The Nataraja temple is situated in the Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu. This Temple is known as the Thillai Nataraja Temple, which is devoted to Lord Shiva.
History
The structure of the Nataraja Temple belongs to the Chola Dynasty. The Lord Nataraja is the incarnation of the God Shiva in the dancing form. Thus the Natarajar is the form of Lord Shiva as per the saints Appar and Sambadar between the 6th and the 7th century. During the Chola period, the place Chidambaram had been the capital of the Chola Dynasty and Lord Shiva had been the Kula Deivam(family deity) for the Chola Kings.
Story of the Temple
The sages in the earlier period, believed that to control God, the rituals and magic can be used. Finally the sages cast spell and raised a demon called Muyalakan. Then Lord Shiva with a smile on his face, put his leg on the back of the demon and paralyzed that demon. Then the God gave a performance of Ananda Tandavam(dancing with happiness) and came to his original form. After this, the sages apologized to God, by realizing that Lord Shiva is beyond the rituals and magic.
Architecture of the Temple
This Temple is situated on the Center Point of the Magnetic Equator of the world. This Temple has 9 entrances denoting the 9 openings of the Humans. The roof of the Temple is made up of the 21600 sheets of gold denoting the 21600 inhale of breaths of the human beings each day(that is 24 *60 *15 =21600). Nearly 72000 gold nails have been used to fix these gold nails on the roof(Vimanam), which denotes the 72000 Nadis(nerves) in our human body. There are 5 steps in this Temple, known as the Panchatshara Padi (denoting the Si Va Ya Na Ma) that represents the 5 Panchatshra Mantrams. Then the 4 pillars on the Kanagasabha of this Temple denotes the 4 Vedas. Next the 28 Pillars of the Ponnambalam in this Temple represent the 28 Ahamas. These 28 Ahamas denotes the 28 methods to pray to the God Shiva. Using these 28 Pillars 64+64 Roof Beams are supported which represents the 64 Arts. Then the cross beam denotes the blood vessels that runs through the human body.
Special features of the Temple
This Temple holds the top number in the list of all the Temples dedicated to Saivites, which show the existence of the Tamil saivism over many years ago. For about two millennia, the Chidambaram Temple impacts the architecture, prayers, sculpture and the arts to the human society. The main deity of this Temple is Lord Shiva is in the form of the Natarajar.
Celebration
The major festivals in this Temple are the Chittirai Thiruvonam, Aani Uttiram, Marghazhi Thiruvaadhirai, Aani Thirumanjanam and Aavani Chathurthasi. The Aaruthra Tharisanam is the one of the main festival of this Temple.
Transport facilities
If you wish to travel by the road Transport, then the buses are available from various places to the Chidambaram. The direct Buses to Chidambaram are available from the Chennai and the Cuddalore. From various parts of Chennai, the buses to Chidambaram through the different routes.
If you wish to travel through train, then you can reach Villupuram or Cuddalore Railway station. From there, you can opt a road transport to reach this Temple. The Chennai to Trichy trains via the Cuddalore route is available. Then the trains from the Chennai to Trichy trains via the Villupuram route is also available. For the devotees, who come through the flights can reach either the Chennai Airport or the Puducherry Airport. From there, you can opt a road transport to reach this Temple. The direct buses are available from the Puducherry to reach the Chidambaram Temple. Then the Neyveli Airport is yet to come, which is near the Cuddalore Town at a distance of 45Km. Since the buses are available from the Cuddalore to Chidambaram, this upcoming Airport would afford a easy way for the flight travelers to reach this Temple.
Location: Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu.
Timings: Morning – 6.00 A.M to 12.00P.M (Timings may vary with festivals)
Evening – 5.00 P.M to 10.00 P.M