Facts on chidambaram temple

New Facts that were sceret

1. CHIDAMBARAM TEMPLE TAMIL
NADU,INDIA
Interesting design Facts over and above those earlier written
about

Dr Uday Dokras Ph
D Stockholm,SWEDEN
Srishti Dokras, Architect ( IDEAS) Consulting
Architect and Designer

Chidambaram is also referred to in various works such as Thillai (after the Thillai forest
of yore in which the temple is located),Perumpatrapuliyur or Vyagrapuram (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 nanda Thaandavam - a spot exactly south of the "Thirumoolataaneswar
Temple".

The Lord is also hence referred to as the Sabhanayakar, meaning the Lord of the Stage.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.This gold-roofed stage is the sanctum sanctorum of the
Chidambaram temple and houses the Lord in three forms:

1. the "form" - the anthromorphological form as an appearance of Lord Nataraja, called
the Sakala thirumeni.
2. 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 thirume.

2. 3. Brihadeshwarar Temple is also noted for its gold plated roof that adorn the sanctum
sanctorum otherwise called as kanakasabha.

Lord natarajar,according to Hindu mythology is the cosmic dancer.
He is also called as "Lord of Dances".
4. Chidambaram Temple is having exquisite carvings giving importance to
Bharahanatya postures,gestures,mudhras etc thus giving concrete evidences and
throw light on the classical dance of tamilnadu.
ABOUT
Chidambara Temple is located in the heart of the temple town of Chidambaram,Cuddalore
distrcit,Tamil Nadu.Chidambaram temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.The
primary diety of chidambaram temple was Nataraja (Thillai Koothan - Shiva).

Natyanjali is the famous festivel in the Chidambaram temple.Chidambaram temple is also be
called as Chidambaram Thillai Natarajar-Koothan Koil.Chidambaram Temple is one of the five
holiest Shiva temples, each representing one of the five natural elements; Chidambaram
represents akasha.

Chidambaram temple is an ancient and historic temple dedicated to Lord Shiva Nataraja and
Lord Govindaraja Perumal.It refers to the stage of consiuosness where the lord dances.The
sculptures shows goddess fighting the buffalo-demon and warlike Skanda astride his peacock.

The Sangam classics refer to Viduvelvidugu Perumtaccan, respected clan of traditional
Vishwakarmas, as being the chief architect of the temple renovation.

It depicts the Lord Shiva as the Lord of the dance Bharatanatyam.The presiding diety of the
temple is represented by air,one of the five elements of the universe and is known as Akasa
Lingam.
 Do pray your Ishta Devata before pilgrimage to Temple.

3.  Do contact Temple Devasthanam information centre for enquiry, temple information and for
Pooja details etc.
 Do reserve your travel and accommodation at Temple well in advance.
 Do bath and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.

Nataraja Temple (built 9th-12th centuries onward)
The Shri Shiva Nataraja temple, also called Shri Sabhanayaka temple, Chidambaram, India.
Notes by Raja Deekshitar
The temple of Shiva Nataraja (Shri Sabhanayaka) of Chidambaramis one of the great temple
complexes of South India. Chidambaram is situated some 250 km south of Chennai, about 10 km
from the Bay of Bengal. The temple is the heart of the town with the complex measuring 18
hectares in total. The temple is a living religious institution, and it is therefore still developing.
The complex has a rectangular shape and is orientated on the cardinal directions. It is structured
as five concentric courtyards or prakaras, four of which are accessible to the public, the fifth
being only accessible to the priests as it lies within the walls of the main sanctum. The prakaras
are separated by approximately 10 meter high granite walls. The two outermost walls have four
entrance ways in each of the sides. But whereas the gateways and gopurams of other South
Indian temples are orientated aligned into a cross, here the gopurams are placed in an
asymmetrical pattern.

4. The fifth prakara, between the outer (fourth) wall and the third wall of enclosure, is in use for
gardens. The four gopurams, pyramidal shaped temple gateways, are situated in the fourth
prakara wall. Within this wall we find the main temple as well as the sacred tirtha or water place,
and many subsidiary shrines and buildings.
Although the earliest historical references to the temple go back to the 6th century CE, there is
now nothing within the complex that can be dated to before the 12th century with any certainty,
except for the main sanctum, the Cit Sabha (Hall of Consciousness). This wooden structure on a
granite base, covered with a gilded roof, is unique. Very unlike the garbhagriha (womb-house),
the square sanctum sanctorum of other Hindu temples. It is rectangular and with a roof that is
shaped with an unusual slant. Within the wooden walls lies the first prakara, a U shaped
circumambulatory passage constructed of granite. This passage encloses the actual sanctum
which houses the Shiva Nataraja Murti, the presiding deity of the temple, as well as several other
divinities.
In front of the Cit Sabha we find the Kanaka Sabha (Golden Hall). This is a structure with a
granite base, slightly lower than the base of the Cit Sabha, wooden doors and a copper covered
wooden roof supported by granite pillars. Here many of the rituals of worship are performed, but
at certain times devotees are allowed to have close darshan (viewing of, audience with) of the
Nataraja in the sanctum from here. These two sabhas are at the centre of the central courtyard
which is enclosed by a cloistered veranda. Around this veranda there are several shrines. A
shrine to Govindaraja, the reclining form of Vishnu and one dedicated to Brahma-
Chandikeshvara are also situated in this courtyard.
From this courtyard two entrances, on the East and on the South side, lead to the third prakara.
Here we find the third sabha of the complex, the Nritta Sabha (Hall of Dance) a shrine in the
form of a ratha or chariot; the Deva Sabha (Hall of Deities); a shrine for Mahalaksmi; the
Mulasthana shrine, where Shiva is worshipped as Linga; a Kalyana Mandapa used for festivals;
and a Yaga Shala where Vedic fire rituals are performed. Long hallways of high pillars capped
by granite slabs turn this prakara into a cool shaded space reminiscent of a cathedral. This
prakara has gates on the East and the West side to the fourth prakara. Flights of steps connect the
two spaces, as the inner courtyards are as much as three meters lower then the surrounding
courtyard, which has a pavement on street level.

5. In the fourth prakara we find the Raja Sabha (Royal Hall), also called 1000 Pillar Hall; a
Hundred Pillars Hall; the Mukkuruni Vinayaka temple; the Sivakamasundari (Amman or
Goddess) temple; the Pandya Nayaka or Subrahmanya temple; a shrine dedicated to nine Lingas,
worshipped by the nine planets or Navagraha; a small Ganesha shrine; and a shrine dedicated to
Sundaresvara and Minakshi, the presiding deities of the temple in Madurai.
From the fourth prakara four gopuras or temple gateways lead to the fifth prakara. The wall has a
fifth passage next to the East gopuram, which is used for the festival processions.
Of the buildings found in the fourth prakara the Nava Linga shrine and the Mukkuruni Vinayaka
shrine are ancient shrines but have undergone renovation in the later 19th century and no longer
represent ancient architecture. The pillared passages of the third prakara also belong to this
period of building, as does the cloister around the central courtyard. The Mulasthana shrine
possibly belongs to the same period, or to the 18th century.
The Sivakamasundari temple, the Raja Sabha, the 100 Pillars Hall and the cloister and steps
surrounding the Shivaganga tirtha (sacred water place) are generally attributed to the time of the
later Cholas, (late 11th to 12th century CE) on the basis of epigraphical evidence. This agrees in
general with the architecture as we can see it today. The small (1 pillar mandapam) Ganesha
temple by the side of the 100 Pillars Hall also was build around this time.
The Nritta Sabha is also a building from the later Cholas. The kings of this period build many of
this kind of ratha (chariot) shaped halls. The Deva Sabha is known to have been covered by a
copper roof in the same period, but its architecture has not been analysed. Both shrines existed in
some form before this time, as is known from tradition and historical sources.
The Govindaraja shrine in its present form was (re)estabished under the kings of Vijayanagara.
Three of the four towers or gopurams recieved their present form during the last phase of the
Chola empire in the 13th century. The North gopuram was either build or renovated by
Krishnadevaraya, a king of Vijayanagara, in the 16th century. The gopurams have a rectangular
granite base, with granite representations of various deities in the niches. While the seven
tapering upper storeys are made of bricks and decorated with lime-work. The eastern gopuram
maintains the original abstract structure of embedded miniature shrines while the other three
have representations of deities and mythological scenes.

6. Although the Nataraja temple of Chidambaram is one of the most intensively studied and
described temples of South India, much of its history remains undiscovered.
Plan view
Redrawn and adapted by Timothy M. Ciccone following plan in Chistopher Tadgell's The
History of Architecture in India. See full credit below.


A) Inner enclosure with primary
shrine
D) Thousand Pillar
Hall
G) Ganesha
shrine
B) Second Enclosure E) Tank

7. C) Third enclosure with Gopurams F) Amman shrine
Location-Chidambaram’s Golden Roof

The Chit Sabha with the Golden Roof
The temple of the Dancing Shiva in Chidambaram is an ancient tirtha of great spiritual power
and wonder. Among the many wonders is one that is both exceptional in its spiritual as well as
its scientific value. That is the Golden Roof of the Chit Sabha. The Nataraja, Dancing Shiva, is
the presiding deity here. He dances his Cosmic Dance, not in a garbhagriha, as the holiest shrine
in a Hindu temple is called. But in the Hall of Wisdom, the Chit Sabha.The Chit Sabha is build
from wood, and it has a very special roof. This roof is made completely from gold. In very
ancient times it gilded by the early Chola kings. Nobody really knows when it was first given
this golden roof. What we know for sure from the historical record is that the first kings that
claim in writing to have gilded the roof of the Chit Sabha in Chidambaram are Aditya Chola I
(c.870 – c.907 CE) and his son Parantaka Chola (907–950).
Both Aditya and his son Parantaka Chola were valiant kings who expanded their small land.
Originally submissive to both Pallavas and Pandyas they first won independence. And next
expanded towards the north, the south, and also along the Caveru river towards the west. From
their conquest they brought home the gold and used this to gild the roof of the Chit Sabha, where
Nataraja dances the Ananda Tandava.The shape of this roof is unique. It is not square and it is
not a pyramid, as we find with other temples. It slopes with a special tilt, ending with a slight
upward curve. It is made of 21600 golden platelets, each inscribed with the Panchakshara, the

8. sacred sound formula dedicated to Shiva. The “Om Nama Shivaya”. They are positioned one
over the other in the way of a traditional slate or wooden church roof, or fish-scales. And held
together with 72000 golden nails.
The platelets are symbolic of the breath or asu of a human being. According to yoga we make
21600 breaths in a day. The power of the breath, the prana is spread through the human body
through 72000 nadi or veins.
Often the question is asked what the value or the weight of the Golden Roof is. But the real value
is not in what it represents in monetary or material worth. Its real value, which is priceless, is the
secret and hidden meaning that it conveys.
Science:
Tamil Scholar Thirumoolar has proved this Five thousand years ago! His treatise
Thirumandiram is a wonderful Scientific guide for the whole world.To understand his
studies, it may need a 100 years for us.
Chidambaram temple embodies the following characteristics :
1) This temple is located at the Center Point of world 's Magnetic Equator.
2) Of the "Pancha bootha" i.e. 5 temples, Chidambaram denotes the Skies. Kalahasthi
denotes Wind. Kanchi Ekambareswar denotes land. All these 3 temples are located in a
straight line at 79 degrees 41 minutes Longitude
3) Chidambaram temple is based on the Human having 9 Entrances denoting 9 Entrances or
Openings of the body.
4) Temple roof is made of 21600 gold sheets which denotes the 21600 breaths taken by a
human being every day (15 x 60 x 24 = 21600)
5) These 21600 gold sheets are fixed on the Gopuram using 72000 gold nails which denote
the total no. of Nadis (Nerves) in the human body. These transfer energy to certain body
parts that are invisible.
6) Thirumoolar states that man represents the shape of Shivalingam, which represents
Chidambaram which represents Sadashivam which represents HIS dance !

9. 7) "Ponnambalam " is placed slightly tilted towards the left. This represents our Heart. To
reach this, we need to climb 5 steps called "Panchatshara padi "
"Si, Va, Ya, Na, Ma " are the 5 Panchatshara mantras.


There are 4 pillars holding the Kanagasabha representing the 4 Vedas.
8) Ponnambalam has 28 pillars denoting the 28 "Ahamas "as well as the 28 methods to
worship Lord Shiva. These 28 pillars support 64 +64 Roof Beams which denote the 64 Arts.
The cross beams represent the Blood Vessels running across the Human body.
9) 9 Kalasas on the Golden Roof represent the 9 types of Sakthi or Energies.
The 6 pillars at the Artha Mantapa represent the 6 types of Sashtras.
The 18 pillars in the adjacant Mantapa represents 18 Puranams.
10) The dance of Lord Nataraja is described as Cosmic Dance by Western Scientists.

10. Chidambaram Natarajar
Nataraja idol is known as the Saguna Brahman (the God with a form). To his right there is a
screen. When you perform special puja, the Dikshitar (traditional priest) raises the curtain
near to Nataraja. There will be a dark cloth and we see five vertical long hangings of golden
vilva leaves. We see nothing behind it. This is known as the Nirguna Brahman (the God
without form). This is told as ‘Chidambara Rahasyam’ by the Dikshitar.
There is a a mantapa (pillared hall) called Chitrakoota just in the front of Garbhagriha (the
innermost sanctum). This is dedicated to Maha Vishnu (Narayana) who gives us darshan in
his fully reclining Yoga Nidra pose on the snake bed. If you stand on a small lotus sculpted
on the floor slab in front of Narayana, and turn your face to the right side, you can see
Nataraja. So the temple is a unique combination of Narayana and Nataraja.
It is Fritjof Capra who catapulted Nataraja into a modern-day scientific icon when he
euphorically stated in his cult book of 1974 The Tao of Physics that ”the dancing Shiva is the dancing
universe, the ceaseless flow of energy going through an infinite variety of patterns that melt into one
another.
The existence of the Nirguna Brahman as empty space (or Akaasa=the sky) reflects the divine nature as
vacant space. The word Chidambaram is derived from chit, meaning “consciousness” and ambaram,
meaning “sky” (from aakasam or aakayam) or space. Some ancient Hindu scriptures say that the sky of
consciousness is the ultimate aim a human should attain.
Many people explain the secret of Chidambaram in different ways:
“The God that is sought outside is the same as the consciousness that we have within – and that remains a
secret to the ignorant.”
“We start our spiritual journey in the very beginning with idol worshiping because we need an object to
offer and do our prayers. Hence GOD in the form of Nataraja in Chidambaram and when we proceed
further with our journey in spirituality we realise GOD’s present in entire of the universe.”
“We get the enlightened wisdom that GOD manifest everywhere… And there is nothing other than god in
the whole cosmic”
“In Chidambaram GOD himself gives us realization that he is with form and he also as formless.”
“When the curtain of “maya” (approximate meaning is illusion) is removed one can see his real self. And
the seeing of oneself removing the curtain of maya is viewing the secret.”
“Once we uncover the dark cloth of ignorance covering the consciousness then we can realize the
paramatma (cosmic) who is formless”

11. And some people say that it represents the nasthik (atheist) philosophy that is there is no god.
According to legend, “Chidambara Ragasiyam” will never be revealed as it is to everybody. The earnest
seekers will be blessed with realization that will take him/her to deeper silence.
Now my personal experience: I have not seen any secret. But as I stood there, I experienced
“nothingness”. Apart from the psychological value that we attribute and assign to people and things, what
is there in life? Just nothingness! The sound and fury that we produce from the day one of our birth would
eventually end up in the eternal silence. This awareness will make us empty. At peace!. What more you
need? It is the consciousness unlimited.



Ancient Hindu Temples stand on a straight line Chidambaram Natrajana Temple, Kanchipuram
Ekambareswarar Temple, Srikalahasti Temples are aligned Exactly in a straight line Positions. By
Mystery Of India8 Share on Facebook Tweet on Twitter In Hinduism, Lord Shiva is regarded as the
representation of the Supreme Being. He is known as the third element in the Hindu Trinity (Trimurti),
the other two members being Lord Brahma – the creator and Lord Vishnu – the protector. He controls the
5 elements of nature named as the Pancha Bhoota – Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. Pancha Bhoota
Stalams In South India, five temples were built for each representing the manifestation of the five prime
elements of nature. Known as Pancha Bhoota Stalam, these temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Five
elements of nature, in these temples, are believed to be manifested in the form of five Lingams, the
divinity of Lord Shiva. Each lingam of Shiva is known by the name of element represented by them.
‘Pancha’ indicates Five, ‘Bhoota’ means elements and ‘Stala’ means place. All these temples are located

12. in South India with four of these temples in Tamil Nadu and one in present-day Andhra Pradesh. These
set of five temples are considered to be of great importance in south India. The temple for water is in
Thiruvanaikaval, fire is in Thiruvannamalai , air is in Kalahasti , earth is in Kanchipuram and The temple
for space/sky is in Chidambaram. Geographic specialty The five temples were built according to the yogic
sciences, and are placed in a certain geographic alignment with each other, so that the entire region
reverberated with the possibility they offered. Three of the five Pancha Bhoota Stalam temples stand on a
straight line exactly at 79 degree 41 minutes East longitude. Chidambaram Natrajana Temple,
Kanchipuram Ekambareswarar Temple, Srikalahasti Temples are aligned Exactly in a straight line
Positions. All 3 temples are constructed at least 1000 years ago. No satellite technology was available at
that time but very accurate placements. Truly an engineering, astrological and geographical wonder. Of
the other two temples, Thiruvanaikkaval is located at around 3 degrees to the south and exactly 1 degree
to the west of the northern tip of this divine axis, while Thiruvannamalai is around midway (1.5 degree to
the south and 0.5 degree to the west). The five grand temples associated with the five basic elements are:
Earth – (Prithivi) – Kanchipuram – Ekambareswarar Temple (12.847604, 79.699798) Water – (Neer) –
Thiruvanaikaval – Jambukeswara Temple (10.853383, 78.705455) Fire – (Agni) – Tiruvannamalai –
Annamalaiyar Temple (12.231942, 79.067694) Wind – (Vayu) – Chitoor – Srikalahasti
Temple (13.749802, 79.698410) Sky – (Akasha) – Chidambaram – Chidambaram Nataraja
Temple (11.399596, 79.693559) A flickering lamp in the SriKalahasti temple shows the play of wind, the
water spring in the innermost sanctum of the Tiruvanaikka temple shows the temple’s relationship to the
element water, the annual Kartikai Deepam festival at Tiruvannamalai where a giant lamp is lighted atop
the Annamalai hill shows the Annamalaiyaar’s manifestation as fire, the swayambhu lingam of sand at
Kanchipuram signifies the deitie’s association with the earth while the formless space at Chidambaram
shows the association of the Supreme being with formlessness or nothingness.
Read more at: http://www.mysteryofindia.com/2015/12/ancient -hindu-tem ples-straight-
line.html

13. CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM
Chidambara Ragasiyam is a Hindu belief that there is a secret message conveyed through the
embossed figure near the shrine of Shiva in the Chidambaram Temple. Since ancient times, it is
believed that this is the place where Shiva and his consort Parvati are present, but invisible to
most people.
Chidambara Ragasiyam/Rahasyam (Tamil for “secret of Chidambaram”) is a Hindu belief that
there is a secret message conveyed through the embossed figure near the shrine of Shiva in
Chidambaram temple.
Since ancient times, it is believed that this is the place where Lord Shiva and Parvathi are present
but are invisible to the naked eyes of normal people. In the Chidambaram temple of Lord
Nataraja, Chidambara Ragasiyam is hidden by a curtain (Maya). Darshan of Chidambara
Ragasiyam is possible only when priests open the curtain (or Maya) for special poojas. People
who are privileged to have a darshan of Chidambara Ragasiyam can merely see golden vilva
leaves (Aegle Marmelos) signifying the presence of Lord Shiva and Parvathi in front of them. It
is also believed that devout saints can see the Gods in their physical form, but no such cases have
been officially reported.
The phrase “Chidambara Ragasiyam” really means something different. The phrase literally
means a secret associated with Chidambaram – the place. Behind this is a real meaning to a

14. secret. As described above there is a particular curtain kind of curtain which when removed
enables us viewing the secret. The real significance of doing so is that when the curtain which is
“Maya” is removed one can see his real self. And the seeing of oneself removing the curtain of
Maya is viewing the secret. According to legend, “Chidambara Ragasiyam” will never be
revealed as it is the secret relating to a particular person who sees it removing the screen of
“Maya”. In the temple, when the poojas are performed and the screen is removed, one will be
able to see the secret only when he applies this to his mind and soul.


Myth or Mystery?
The myth of Chidambaram Rahasyam (secret) is that there is a place in the temple which is
hidden and which you can visit to see the secret and that once you visit that hidden place, you
learn there is actually nothing, it is just an empty space. This gave rise to interpretations of what
the secret was:
1. There is no god.
2. There is no idol in the secret place hence god is formless.
Who is right? But the fact is we all look for different things. For people who believe God is an
idol and look at no idol then the secret is “no god”. For those who believe that God is not an idol
and the “secret” does not show an idol then we can say that God is formless and not to be
worshipped as an idol. For me, who does not believe there is a secret it is that there is no secret

15. and life is as it is. And maybe the secret is that we all look for what we want. And it goes on and
there could be other interpretations.
Chidambaram
Lord Shiva dances here in Chidambaram. Before we speak of the Dance, we will explore the
stage that is Chidambaram. A temple is called ‘Kovil’ in Tamil. It literally means ( Ko- il) the
abode of the Lord. Whenever the mere name ‘kovil’ is mentioned, it especially means
Chidambaram which is split as Chit ( gyana or wisdom) + Ambaram ( akasa or space).
In South India, five temples were built for each of the five elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Air,
and Space. These are the Pancha Bhuta Sthalas. Geographically, they are all within the Deccan
Plateau – four in Tamil Nadu and one in Andhra Pradesh. The temple for water is in
Thiruvanaikaval, fire is Thiruvannamalai, Kalahasti is air and Kanchipuram is earth. The temple
for space is in Chidambaram.
What is the Rahasyam all about?
Among scholars and saints, the phrase “Chidambara Rahasya” has a more profound
philosophical interpretation. The curtain unveils empty space. Emptiness is the truth being
conveyed and Shiva Himself manifests Shakti in the form of conscious Emptiness, which bears
this entire creation. Emptiness is pervaded by Time, Shiva. And the Mahakala Shiva, who is the
lord of the universe, and who is, even though, the inherent consciousness of the conscious
Emptiness, is pervaded by it. Conscious Matter is the result of copulation of Shiva and Shakti, or
in other words, Time and Emptiness. Conscious matter forms the body of this visible creation. Its
creator is Emptiness, which though bears all movements of the matter, remains beyond and
unaffected by it. The essence of matter and emptiness is the lord of the universe Mahakala Shiva,
who pervades everything and yet remains beyond everything.
To realize this thought, one has to unveil the “curtain of Maya”. We are often encapsulated in
our world of illusion and are obscured to the absolute reality. According to legend,
“Chidambaram Rahasya” will never be revealed as it is the secret relating to an individual and it
is left to them to realize its true meaning.
According to different interpretations: Siva & Sakthi are everywhere, why we have search
behind the curtain, have you ever thought about this, please. You can ask, how the curtain can be
the secret, right? and your mind tells that the curtain was always there? right? then it also tells
how a curtain can be the secret right? But the truth is, the Curtain that is being removed is the

16. hidden secret. The curtain represents the human MIND. The moment mind is dropped you will
see Siva. Now your mind asks for one more question, right? How to drop the mind? To whom
this question “How to drop the mind?” arise? The answer will be ‘to me’. Then ask yourself who
is that ‘me’ that is ‘Who am I”?. This is the method Ramana Maharishi suggests. His teaching is
not new. This technique is said to be one among the 112 techniques given by Siva himself. Those
who practice any one of these techniques will see (experience) the universe. It is not mandatory
that you have to use the ‘Who am I” technique.
Nataraja and the Chidambara Rahasya
Nataraja, the dancing form of Lord Shiva, is a very beautiful symbol of the union of nature and
the Divine. Nataraja holds fire in one hand, representing the fire element. A Damaru in his other
hand depicts the space element. Many forces in the universe are represented by a shape similar to
that of a Damaru, like a chromosome, or shapes of galaxies and so on. Time also is said to have a
conical representation. ∞ is the symbol (shape of the Damru) and represents infinity.
Shiva’s hair is open and flying representing the air element. One foot on ground symbolizes
Prithvi (earth element), another in the air. One hand is the symbolic Abhaya hasta offering
protection and the other points to his feet symbolizing surrender. With one foot already in the air,
he has already taken a step towards the devotee. He says “You are dear to me” even before
beginning.
Even in the Bhagavad Geeta, Lord Krishna says to Arjuna – “You are very dear to me”. When
you know that you are dear to someone, there is trust and love arises in the heart.
Shiva is dancing. Life should be like this. If both feet are stuck in the ground then you cannot
dance. Even to walk you need to take one foot up.
The entire creation is full of bliss
The entire creation is dancing in bliss
The entire creation is longing for bliss
Nataraja represents the Ananda Tattva (bliss) that the whole world is longing for. Every atom in
the world is filled with the potential for action yet it is at peace. Shiva, the principle of infinite
peace and bliss is not inert. It is peaceful, yet dancing.
Underneath his feet, there is Apasmaar (the demon symbolizing desires). He is standing with his
foot on top of desires. If desire eats us up then we are in trouble. Only when we rise above
desires and we are dancing on it, then it is a dance of joy and bliss. This is not just an

17. imagination. This is the truth. This energy awakens within us and we rise in dance. This is true.
The Divine energy pervading the entire creation is eternally dancing.
When I visited Chidambaram Temple as a boy of twelve during a school tour , my teacher told
me about Chidambara Rahasyam (secret of Chidambaram). Who will not be fascinated by that
dancing Lord, Nataraja ? Since then, I have read many articles about this Secret . Each referred
to one but no two was the same. I always thought that there must be a bigger secret than all I
have heard.
Recently, I read something which took me nearer the truth in this pursuit of this secret of secrets.
As usual, I am sharing here all that I learned upto now . Most of the statements are in numbered
format and given as short as possible.
Chidambaram
Lord Shiva dances here in Chidambaram. Before we speak of the Dance , we will explore the
stage that is Chidambaram.
A temple is called ‘Kovil’ in Tamil. It literally means( Ko- il) the abode of the Lord. Whenever
the mere name ‘kovil’ is mentioned, it specially means Chidambaram which is split as Chit(
gnana or wisdom) + Ambaram ( akasa or space) .
Structure of a typical Siva Temple
A classical Siva temple as per Agama rules will have five prakaras or circuits each separated by
walls one within the other. The outer prakaras will be open to the sky except the innermost one.
The innermost one will house the main deity as well as other deities. There will be a massive
wooden or stone flag post exactly in line with the main deity.
The innermost prakara houses the sanctum sanctorum ( karuvarai in Tamil). In it sits Shiva, the
supreme Lord.
Symbolism behind the structure of a Shiva Temple
1. The temple is so constructed as to resemble the human body with all its subtleties.
2. The five walls encircling one another are the kosas ( sheaths) of human existence .
a. The outermost is the Annamaya kosa , symbolizing the material body.
b. The second is Pranamaya kosa , symbolizing the sheath of vital force or prana.
c. The third is Manomaya kosa, symbolizing the sheath of the thoughts, the mana
d. The fouth is the Vignyana maya kosa, symbolizing, the sheath of the intellect
e. The fifth and innermost is the Ananda maya kosa, symbolizing the sheath of Bliss.

18. 3. The sanctum which is in the prakara symbolizing the Ananda Maya Kosa sheath ,
houses the lord, seated as the Jiva within us. It is to be noted that the sanctum is an
unlit space, just as if within the heart closed on all sides.
4. The entry Gopuras are likened to the feet, as resembling a person who is lying on the
back with the toe up.
5. The flag post depicts the sushumna nadi which raises from the Mooladhar (base of the
spine ) to the sahasrar ( vertex in the head).
6. Some temples will have three prakarams. There they represent the stoola, sukshma
and karana sareeras (bodies) of a human being Some temples have only one and they
represent all the five.

1. The temple has the above five prakaras resembling the sheaths.
2. Nataraja gives dharshan from the sanctum called Chit Sabha with a golden roof.
3. The roof has 26,000 golden tiles (see picture), denoting the number of breaths of a person in a
day.
4. These tiles are fixed to the wooden roof with the help of 72,000 nails depicting the number of
nadis (the invisible ducts carrying energy to various parts of the body)
5. As the heart is to the left of the body, the sanctum in Chidambaram is also aligned slightly
leftward.
6. On top of the Chit sabha roof, we find nine kalasas (made of copper) depicting the nine shaktis
(powers)
7. The roof has 64 cross wooden reapers denoting the 64 arts.
8. The artha mandapa has six pillars denoting the six shastras
9. The mantapa next to the artha mantapa has eighteen pillars symbolizing the eighteen puranas.
10. There are five steps leading to the Chit sabha from the Kanaka sabha depicting the five
lettered Panchakshara mantra ( Na ma chi vA ya)
11. The Chit sabha roof is supported by four pillars symbolic of the four Vedas.
Symbolism of Nataraja Swamy
1. Nataraja’s dance is said to indicate the five divine acts which are

19. a. Creation . Nataraja dances with a small drum called damarukam in one of his
right hands. Easwra is nada brahmam. He is the origin of all sounds (nadam).This is
the seed (vindu) from which the tree of the Universe emanated.
b. Protection (Operation)- In another of the right hands, he shows the ‘Abhaya
Mudra’, meaning he is the kind protector .
c. Destruction; He has fire in one of his left hands , symbolizing destruction.
When everything is destroyed by fire, only the ash will remain which the Lord has
smeared on his body.
d. The foot which is planted shows the act of hiding
e. The raised foot shows the act of bestowing
2. Nataraja swamy has the Vigraha ( icon) of Devi Sivakama Sundari to his left . This
symbolizes Ardhanareeswara , ‘ the Lord who has the female as his left half’. To his right there
is a screen. When the deeparadhana – showing lamps takes place to the swamy and to the left
side , the screen is removed and we see five vertical long hangings of golden vilva leaves. We
see nothing behind it. Sivakami shows the Saguna Brahman (the God with a form) that is
Nataraja . The Saguna Brahman leads us to the Nirguna Brahman (the God without form or the
God who has formlessness as his form). This is told as ‘Chidambara Rahasyam’ by the
Dikshitars , who are the traditional pujaris in the temple.
3. Shiva’s dance is called the cosmic dance by many scholars. In Chidambaram, this dance is
called ‘Ananda Tandava’
4. Lord Maha Vishnu also saw the Divine dance. In a nearby mantapa called Chitrakoota, Maha
Vishnu, gives us dharshan in his fully reclining Yoga Nidra pose on the snake bed. If one stands
on a small lotus sculpted on the floor slab in front of Narayana, one can at the same time see
Nataraja in his right side.
5. Sages Patanjali and Thirumoolar also saw Nataraja’s dance in Chidambaram. Their figures are
embossed on the Silver doors of the Chit Sabha..



(source: http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/threads/chidambara-rahasyam-the-secrets-
behind-chidambaram-nataraja-temple.2113/)

20. (source: https://www.quora.com/What-is-Chidambara-Rahasyam)