Chidambaram facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chidambaram
Town
Nickname(s):  Temple City
Chidambaram Location in Tamil Nadu Show map of Tamil Nadu Chidambaram Location in India Show map of India
Country	India
State	Tamil Nadu
District	Cuddalore
Region	Chola Nadu
Government
• Type	Selective Grade Municipality
• Body	Chidambaram Municipality
Elevation	31 m (102 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	62,153
Demonym(s)	Chidambaran
Languages
• Official	Tamil
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	608001
Telephone code	+91-4144
Vehicle registration	TN-91
Website	http://Cuddalore.tn.nic.in

Chidambaram is an important town and municipality in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, an Indian state. It sits by the Vellar River, close to where it meets the Bay of Bengal. Chidambaram is quite old and has been ruled by many different groups over time. These include the Pallavas, Medieval Cholas, Later Cholas, Later Pandyas, Vijayanagara Empire, Thanjavur Nayakas, Marathas, and the British.

The town is famous for its temples, especially the Thillai Nataraja Temple and Thillai Kali Temple. People also love the yearly chariot festivals, which happen in December–January and June–July. Chidambaram covers about 14.8 square kilometers and had a population of 62,153 people in 2011. It is managed by a special type of town council called a Selective Grade Municipality. A lot of people in Chidambaram work in tourism. Roads are the main way to travel here, with one national highway passing through the town. Chidambaram is also home to Annamalai University, a very old and important university in Tamil Nadu, started in 1929.

What's in a Name? Etymology and Legends

Chidambaram is one of many temple towns in Tamil Nadu named after the trees that grew there. The traditional name of the temple complex is Chidambaram Thillai Nataraja-koothan Kovil. Long ago, the town had many Thillai trees (a type of mangrove). These trees are still found in the nearby Pichavaram wetlands, which is the second-largest mangrove forest in the world. The temple area was once surrounded by these trees. The shrine is called Thillai ambalam, which means "the open stage of Thillai."

The name Chidambaram itself comes from Sanskrit words: "chit" meaning 'consciousness' or 'wisdom', and "ambara" meaning 'ether' or 'atmosphere'. So, it means 'ether of consciousness' or 'atmosphere of wisdom'. This name connects to Shiva, who is known as Nataraja, the cosmic dancer, and to the town's artistic vibe.

The Legend of Shiva's Dance

According to an old Hindu story, a group of wise men lived in the Thillai forests. They believed they could control the gods using magic and special chants. To show them otherwise, Shiva came to Thillai disguised as a simple beggar, called Bhikshatana. His wife, Vishnu as Mohini, followed him. The wise men and their wives were amazed by the beautiful pair.

When the wise men saw their wives enchanted, they became angry. They performed a ritual to create snakes. But Shiva simply picked up the snakes and wore them as jewelry on his hair, neck, and waist! Even angrier, the wise men created a fierce tiger. Shiva used its skin as a shawl. Then came a huge elephant, which Shiva defeated. Finally, the wise men used all their power to create a powerful demon named Muyalakan, who represented pride and ignorance. Shiva just smiled, stepped on the demon to hold him down, and began his amazing Ánanda Thandavam (the dance of eternal bliss). This dance showed his true, powerful form. The wise men then understood that magic cannot control the gods, and they surrendered.

A Look Back in Time: History of Chidambaram

An image of the temple and the tank in 1870

The town and its temple are mentioned in very old Tamil literature, even from the first to fifth centuries. The earliest mentions are in the works of three famous poet-saints from the seventh century: Thirugnana Sambanthar, Thirunavukkarasar, and Sundaramoorthy Nayanar. These saints wrote poems praising the temple and its deity, Nataraja.

Many old writings found in the temple and nearby areas tell us about its history. Most of these writings are from the times of the Chola kings, like Rajaraja Chola I (985-1014 CE) and Kulothunga Chola I (1070-1120 CE). Other rulers, including the Pandyas and Vijayanagara Kings, also left their marks.

During certain periods, the town faced challenges and changes in its rulers. In the early 1300s, armies from the north of India came to the Deccan region. Records show that Chidambaram, along with other temple towns, experienced these changes.

Where is Chidambaram? Geography and Climate

A set of Mangrove forests that are common in Chidambaram and Pichavaram

Chidambaram is located in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, about 215 kilometers from Chennai. It is quite close to the Bay of Bengal coast. The land around Chidambaram is mostly flat, with forests nearby. There aren't many major mountains or mineral resources. The soil is good for growing crops like paddy (rice), pulses, and chili peppers.

The weather in Chidambaram is warm. Temperatures usually range from a high of 32.7°C to a low of 24°C. April to June are the hottest months, and December to January are the coolest. Chidambaram gets about 10 mm of rain each year, which is less than the average for the state. Most of the rain comes during the North East monsoon, from October to December.

Who Lives Here? Demographics

A house in Chidambaram

In 2011, Chidambaram had a population of 62,153 people. There were more females (1,032) than males (1,000), which is higher than the national average. About 5,869 children were under six years old. The average literacy rate (people who can read and write) in the city was 83.24%, which is higher than India's average.

Most people in Chidambaram work in the service industry, especially tourism. Some also work in small home-based businesses or farming. The town also has many people who visit for religious reasons, adding to its economy.

The Famous Chidambaram Temple

A fresco of Nataraja on the walls of the temple depicting the dance posture of the presiding deity

Nataraja Temple gopuram artwork in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu

The Chidambaram Temple is huge, covering about 40 acres right in the middle of the city. The main part of the temple is dedicated to Shiva as Nataraja. It also has shrines for other gods like Shivakami Amman, Ganesh, Murugan, and Vishnu (as Govindaraja Perumal).

The earliest parts of the temple were built by ancient craftsmen. A Chola King named Parantaka I (907-950 CE) even put a golden roof on the Chitrambalam (a part of the temple), earning him a special title. Later kings like Rajaraja Chola I and Kulothunga Chola I also gave many gifts and donations to the temple. Many rulers and wealthy people continued to donate gold and jewels to the temple from the 9th to the 16th century.

How People Make a Living: Economy

Tourism is the main way people earn money in Chidambaram. While there are some small home-based businesses, like weaving, there aren't many large factories. In 2001, about 31.6% of the population worked. Most of these people (88%) worked in the service sector, which includes tourism. About 7% worked in small industries, and 5% worked in farming.

Farming mainly involves growing paddy (rice), but also other grains, pulses, and sugarcane. The small industries include making cane furniture. The tourism industry is very important because of the Thillai Natarajar temple, which attracts about 100,000 religious tourists every year. Annamalai University, located just outside the town, also helps the local economy a lot. Chidambaram is also a trading hub for nearby villages, with shops selling food, vegetables, and other goods.

Learning and Services: Education and Utilities

Annamalai University, established in 1929, is one of the oldest universities in the state

As of 2011, Chidambaram had eleven government schools: six primary schools, three middle schools, and two higher secondary schools. There were also nine private schools. Chidambaram is famous for Annamalai University, a public university established in 1929. Other important colleges in the town include Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Muthiah Polytechnic College.

The Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) provides electricity to Chidambaram. The Chidambaram Municipality supplies water from pumps and borewells. In 2000–2001, about 7.5 million liters of water were supplied daily to homes.

The municipality also collects about 31 metric tonnes of solid waste every day. This waste is collected from homes and then properly disposed of. The town does not have an underground sewer system, so waste water is managed through septic tanks and open drains. In 2011, there was one government hospital, a municipal maternity home, and 17 private hospitals and clinics to take care of people's health. The municipality also maintains streetlights and operates four markets for daily needs.

Festivals and Traditions: Culture

Ratha festival during 2011

Natyanjali Festival in the temple

The festivals in Chidambaram are mostly about the temple. Two of the most important festivals are the Marghazhi Thiruvaadhirai festival (in December–January) and the Aani Thirumanjanam (in June–July). During these festivals, the deity (a statue of the god) is taken out of the temple in a grand procession, which includes a special temple car. After this, a long anointing ceremony takes place. Many thousands of people come to watch this ceremony and the special dance of Shiva as the deity is brought back into the temple.

It is believed that Lord Shiva, as Nataraja, was born on a full moon day in the Ardra constellation. Shiva is bathed only six times a year. On the night before Ardra, a very grand bathing ritual is performed. Many pots filled with milk, fruit juices, coconut water, ghee, oils, and other sacred liquids are used for this special bath.

Another important event is the Natyanjali Festival, held every February. During this festival, bharatanatyam dancers from all over India come to perform and offer their dances to Nataraja.

Famous People from Chidambaram

• Appayya Dikshitar
• Venki Ramakrishnan (born 1952), a scientist who won the Nobel Prize, was born in Chidambaram.

Getting Around: Transport

The Chidambaram municipality manages 64.12 kilometers of roads. A national highway, NH-32, passes through Chidambaram, connecting it to cities like Chennai, Puducherry, and Nagapattinam. Another highway, NH81, connects Chidambaram to Coimbatore through Tiruchirapalli. Several other main roads connect Chidambaram to other towns in Tamil Nadu.

Private minibuses help people travel within the town. The main bus stand is in the town center. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation runs daily bus services connecting Chidambaram to many cities across Tamil Nadu and even to Bengaluru. Long-distance buses also connect the town to major cities like Chennai and Coimbatore. Autos are also a common way to get around locally.

The Chidambaram railway station is on the rail line that goes from Mayiladuthurai to Viluppuram. There are daily express trains to cities like Chennai, Rameswaram, and Tirupathi. You can also find passenger trains to nearby towns. The closest airport is Pondicherry Airport (PNY), about 66 kilometers north of Chidambaram.

See also

In Spanish: Chidambaram para niños