with an  entrance arch with sudhai dwarapalakas, between two concrete buildings.. The front  mandapam arch has the Stucco images of Vinayagar, Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Natarajar, Shiva and Parvathi are sitting on Rishabam, Ambal on Rishabam, Nandhiammperuman, Brahma, Manikkavasakar,  etc,.

Balipeedam, Rishabam and dwajasthambam are  after the main entrance. Sannadhi for Vinayagar, Navagrahas, Govindaraja Perumal with Sridevi & Bhoo Devi in sayana kolam,  Sri Valli Devasena Subramaniar, Naalvar, Sri Umayambigai samedha Sri Thirumoola Nathar ( Ambal in a separate sannadhi).

Moolavar  Natarajar with Sivagami is on an elevated sanctum  and people are not allowed on the platform in front of moolavar for darshan.

HISTORY AND INSCRIPTIONS

The 1884 CE inscription records that Kanchipuram Annamalai Mudaliar’s elder son Venkatesa Mudaliar and his wife Muniammal, installed Nataraja at a House Nos 10, Arumugam Street, Peddanaickenpet,  Chennai, on Maha Shivaratri day. As per the will the income from the properties ie the house at no 10, Arumugam Street at Peddanaickenpet and a house no 87 on Lankapappaiya Street in Choolai, has to be utilized for daily poojas and abhishekams.

The temple is under the control of Tamil Nadu, HRCE department.

POOJAS AND CELEBRATIONS

Abhishekam is conducted 6 times in a year to moolavar and daily two times ( Morning 08.30 Hrs and 20.30 Hrs ) abhishekam is done for spatika Lingam kept in a box.   Most of the procedures followed are very much similar to Chidambaram Sri Natarajar Temple. 10 days Brahmotsavam,  once in a  year is celebrated.

TEMPLE TIMINGS :

The temple is kept open  for darshan between 07.00 Hrs to 12.00 Hrs and 16.30 Hrs to 20.30 Hrs.