Chidambaram Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva located in the heart of the temple town of
Chidambaram,Tamil Nadu).The temple , 78 km south of Pondicherry
and 235 Km from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state of
southeastern India. The Sangam classics refer to Viduvelvidugu
Perumtaccan, respected clan of traditional Vishwakarmas, as
being the chief architect of the temple renovation. There have
been several renovations in its history, particularly during the
days of Pallava/Chola emperors in ancient and pre-medieval
periods.
Chidambaram is one of the five holiest Shiva temples, each
representing one of the five natural elements; Chidambaram
represents akasha (aether). The other four temples in this
category are: Thiruvanaikaval Jambukeswara,Trichy (water),
Kanchi Ekambareswara (earth)Kanchipuram, Thiruvannamalai
Arunachaleswara (fire),Thiruvanna malai and Kalahasti Nathar (wind),Kalahasti
The temple complex spread over 50 acres in the heart of the
city. It is an ancient and historic temple dedicated to Lord
Shiva Nataraja and Lord Govindaraja Perumal, one of the few
temples where both the Shaivite and Vaishnavite deities are
enshrined in one place.To the followers of Shaivism (Saivism) or
the saivaite, the very word koil refers to Chidambaram. In the
same way, to the followers of Vaishnavism it refers to Srirangam
or Thiruvarangam.
The word Chidambaram may be derived from chit, meaning
"consciousness", and ambaram, meaning "sky" (from aakasam or
aakayam); it refers to the chidaakasam, the sky of
consciousness, which is the ultimate aim one should attain
according to all the Vedas and scriptures.Another theory is that
it is derived from chit + ambalam. Ambalam means a "stage" for
performing arts. The chidakasam is the state of supreme bliss or
aananda and Lord Natarajar is the symbolic representation of the
supreme bliss or aananda natanam. Saivaites believe that a visit
to Chidambaram leads to liberation.Yet another theory is that it
is derived from the word chitrambalam, from chithu meaning "play
or dances of God" and ambalam meaning "stage"
A unique feature of this temple is the bejeweled image of
Nataraja. It depicts the Lord Shiva as the Lord of the dance
Bharatanatyam and is one of the few temples where Shiva is
represented by an anthropomorphic murthi rather than the
classic, anionic Lingam. The Cosmic Dance of Lord Nataraja
symbolises the motion of the universe as sustained by Lord
Shiva. The temple has five courts.Aragalur Udaya Iraratevan
Ponparappinan (alias Vanakovaraiyan) rebuilt the Siva temple at
Chidambaram around 1213 AD. The same Bana Chief also built
Tiruvannamalai temple.The temple has been traditionally
administered by an endogamous group of shiavite brahmins called
Dikshitar, who also officiate as its priest.
The story of Chidambaram begins with the legend of Lord Shiva
strolling into the Thillai Vanam (Vanam meaning forest and
thillai trees - botanical name Exocoeria agallocha, a species of
mangrove trees - which currently grows in the Pichavaram
wetlands near Chidambaram. The temple sculptures depicting the
Thillai trees date back to the 2nd century CE).
In
the Thillai forests resided a group of saints or 'rishis' who
believed in the supremacy of magic and that God can be
controlled by rituals and 'mantras' or magical words. The Lord
strolls in the forest with resplendent beauty and brilliance,
assuming the form of 'Pitchatanadar', a simple mendicant seeking
alms. He is followed by his Grace and consort who is Lord Vishnu
as Mohini. The rishis and their wives are enchanted by the
brilliance and the beauty of the handsome mendicant and his
consort.On seeing their womenfolk enchanted, the rishis get
enraged and invoke scores of 'serpents' (Sanskrit: Nāga) by
performing magical rituals. The Lord as the mendicant lifts the
serpents and dons them as ornaments on his matted locks, neck
and waist. Further enraged, the rishis invoke a fierce tiger,
which the Lord skins and dons as a shawl around his
waist.Thoroughly frustrated, the rishis gather all their
spiritual strength and invoke a powerful demon Muyalakan - a
symbol of complete arrogance and ignorance. The Lord wearing a
gentle smile, steps on the demon's back, immobilizes him and
performs the Ánanda Thaandava (the dance of eternal bliss) and
discloses his true form. The rishis surrender, realizing that
this Lord is the truth and he is beyond magic and rituals.
Adhisesha, the serpent who serves as a bed for the Lord in his
manifestation as Vishnu, hears about the Änanda thaandava and
yearns to see and enjoy it. The Lord blesses him, beckons him to
assume the saintly form of 'Patanjali' and sends him to the
Thillai forest, informing him that he will display the dance in
due course.Patanjali who meditated in the Himalayas during krita
age joins another saint, Vyagrapathar / Pulikaalmuni (Vyagra /
Puli meaning "Tiger" and patha / kaal meaning "feet" – referring
to the story of how he sought and got the feet and eyesight of a
tiger to help climb trees well before dawn to pick flowers for
the Lord before the bees visit them). The story of sage
Patanjali as well as his great student sage Upamanyu is narrated
in both Vishnu Puranam as well as Siva Puranam. They move into
the Thillai forest and worship Lord Shiva in the form of
Shivalinga, a deity worshipped today as Thirumoolataneswarar (Thiru
- sri, Moolatanam - primordial or in the nature of a foundation,
Eswarar- the Lord). Legends say that Lord Shiva displayed his
dance of bliss (the Aananda Thaandavam) - as Nataraja to these
two saints on the day of the poosam star in the Tamil month of
Thai (Jan – Feb).
The Ananda Tandava posture of Lord Shiva is one of the famous
postures recognized around the world by many. This celestial
dancing posture tells us how a Bharathanatium Dancer should
dance.
The demon under Nataraja's feet signifies that ignorance is
under his feet
The Fire in this hand (power of destruction) means destroyer of
evil
The raised hand signifies that he is the savior of all life.
The Ring at the back signifies the cosmos.
The drum in his hand signifies the origin of Life.
These are the main things that the Natarajar murti and the
celestial dance posture depict. A rare type of thandava posture
is seemed in Melakadambur temple near by 32 km from here.In this
Karakoil, Nataraja dancing on a bull and deva's rounds the
structure it's an pala art being kept in this shrine
Chidambaram is also referred to in various works such as Thillai
(after the Thillai forest of yore in which the temple is now
located), Perumpatrapuliyur or Vyagrapuram் (in honour of Saint
Vyagrapathar).The temple is supposed to be located at the Lotus
heart of the Universe": Virat hridaya padma sthalam. On the spot
where the Lord displayed his dance of bliss, the Änanda
Thaandavam - a spot exactly south of the "Thirumoolataaneswar
temple", today is the Ponnambalam/ Porsabai (Pon meaning gold,
Ambalam/Sabai meaning stage) housing the Lord Shiva in his
dancing form. The Lord is also hence referred to as the
Sabhanayakar, meaning the Lord of the Stage.
This gold-roofed stage is the sanctum sanctorum of the
Chidambaram temple and houses the Lord in three forms:
the "form" - the anthromorphological form as an appearance of
Lord Nataraja, called the Sakala thirumeni.
the "semi-form" – the semi-anthropomorphological form as the
Crystal linga of Chandramouleswarar, the Sakala nishkala
thirumeni.
the "formless" – as the Space in Chidambara Rahasyam, an empty
space within the sanctum sanctorum, the Nishkala thirumeni.
Chidambaram is one of the Panchabootha Sthalas, where the Lord
is worshipped in his manifestation as sky or Aagayam ("pancha" –
meaning five, bootha – meaning the elements: earth, water, fire,
wind and space and "sthala" meaning location).
The others are:
Ekambareswarar temple at Kanchipuram, where the Lord is
worshipped in his manifestation as Earth
Jambukeswarar temple at Thiruvanaikaval(Trichy),
where the Lord is worshipped in his manifestation as Water,
Annamalaiyar Temple at Tiruvannamalai, where the Lord is
worshipped in his manifestation as Fire
Kalahasti temple at Srikalahasthi, where the Lord is
worshipped in his manifestation as air/wind.
Chidambaram also is one of the five places where Lord Shiva is
said to have displayed his dance and all these places have
stages/ sabhais . Apart from Chidambaram which has the Por
sabhai, the others are the Rathina sabhai at Thiruvaalangadu (rathinam
– ruby / red) , the Chitra sabhai at Courtallam (chitra –
painting), the Rajatha sabhai or the Velli ambalam at Madurai
Meenakshi Amman Temple (rajatha / velli – silver) and the
Thaamira sabhai at Nellaiappar Temple, Tirunelveli (thaamiram –
copper).
திருமந்திரம்
மானுடராக்கை வடிவு சிவலிங்கம்
மானுடராக்கை வடிவு சிதம்பரம்
மானுடராக்கை வடிவு சதாசிவம்
மானுடராக்கை வடிவு திருக்கூத்தே
Please find below the various slokas/sthotras of Lord Nataraja. Listen & get blessed.
Chidambareswara Panchachamara Stothram -
Download
Nataraja Karna Ranjakam & Mangalam -
Download
Natarajar pathi Madurasthakam -
Download
Nataraja Thandava Stothram -
Download
Sabhapathiku by Aruna Sairam -
Download
Bho Sambho by Nithyashree Mahadevan -
Download
Aadum Chidambaramo by M.S.Subbulakshmi -
Download
Siva Thandavam -
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