Chidambaram
About the city
Chidambaram is hallowed by the aura of the famous shrine dedicated to Lord Siva as Nataraja, the Cosmic Dancer. Here the Lord danced while blessing saints Patanjali and Vyagrapada, who were doing penance in the Thillai forests, This Cosmic Dance is a symbolic representation of the five-fold activites of God-Creation, Preservation, Destruction, Veiling (Maya) and Blessing. Sri Nataraja,s Thandavams includes Ananda Thandavam. Urdhwa Thandavam, Bhujangatrasa Thandavam and Ajabha Thandavam.The sanctum is adorned by a gold-plated roof. This is also known as Ponnambalam or Kanaga Sabha. Devi Sivakama Sundari is enshrined by the side of the sanctum. To the left is the Chidambara Rahasyam or the abode of Akasha Lingam. Only a Prabha or circular arch and a Vel (spear) with a golden Bilva mala are woshipped. This is one of the Pancha Bhutha Lingams representing Akasha or Ether. This shrine remains curtained. The five silver-plated steps leading to the shrine represent the mystic five letters of Namasivaya.
The shrine of Govindaraja Perumal is close to the Chit Sabha. Lord Subramanya is in another shrine. The temple has all five Sabhas of Lord Siva-Chit Sabha, Kanaga Sabha, Nirtta Sabha, Deva Sabha and Raja Sabha. The famous Raja Sabha is in the Thousand-pillared Hall. Saivite poet sekkizhar first recited his Periya Puranam in this hall. The Nritta Sabha shows the urdhwa Thandavam of the Lord. It is a porch of 56 pillars, delicatelycarved with dancing figures. This court represents a heavenly chariot carved out of stone. The Deva Sabha was used by the then admininstractors to hold meetings and festivals. The Raja Sabha was used by Chola and Pandya kings to hold victory celebrations.
Two of the temple.s four gopurams are covered with sculptures illustrating the 108 postures of Natya shastra. Sivaganga is the sacred tank. The holy water, believed to have healing powers, had cured a king's major disease.
Chidambaram, the famous Hindu pilgrim centre gets the name from two words – chit (truth) and ambaram (space), as Lord Shiva is believed to manifest here in the form of akasha (sky) lingam. The temple townwas the glorious capital of Cholas from 907 to 1310, who built the Nataraja Temple during 9th century in honour of their patron deity, Lord Shiva as Natraja. The best time to be here is during the 10day car festials held in the months of Apr/May and Dec/Jan. The Natyanjali Dance Festival held on the auspicious occasion of Maha shivaratri is another attraction of the town.