Nataraja Temple

Nataraja Temple

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Chidambaram is a marvellous cultural, traditional & pilgrimage centre. It is also called as Thillai Vanam. It is the highlight of the temple circuit, because it is believed that the Lord Nataraja (Shiva) performed his cosmic dance, 'Tandavanritya', here. Chidambaram is associated with Nataraja, or Shiva in his Ananda Tandava pose (the Cosmic Dance of bliss) in the cosmic golden hall and the hall of consciousness (Chit Sabha). The temples here are in Dravidian art & architectural style. It is a place where history & religious cultures merged with each other. Shiva is also worshipped in the "formless form" of the Chidambara Rahasyam (the secret of Chidambaram), while the temple is known for its Akasa Lingam, an embodiment of Shiva as the formless Space. The word "Koyil" or temple in the Tamil Saivite tradition refers to none other than the Chidambaram Nataraja temple. The origins of this vast temple are buried in antiquity. Literature talks of a tradition of Shiva (Nataraja) worship in existence even as early as the Sangam period (very early on in the Christian era), and the Tamil Saints have sung its fame when an established worship tradition was in place. The later Chola Kings (Aditya I and Parantaka I) adorned the roof of the shrine with gold, and the other Chola Kings treated Nataraja as their guardian deity and made several endowments to the temple as temple inscriptions testify. The Pandya Kings who followed them and the later Vijayanagar rulers made several endowments to the temple. There is a stone image of Krishnadevaraya in the North Gopura which he is said to have erected. In the wars of the 18th century, this temple was used as a fort, especially when the British General Sir Eyre Coote unsuccesfully tried to capture it from the Mysore Kings. During this period, the images of Nataraja and Sivakamasundari were housed in the Tiruvarur Tyagaraja temple for safety. There are several legends associated with the temple. They are about Lord Shiva and his dances. The architectural style however is the main attraction here. It is an assimilation of several architectural styles. An amalgamation of beauty, structure, style and mythology, the Chidambaram temple is truly amazing. A visit to this temple will certainly leave you spellbound.