Chidambaram Temple

History Of Chidambaram Temple

                      Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram

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   .

(Meaning of chidambaram)

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".

Temple Story

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).

The Ananda Tandava Posture

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.

Significance

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. 

Location in Tamil Nadu

Country : India

State: Tamil Nadu

District : Cuddalore