Chidambaram Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is located in the temple town of Chidambaram, 78 km south of Pondicherry and 60 km north of Karaikal in Cuddalore District. It history dates back to the days of Pallava/Chola emperors in ancient and pre-medieval periods.
In Hindu literature, Chidambaram is one of the five holiest Shiva temples, each representing one of the five natural elements; Chidambaram is space. The other four temples in this category are: Thiruvanaikaval Jambukeswara (water), Kanchi Ekambareswara (earth), Thiruvannamalai Arunachaleswara (fire) and Kalahasti Nathar (wind).
Temple
The Chidambaram Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva (Siva) in His form of the Cosmic Dancer, Nataraja. It is spread over 40 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.
Intricate carvings adorn the gopuram.
A unique feature of this temple is the bejeweled image of Nataraja. It depicts the Lord Shiva as the Lord of Bharatanatyam and is one of the few temples where Shiva is represented by an anthropomorphic murthi rather than the classic Lingam. The Cosmic Dance of Lord Nataraja symbolises the motion of the universe as sustained by Lord Shiva.
The Legend of Chidambaram and its significance
The story of Chidambaram begins with the legend of Lord Siva strolling into the Thillai Vanam (Vanam meaning forest and thillai trees, a species of mangrove trees. It currently grows in the Pichavaram wetlands near Chidambaram).
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'. 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.
On seeing their womenfolk enchanted, the rishis get enraged and invoke scores of serpents 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.
The Ananda Tandava posture of Lord Shiva is one of the famous postures recognized around the world.
- 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.
Lord Shiva in his manifestation of formlessness is worshiped in Chidambaram. The Lord is said to continuously dance in a state of eternal bliss "Aananda thaandava", with his consort Sakthi or energy called Sivagami.
The Chidambara Rahasya represents the total surrender of the devotee to the Lord. The Lord is the only source to remove our ignorance and confer bliss.
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