Pilgrimages and Temples of Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore district

1. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Shiva:

• Shiva:
- Chidambaram Nataraja Temple

• Five Sabhas:
(1) Chit Sabha (Chitrambalam)
(2) Kanaka Sabha (Ponnambalam)
(3) Nritya Sabha
(4) Deva Sabha (Perambalam)
(5) Raja Sabha

• Devi:
- Chidambaram Nataraja Temple
- Chidambaram Thillai Kali Temple

• Vishnu:
- Chidambaram Nataraja Temple - Govindaraja Perumal Shrine

• Ganesha: Sri Ganesha is present in Chidambaram in various forms.
- Sri Mukkuruni Vinayaka
- Sri Karpaga Vinayaka

• Murugan: Sri Murugan is present in Chidambaram in various forms.
- Sri Balasubramanya

• Sages: Sages associated with Chidambaram:

○ Vyaghrapada:

○ Patanjali:

(Lord Shiva performed the Ananda Tandava dance in Thillai Vana)

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Presence of Lord Shiva in Chidambaram:

• Lord Shiva & Tandava dance: Lord Shiva danced the great Tandava dance at Darukavana and later on in Thillai Vana (Chidambaram) before the gods and the sages.

• Lord Shiva & sages of Darukavana: Once Lord Shiva went to Darukavana in the form of a mendicant to remove the pride of learning of the sages there. Lord Shiva was having a begging bowl in his hand and he was accompanied by Mohini (Lord Vishnu in disguise of a beautiful woman). The wives of the sages were greatly attracted by this beautiful pair. The sages became angry because of this and tried to destroy them through supernatural powers. They sent a tiger. Lord Shiva killed it and wrapped the tiger skin around his waist. Then they sent a poisonous serpent. Lord Shiva tied it around his neck. Thereafter they sent Apasmara Muyalaka. Lord Shiva crushed him under his feet. The sages became humble and confessed defeat. Lord Shiva became pleased and started to dance the great Tandava dance before the gods and the sages.

• Lord Shiva & sage Patanjali: Sri Adisesha heard the description of the great Tandava dance of Lord Shiva and yearned to see it himself. He performed penance and had the darshan of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva directed him to go to Thillai Vana. Adisesha incarnated as Patanjali and went to the Thillai forest.
- Note: The hermitage of sage Patanjali is at Ananteeshwaram.

• Lord Shiva & sage Vyaghrapada: Sage Vyaghrapada joined sage Patanjali in the Thillai Vana. Both of them started worshipping Lord Shiva in the form of a Lingam. When the time was ripe, Lord Shiva appeared there in the form of Lord Natarajar and performed the Ananda Tandava in the presence of Devi Shivakamasundari, the gods and the sages (including Patanjali and Vyaghrapada).
- Note: The hermitage of sage Vyaghrapada is at Thirupapuleeshwaram in Chidambaram. The Chit Sabha, the innermost sanctum of the Chidambaram Temple is the place where Lord Shiva is said to have performed the Ananda Tandava. Chidambaram is also one of Divya Desams known as Thiruchitrakootam Divya Desam.

Presence of Devi in Chidambaram:

• Devi Thillai Kali had a dance competition with Lord Shiva in this place.

Shiva: Chidambaram - Natarajar Temple (Chidambaram) (Cuddalore district): A Pancha Bhoota Sthalam [Akasha] and a Paadal Petra Sthalam [Chidambaram] (PP-1.1).
Shiva: Thiruvetkalam - Pasupatheeshwarar Temple (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thiruvetkalam] (PP-1.2).
Shiva: Thirunelvayil - Madhyaneeshwarar Temple (Sivapuri) (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thirunelvayil] (PP-1.3).
Shiva: Thirukkazhippalai - Palvanna Natheeshwarar Temple (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thirukkazhippalai] (PP-1.4).
Shiva: Omampuliyur - Pranava Vyaghrapureeshwarar Temple (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Omampuliyur] (PP-1.31).
Shiva: Thirukanattumullur - Patanjali Nathar Temple (Kanattampuliyur) (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thirukanattumullur] (PP-1.32).
Shiva: Thirunaraiyur - Soundareshwarar Temple (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thirunaraiyur] (PP-1.33).
Shiva: Thirukadambur - Amirthakadeeshwarar Temple (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thirukadambur] (PP-1.34).
Shiva: Thirunelvayil Aratturai - Anandeeshwarar Temple (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thirunelvayil Aratturai] (PP-4.1).
Shiva: Pennagadam - Pralaya Kaleeshwarar Temple (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Pennagadam] (PP-4.2).
Shiva: Thirukoodalaiyatrur - Narthana Vallabeshwarar Temple (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thirukoodalaiyatrur] (PP-4.3).
Shiva: Thiru Erukkathampuliyur - Neelakandeshwarar Temple (Rajendra Pattinam) (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thiru Erukkathampuliyur] (PP-4.4)
Shiva: Thiruthinai Nagar - Shivakozhundeeshwarar Temple (Theerthanagari) (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thiruthinai Nagar] (PP-4.5).
Shiva: Thiruchopuram - Mangalapureeshwarar Temple (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thiruchopuram] (PP-4.6).
Shiva: Thiruvathigai - Veeratteshwarar Temple (Cuddalore district): An Astha Veeratta Sthalam [Tripurasuras] and a Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thiruvathigai] (PP-4.7).
Shiva: Thirunavalur - Bhaktajaneshwarar Temple (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thirunavalur] (PP-4.8).
Shiva: Thirumudukunram - Pazhamalai Nathar Temple (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thirumudukunram] (PP-4.9).
Shiva: Thiruthuraiyur - Sishta Gurunatheshwarar Temple (Thiruthalur) (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thiruthuraiyur] (PP-4.15).
Shiva: Thirumanikuzhi - Vamanapureeshwarar Temple (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thirumanikuzhi] (PP-4.17).
Shiva: Thiruppathiripuliyur - Padaleeshwarar Temple (Cuddalore district): A Paadal Petra Sthalam [Thiruppathiripuliyur] (PP-4.18).

2. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Vishnu:

Vishnu: Thiruchitrakutam - Govindaraja Perumal Temple (Chidambaram) (Cuddalore district): A Divya Desam [Thiruchitrakutam Divya Desam] (DD-40).
Vishnu: Thiruvahindrapuram - Deivanayaka Perumal Temple (Cuddalore district): A Divya Desam [Thiruvahindrapuram Divya Desam] (DD-41).

3. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Varaha:

Srimushnam Temple — Srimushnam Bhu
Varaha Swamy

• Varaha:
- Srimushnam Bhu Varaha Swamy Temple

(Srimushnam is a Swayam Vyakta Kshetra)

4. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Hayagriva:

Hayagriva: Thiruvahindrapuram - Lakshmi Hayagriva Perumal Temple (Cuddalore district): A Divya Desam [Thiruvahindrapuram Divya Desam] (DD-41).

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