Om Namah Shivaya!
Introduction to Chidambaram Nataraja Swamy Temple
A temple constructed precisely in the center of the earth’s magnetic field. Built on 40 acres in Tamil Nadu, the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple is said to be the largest Shiva temple in India. In this temple, we can visit the Akasha Linga of Panchabhuta Lingas.
Quick Information
| Nearest Airport | Tiruchirappalli Airport (TRZ) |
| Distance from Airport | Approximately 165 Km |
| Travel Time from Tiruchirappalli Airport | Approximately 3 Hours |
| Travel Options from Tirupati Airport | Uber from the Airport or from within the city / Train from Tiruchirappalli Railway Station (TPJ) / Private Taxi cabs / Bus service |
| Nearest Railway Station | Chidambaram Railway Station (Code: CDM) – Approximately 2 Km |
| Travel Options | Taxi from railway station or Autorickshaw |
| Nearest Bus Station | Chidambaram Bus Stand |
| Temple Timings | Morning 6.00.a.m to 12.00 noon Evening 5.00.p.m. to 10.00 night |
History of Chidambaram Nataraja Swamy Temple
The Chidambaram Nataraja Swamy Temple’s present structure was built by the Chola dynasty in the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries. Where the current temple exists, it was once a forest of Tillai trees which is a kind of mangrove. Within this Tillai forest existed a lotus pond. Towards the southern side of the lotus pond was a Svayambhu Linga. Svayambhu means ‘self-existent’, signifying that the Linga was not made by human beings, but came into existence on its own.
It is said that once Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu decided to test the sages who were performing yagna in the Tillai forest. They disguised themselves as a Yogi (Shiva) and his wife (Vishnu). The Sages’s yagna was disturbed once Lord Shiva and Lord Vishnu arrived.
Enraged with the disturbance, out of their yagna pit, the sages evoked a tiger, a snake, and a dwarf. The Yogi (Shiva) defeated all of them and revealed his true form as Nataraja Swami and started dancing the Ananda Tandava. Upon seeing this, all the sages present there were in complete shock and bliss to have seen a sight so indescribable.
They realized their mistake and their ego was shattered. They all bowed in surrender to the almighty – God of Dance.
Adhishesha upon whom Maha Vishnu rests once informed his desire to view the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva and incarnated as saint Patanjali. Adhishesha as saint Patanjali and another saint Vyagrapada visited the lotus pond to witness Lord Shiva’s Cosmic Dance. After they performed penance/tapas to Lord Shiva’s Swayambhu lingam, Lord Shiva appeared in Nataraja form to perform his Dance on a Thursday, when the moon was in the asterism Pushan, in the Tamil month of Tai. This dance is called the Ananda Tandava or Dance of Bliss. It is said that the saints achieved liberation here. Chidambaram also has a second name, Puliyur. This name is associated with saint Vyagrapada which means ‘Tiger footed’.
Significance of Chidambaram Nataraja Swami temple
Chidambaram Nataraja Swamy Temple is one of the Panchabhuta Sthalams viz., Vayu Lingam is in Kalahasti, Bhu lingam is in Kanchipuram, Agni lingam is in Tiruvannamalai i.e. Arunachalam, Jala lingam is in Thiruvanaikaval and Akasa lingam is in Chidambaram. Chit and Ambaram are combined to form the word Chidambaram. It can be interpreted in 2 ways. Chit has a meaning of ‘heart’ and has another meaning of consciousness/knowledge/wisdom. Ambaram is ether/sky. So, filling the heart with knowledge where the sky is the limit is one of the aspects.
Architecture At Chidambaram Nataraja Swamy Temple
The Chidambaram Nataraja Swami temple is built with circumambulatory temple courtyards (Pancha Prakara). This is associated with the 5 elements (Pancha bhootas). Like all Shivalayals, East Gopuram has Kumaraswamy shrines on one side of the Gopuram and Ganesha shrine on the other. Each gopuram in this temple is built with seven Storeys. In many temples, you can see 4 gopurams of different heights. However, the gopurams of Chidambaram temple are built at the same height, and on top of this gopuram, you can see the avatars of Lord Shiva.
108 postures related to Natyashastra are depicted inside the gopuram. This Chidambaram Nataraja Swamy Temple is estimated to have been built during the time of Chola Rajas. Later, Pallavas kings of the Vijayanagara Empire developed this temple. Inside this east gopuram, you can see the statue of Goddess Parvati. Here, the goddess is called Shivakama Sundari. But the hands of this sculpture are damaged. There are nine entrances in this temple and the number of pillars in each mandapam in this temple is related to the elements of the Vedas. The pillars feel like they are made of wood, but they are made of single-stone granite.
Panchabhuta Sthalams viz., Vayulingam is in Kalahasti, Bhu lingam is in Kanchipuram, Agni lingam is in Tiruvannamalai i.e. Arunachalam, Jala lingam is in Thiruvanaikaval and Akasa lingam, is in Chidambaram. Every painting in this temple has a story to tell about Lord Shiva.
The gopuram which is golden in color is the sanctum sanctorum of Nataraja Swamy. The entire mandapam gopuram is studded with gold petals. The number of gold petals is equal to the number of breaths we take in a day and the number of gold nails used to sprout them is equal to the number of Nadis in our body. There are a total of five Sabha mandapams in the temple. First is Kanaka Sabha which is open only during day aarti time.
Next mandapam is Chit Sabha. In this Sabha, we can see the idol of Nataraja Swami. Lord Shiva can be seen in three ways, the first is Nataraja form of Lord Shiva doing Ananda Tandava, the second is the crystal form, and the third form is the Chidambara secret sanctum. There is a chakra above the wall. In front of it are hanging gold scrolls, but they are blocked by two screens. If you look inside the secret sanctum, there is nothing visible to our eyes because the sky has no form. Even the akasha Linga has no form, implying that Lord Shiva is spread all over like the sky.
References
In Chidambara Mahatmyam, the story of the origin of God Nataraja is explained. There are references to Chidambaram Nataraja Swamy Temple in Skanda Purana as well which is one among the 18 great Puranas.
Nearby Temples / Attractions:
Below are a few of the temples and other tourist attractions one can visit which are near Chidambaram Nataraja Swamy Temple.
- Thillai Kaali Amman Kovil
- Sri Pasupatheswarar Temple
- Thirunelvayil Shiva Parvati Temple
- Arulmigu Manakula Vinayagar Devasthanam
- Pichavaram Mangrove Forest
- Pondicherry
Suggestion: After completing the darshan at the Chidambaram Nataraja Swamy Temple, you can hire an autorickshaw and request a tour of the nearby temples. They may charge around 500 – 1000 for visiting 6-7 temples.
