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| Chidambaram Nataraja temple, TN with water tank.en.wikipedia.org |
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| Prakaram Chidambaram Nataraja temple alamy.com |
Sri Nataraja temple of Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, dedicated to God Shiva of the Trinity Gods in Hinduism, is one of the five Pancha Bootha sthalams; here the lord represents the sky. The temple architecture is symbolic of the link between art and spiritually The philosophical connotation of '' Chidambara Rahasiam" (secret/mytery of Chidambaram) and the visual display of all the 108 karanas in carvings from the Natya Shastra by Bharata Muni on the temple walls corroborate this link. This is the reason why the famous annual Natyanjali dance festival on Maha Shivaratri is held here by exponents of Indian dance. The dance postures inscribed here form the backbone of Bharatanatyam, a popular classical south Indian dance. Saivites centuries ago were known to have practiced a dance-drama at the famous Nataraja Temple of Chidambaram.
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| Thillai Natarajar temple, Chidambaram, TN.thehindu.com |
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| Golden hall. Thillai Natarajar temple, Chidambaram, TN.thehindu.com |
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| Golden hall (Kanakasabha), Nataraja temple, Chidambaram tamilandvedas.com |
The subject of this post is about the golden hall of Chidambaram - Kannagasabha (or Kanakasabhai). Here, Shiva is of the nature of the sky (one of the important natural elements). He dances in the sky, it is the dance of bliss - Anandatandava and the stage in the temple is golden hall (kanakasabha). There is a hall beyond it - just empty suggesting space (Akasha).
In the shrine there is a small room in the sannidhi and the priests will open it once in a while upon request. when the screen is pulled to one side it reveals nothing but just space, no image of the god. You have to imagine the lord is very much there. The removal of veil is symbolic of getting rid of your ignorance The 'real truth' - sat, chit and ananda that lies behind the ignorance (veil) emerges. So, here Lord Nataraja represents vast empty space, ether and just mere void. This is ''Chidambara Rahasyam'' suggestive of abstract nature of God, implying ''no beginning and no end'' (''Athiyum anthamum ellathavan'' in Tamil). An interesting fact is Lord Shiva never takes birth, no incarnation unlike Lord Vishnu.
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| Mystifying Cosmic dance of Nataraja..quora.com |
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| Mystifying Cosmic dance of Nataraja.pinrest |
The golden hall in this temple is carefully laid with heavy gold plates, covering every part of the outer roof. The sanctum is right below it. It is said it was the Pallava king Simhavarman who contributed the gold plates laid on the Kanakasabha. The dance hall of Chidambaram looks like a chariot - ratha with wheels on either side of the mantapa, galloping horses and meticulously carved sculptures of dancers. Lord Nataraja' personifies the descent from the subtlest as an act of creation and also the ascent from the grossest as an act of dissolution. Ananda Tandavam
Shiva's cosmic dance was so graceful and memorizing many demi-gods and sages wanted to see it. Aadi Sesha God Vishnu's serpent couch came to earth as the offspring of sage Attri and Anusuya. Hence he was called Patanchali (pat meaning descend and anjali meaning holding hands in supplication). At the request of celestial Gods and sages like Vyagrapaad at the appointed hour on the day Thiruvaderi God Shiva gave them the awe-inspiring vision of ''His dance of bliss'' with Lords Vishnu and Brahma playing the instrument and Shiva's mount Nandikeswara playing on the drum at Chidambaram
Tamil saint and poet Tirumoolar in his Tantra Tirumandiram refers to it as ‘Nadanta’ posture — the summit of meditative bliss — even beyond the realm of soundless space or Shiva Vyapti, the ultimate! The dance hall is Chit Akasha, the hall of Supreme Consciousness.
Lord Siva, does five most distinctive functions to keep the world spinning in rhythmic fashion. They are creation (symbolized by drum in his right back hand), protection ( right front hand hand gesture), destruction ( upper left hand - fire), veiling the truth and showering of grace (left front hand- abhaya muthira - keeping one foot aloft and planting the other on the ground). His right foot on the demon Mukilan suggestive of evil doers. The lofted left foot suggestive of keeping the balance between creation and destruction (Isostetic equilibrrium). The last one is known as Isostasy' in science ( refer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isostasy.
The cosmic dance of Nataraja, the highest concept of art, is a subject of discussion by many scholars. What is the purpose of this dance in the hall of Supreme Consciousness? It is simply to release men from the world of ''Maya'' - illusion of the idea ''I'' and of the physical world. Lord Nataraja’s cosmic dance with his consort Sivakami represents these Pancha Kriya dances.
A visit to Chidambaram Nataraja temple will help you visualize the dance of bliss and also remove the fear of cycles of birth and death - attainment of salvation. Hence, the connection between spirituality and art is deep rooted in this 10th century temple where the Akasa Lingam in the temple is dedicated to the subtlest space.
Tit-bits:
Thiruvathira or Thiruvathirai or Arudhra Darisanam is an important Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Thiruvathirai (Arudhra) in Tamil means "sacred big wave", implying that this universe was created by Lord Shiva about 132 trillion years ago. Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu, the Sri Natarajar temple's annual Festival, is celebrated on this date. It is also celebrated at five Shiva temples in Tamil Nadu with sabhas. The five sabhhas of Sri Natarajar are: 1) Kanakasabha (Gold) - at Chidambaram (Thillai or Tillai), 2) Velli Sabhai (Silver) at Madurai, 3) Ratnasabha (Ruby) at Tiruvalankadu, 4) Tamrasabha (Copper) at Tirunelveli, 5) Chitrasabha (Pictures) at Kutralam
In the month of Makaram Thiruvathira Star is celebrated in Mathira Peedika Devi Temple near Kadakkal in Kollam District of Kerala state. Thiruvathira has a connection with lord moon
The annual Tiruvadirai, a ten day festival is celebrated on a grand scale at Chidambaram. On the tenth day, at dawn, Maha Abhishekam is done to Lord Nataraja and goddess Sivakamasundari at Raja Sabhai. The idols will wear special Tiruvabharanam -adorned with sacred Jewels. It includes nine precious gems worn by Sri Nataraja’s Pancha Murthi.
The abhishekam of Nataraja in this temple is a unique one showcasing the purpose of Shiva's cosmic dance. The venue is the thousand-pillared mantap. The ritual itself is symbolic of creation (srishti). The food offering is preservation (stithi) Sandal as Krishna gandham smeared on Him is dissolution (samhara). A black cow is brought before Him as obscuration (tirobhava ) and finally the dipaaradhana Aarati which all people witness is grace (anugraha). These, separately considered, are the activities of the deities Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Maheshwara and Sadasiva.
https://www.thehindu.com/society/history-and-culture/lord-natarajas-cosmic-dance/article22302227.ece
https://www.thehindu.com/society/faith/chidambaram-temple-essence-of-non-dualism/article26396436.ece
 of Chidambaram, TN and mystifying ''Cosmic Dance'' of Shiva){kind=link}