Hi viewer.
Welcome to my blog on Lord Nataraja, the dancing Shiva.
"Nataraja statue is rich with symbolism. It is said that Nataraja is the embodiment of inner process of human being. The galaxies are moving just like the movement of cosmic dance".
"Modern physics has shown that the rhythm of creation and destruction is not only manifest in the turn of the seasons and in the birth and death of all living creatures, but is also the very essence of inorganic matter. For the modern physicists, then, Shiva’s dance is the dance of subatomic matter".
"The whole thing is there, you see. The world of space and time, and matter and energy, the world of creation and destruction, the world of psychology…We (the West) don’t have anything remotely approaching such a comprehensive symbol, which is both cosmic, psychological, and spiritual".– Aldous Huxley, 1961
The present scientists are beginning to think in the same lines what Rishis in India did and put down in the series of Upanishads ages ago. So the glorification of Nataraja by the nuclear scientists in the CERN is never impertinent. Rather inspirational, providing fuel for further exploration.
In his book "The Tao of Physics", Fritjof Capra pays homage to the Hindu’s view of the matter and establishes a connection with modern physics through 1972 empirical research. He observed the relationship between ancient Vedic mythology, religious symbolism and art, and modern physics—the pulsating process of creation and destruction, which is immensely painful and unforgettable.
Schrodinger was so convinced about the wealth of wisdom in Indian literature he made a fervent proclamation — ‘In all world there is no kind of framework within which we can find consciousness in the plural; this is simply something we construct because of the temporal plurality of individuals, but it is a false construction. The only solution to this conflict in so far as any is available to us at all lies in the ancient wisdom of the Upanishad.’
Schrodinger was not alone. David Bohm, Eugene Wigner, Oppenheimer, David Josephson, Carl Sagan, Archibald Wheeler, Charles Townes, Jack Sarfatti, John Hagelin, John Bells had already made attempts to plunge headlong into the cosmic sea of Upanishadic’s Consciousness — after the pulsating vibration, as the ultimate answer. The man behind the ‘Black Hole’ and ‘Worm Hole’ John Archibald Wheeler become so awestruck with the knowledge of the East, he remarked —‘One has the feeling that the thinkers of the East knew it all, and if we could only translate their answers into our language we would have the answers to all our questions.’
The father of Atomic Bomb — Robert Julius Oppenheimer said “What we shall find in Modern Physics is an exemplification, an encouragement and a refinement of old Hindu wisdom.” Lord Kelvin said, "If you study science long enough and hard enough, it will lead you to believe in God".
He stands on a lotus petal and is surrounded by a ring of fire, known as "Prabha Mandala", signifying the cosmos, which creates everything and consumes everything in the cycle of life.
This posture is known as Ananda Thandalam - the blissful dance (as opposed to Rudra Thandalam - the destructive dance). This destructive force can also be seen as constructive by generating new life from death. Thus Rudra Thandavam is followed by Lasya Dance or Ananda Thandavam. The dance of Shiva during evening on Pradosham days is also another ancient Hindu belief.
The structure depicts complimentary as well as contradictory philosophies of Creation-Destruction, Fire and Water(Ganges), ignorance and knowledge, beauty and ugliness (of demon) etc. It provides simultaneous dual existence of both good and evil, female-male combination, etc., which might appear as a paradox to the Western Scientists. Yet they have accepted the symbol of Nataraja as representing the atomic structure of matter, with an understanding that the cosmic dance is the interaction of matter and anti-matter, good and the evil forces.
The details in the Nataraja artwork have attracted commentaries and secondary literature such as poems, detailing its theological significance. It is one of the widely studied and supreme illustrations of art from the medieval era.
The dance, in fact, represents His five activities (Pancakritya), viz.: Srishti (overlooking, creation, evolution), Sthiti(preservation, support), Samhara (destruction, evolution), Tirobhava (veiling, embodiment, illusion, and also, giving rest), Anugraha (release, salvation, grace). These, separately considered, are the activities of the deities Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Maheshwara and Sadashiva.
Mythology on Lord Nataraja
After the incident when Sati Devi immolated Herself during the haven performed by Sati's father, Daksha Prajabathi, Lord Shiva lost Himself in deep sorrow and wandered all over as a digambara, without clothes on His person. Due to His Yogic personality, He was full of Thejus. He stumbled upon a set of Rishis performing Yaga inducing fire in a place called Dharu vanam. The wife of the Rishis set their sight on Lord Shiva's digambara form, thus infuriating the Rishis. They started to abuse Lord Shiva and through their powers raised terrible creatures to kill the Lord, since He was distracting the ladies. They created a tiger which pounded upon the Lord. He instantly killed the Tiger and wore its skin on His waist. A cobra was them aimed at Him and he effortlessly curled it on His right hand. An elephant followed and met with the same result and the Lord wore its hide as his upper garment. The Rishis then brought out demon Apasmara (ignorance) from out of their collective minds and the Lord crushed him under His lotus feet. Shiva then took the Yaga fire on His left rear hand, started beating the drum using His right rear hand and danced elegantly with His lock of hairs spreading out in all directions.
The above story was once enumerated by Lord Vishnu to Adishesha, the thousand headed Snake, who desired to witness the dance of Shiva. Lord Vishnu gave him permission to leave and perform tapas to attain his desire. Shesha did severe penance and Lord Shiva appeared before him and agreed to fulfil his desires. As directed by Lord Shiva, Adi Sesha was born as Patanjali in the forests of Thillai trees (botanical name Exocoeria agallocha, a species of mangrove trees ) in South India, in a place called Cit Ambaram, (ethereal space), the dance platform made of Akash, the ether.
Vyaghrapada
Vyaghrapada was the first to arrive in Thillai-Chidambaram. He was the son of the Muni Madhyandina. When his father asked him his greatest wish, his son asked him to tell him which tapas would free him from the effects of cause and effect and from rebirth and would give him complete happiness. Madhyandina instructs his son to go the Thillai forest as this is the only place among all the worlds that has the stability/strength to be the stage for Shiva’s Cosmic Dance.
Madhyandina's son travels across all of India to find the Thillai forest. This is a forest of mangrove trees, and must have been near the coast in those days. Once he arrived there he found a sacred lake, called Shivaganga, full of lotuses. And a self-existing Linga on its southern bank at the place called Mulasthana, the Place of the Root. Madhyandina’s son settles in the forest and builds himself a hut nearby. He spends his days worshipping this Linga as Shiva’s abstract form.
After sincerely practicing his tapas for a while he became desperate that he was never early enough to gather flowers that had not been touched by bees or insects. After crying for help Shiva appeared to him and gave him the tiger feet and hands. With eyes in his hands and feet also, in order to see clearly and find his way in the dark. Vyaghrapada is depicted as a human being with tiger’s legs and hands. In his hands and feet eyes are shown.
The Lord had promised to both Patanjali and Vyaghrapada that He will appear when both of them meet each other.
Ananda Thandavam (Dance of Delight)
At the appointed time, many devas assembled there from Heaven, as also thousands of devotees, Dheekshidhars and Rishis, to the blowing of conches and drums. There was a rain of rare heavenly flowers from the sky and a light appeared in the Sabha. Lord Shiva appeared in the dancing form from out of the light, along with His consort, Sivakama Sundari. All those present stated dancing along with Him, while He performed Ananda Thandavam. Lord Shiva agreed to stay there in Chidambaram for ever, to bless all those who wish to see His dance.
ஆனந்தம் பல்லியம் ஆனந்தம் வாச்சியம்
ஆனந்தம் ஆக அகில சராசரம்
ஆனந்தம் ஆனந்தக் கூத்துஉகந் தானுக்கே. 2725
வேதங்கள் ஆட மிகு ஆகமம் ஆடக்
கீதங்கள் ஆடக் கிளர்அண்டம் ஏழாடப்
பூதங்கள் ஆடப் புவனம் முழுதாட
நாதம்கொண் டாடினான் ஞானாந்தக் கூத்தே. 2729
ஆதி பரன்ஆட அங்கைக் கனலாட
ஓதும் சடையாட உன்மத்த முற்றாடப்
பாதி மதியாடப் பாரண்ட மீதாட
நாதமோடு ஆடினான் நாதாந்த நட்டமே. 2751
Urdhva Thandalam
Yet another legend, commemorating the dance duel between the doyens of dance Shiva and Kali is associated with Chidambaram. There was a dance competition between Shiva and Kali, called "Urdhva Thandavam". As per the agreed rules of this game, Lord Shiva would perform a particular dance style and Kali would perform the same. Lord Vishnu was the judge for this dance show. After a fierce competition, Lord Shiva did the most difficult step of dance style. Kali was struggling to keep pace with the Lord. Shiva then performed the Urdhwa Thaandava. While dancing, His ear-ring fell on the ground. Lord Shiva picked it up with one of His feet and put it back in His ear. He is said to have lifted his foot towards the sky in the Urdhva Tandava posture, a definite male gesture, which out of adherence to protocol, Kaali as a lady could not reciprocate, thereby causing Lord Shiva to emerge victorious.
Bound in feminine traits, Kali could not do that step. Though defeated, She became furious. Lord Brahma appeared there and praised Kali as Veda Nayaki and begged Her to calm down. Kali responded to Brahma’s prayer and granted darshan to Him as Brahma Chamundeeswari,with four faces representing the four Vedas. A beautiful deity, with four heads like Brahma, in the form of Brahma Sakthi came out and resides in Thillai Kali temple nearby. This dance legend of Shiva and Kali is portrayed in the Nritya Sabha, one of the halls within the Chidambaram temple.
Chidambaram is one of the five places where Lord Shiva is said to have displayed his dance and all these places have stages/sabhais. Apart from Chidambaram which has the Kanaka sabhai- Gold plated Santum Santorum, the Rathina sabhai at Thiruvaalangaadu (Rathinam – Ruby / Red), the Chitra sabhai at Courtallam (Chitra –Painting), the Velli ambalam at Madurai Meenakshi Temple (Rajatha / Velli – Silver) and Thaamira sabhai at Nellaiappar Temple, Tirunelveli (Thaamiram – Copper).
Hear this lovely rendeing of Natarajar Pathu:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ZElqQhuuLY&list=WL&index=1
Chidambaram Temple Complex
This temple at Chidambaram was built around 10th century by the chola king and several other rulers have also contributed to the development of the temple complex over a period of times thereafter. It is one of the rare temples where Lord Shiva is represented by an idol or Murthy of Nataraja, rather than customary Lingam form. The presiding deity is represented by ether, one of the five elements of the Universe, hence, known as Akash Lingam. There are four huge Gateway Towers in four directions with 108 poses (Karanas) of Classical Dance called Bharatnatyam carved on the inner walls of the Gateway. These postures form a foundation of the Indian classical dance.
This temple is said to be located at the Centre Point of world 's Magnetic Equator. The temple is built in a 51 acre plot and has 9 gateways and four of these have Gopurams(135 ft each) in the East, South, West and North. Chidambaram Temple was designed in the shape of the human body. Its nine entrance gates correspond to the nine neural gates that exist in the human body. The Eastern Gopuram has all 108 Bharathanatiyam dancing poses. The Pallava King, Koperunsingan II, is said to have built the East Gopuram. A Pandya king built the South Gopuram, called the Sokkaseeyan Thirunilai Ezhu Gopuram. This is shown by the carved fishes (Pandya king’s banner) in the ceiling. The Western Gopuram, built around 1150, is the smallest Gopuram. Still, there is no proof that this Gopuram was ever built. There are, however, statues representing the Goddess battling the buffalo monster. The North Gopuram was built approximately 1300 AD, with the brick part built in the 16th century by Vijayanagara ruler Krishnadevaraya. Even though, there are four gateways, the procession carrying the Uthsava Murthies do not pass through the main Gates, but use a separate exit, beside the East Gateway called Thitti Vaasal.
The images of the four Saivite saints, Manickavasakar (East Gopuarm), Gnanasambanthar (South Gopuram), Sundharar (West Gopuram) and Thirunavukkarasar (North Gopuram), are carved in the walls of the respective Gopuram through which they entered the temple. All the four Saivite saints, Gnanasambandar, Tirunavukkarasar, Sundarar and Manickavasagar had praised Lord Nataraja in their moving devotional hymns Thevaram and Tiruvasagam. It is said that the four Saivite Saints entered the temple through the four entrances of the temple, Manickavasagar through the east, Gnanasambandar from south, Appar from west and Sundarar from the north.
The Nrithya sabhai or Naatya Sabhai is in the south of the temple’s flag mast (or Kodi Maram or Dwaja Sthambam) where the Lord is said to have danced with Goddess Kali – an embodiment of energy and established His supremacy. hall is where the pillars are carved with extreme precision and intricacy.
The Raja Sabhai or the 1000-pillared hall (340 ft length and 190 ft breadth 24 pillars in each row and with 41 rows), symbolizes the Yogic Chakra of Thousand Pillared Lotus or Sahasraram, which in yoga is a ‘chakra’ at the crown of the head and is a seat where the soul unites with God. This chakra is represented as a 1000-petalled lotus. Meditating by concentrating at the Sahasrara Chakra is said to lead to a state of union with the Divine force and is the pinnacle of yogic practice.
The thousand pillared mandapam is a structure adorning the Southern Gopuram, opposite the Sivakama Sundari Amman Temple complex.
The Deva sabhai is situated in the second enclosure of the temple. It houses the Pancha moorthis (Five deities), namely, Lord Ganesh, Lord Somaskanda, a form where the Lord is in a seated posture with his grace and consort, the Lord’s consort Sivananda nayaki, Lord Muruga and deity of Chandikeswarar – the principal and chief of the devotees of the Lord. This hall is of historical importance since it was the place where all the saivite saints conducted their discourses, witnessed by kings and other dignitories.
As per the literature available, The temple is an architectural marvel, in which each part signifies the Human Body. The golden roof of the temple is studded with 21,600 gold tiles (total breaths taken by human in a day), these tiles are fixed with 72,000 gold nails (total number of naadis -nerves in a body). There are five steps to climb to reach the main Sanctum called as Panchakshara Padi representing Si, Va, Ya, Na, Ma (Panchatshara Mantram).There are four pillars in the Kanaka Sabha which represents the Four Vedas, with 64 Roof beams which is supported by those 4 pillars representing 64 Arts.
The Govindaraja Swami (Vishnu) sannathi is situated right in front of the sanctum sanctorum of Lord Nataraja, where Lord Govindaraja blesses the devotees in boga sayana (lying) posture. We can find Lord Brahma raising from Nabhi of Lord Vishnu in a lotus base. It is one of the rare occurrence in this place that Lord Shiva, Lord Brahma as well as Lord Vishnu are housed in same premises and can be viewed at a time from one point. Lord Vishnu is said to have enjoyed the dance of Lord Shiva at this place. This place is included in one of the 108 divyadesams of Lord Vishnu, in the name of Thiruchitrakoodam.
Chidambara Rahasyam (The Secret)
Chidambaram temple holds one of the most difficult to understand principles of Hinduism, namely the "Akash", the vacant space in the outer universe. It is a Hindu belief that the entire creation started from this empty space. The first to emanate was the sound principle, followed by a series of tatvas leading to denser material formation, culminating in formation of earth principle.
To the right of the Main idol of Natarajar is a closed dark room, with hanging golden ornaments of Bilva Leaves kept within. There is a curtain which hides these golden leaves, which is removed for a few seconds on a daily basis during specific rituals. People can view the dark space, only to know that there is nothing inside except vacant space. The curtain represents MAYA, which hides the real nature of beings.
Lord Shiva assumes the Akash form here, which is one of the pancha-bootha (Five elements - ether, air, fire, water and earth) concept. After destroying all creations, there was empty space, witnessed only by Lord Shiva and Parvathi. Then Shiva starts playing His damaru, the drum, and creation begins again. Shiva and Parvathi are said to dance in the empty space, to create all beings.
In yogic parlour, this is equivalent to kundalini sakthi raising to the cerebrum, where sakthi unites with Shiva in the thousan petalled Lotus above the head, Sahasrara Chakra, and starts to dance. The empty space in the heart is also compared to this vacant spce in the sky and people utter OHM NAMASIVAYA, a sound which would create and spread happiness all around.
This secret formless existence of Chidambaram is called as Nishkala Thirumeni. Very unique and nowhere to be seen in the world. Sri Chakra installed by Acharya Adi Sankara is in the sannidhi of Ambal. Shiva is pressent here in Roopa (Nataraja idol), semi-roopa (Ratna Lingam - formless form) and also as fully formless empty space. This is the speaciality of Chidambaram.
The priests here in this temple are unique, compared to the priests elsewhere. Here they are called Podhu Dikshithars. They act both as archakas as well as the Trustees of the temple. Men have a side bun while regular priests in other temples have a back pony. They were 3000 in number or rather 2999 with the 3000th as Lord Nataraja himself. Thus Lord Himself is considered as one of the Anthanar (Brahmin Dikshidar). They're called the Thillai Moovayiram (3000) Deekshitharkal. But now only 300 exist today. They are said to have been brought to Thillai from Mt. Kailash in North by saint Patanjali, thousands of years ago, to serve Lord Nataraja. The young ones get trained under the tutelage of their elders.
NANDANAR
Nandan, a farm worker, was a staunch devotee of Chidambaram Lord Nataraja and wanted to visit Chidambaram at least once during his life time. He was a farm worker belonging to a lower cast and was denied entry by the upper cast men who dominated the temple. His master, also an upper cast, did not allow him permission to visit the temple on one guise or other. He used to inform all his co-workers that he will go tomorrow and this became a daily routine. He was used to be called "Thiru Naalai Povaar", the one who would go tomorrow.
Due to persistence from Nandan, one day the master told him that he can go to Chidambaram, but only after he completes the harvest in this season. Nandan was completely shattered since the season has not even begun and it would take several months to get the crops harvested. He was drenched in tears that he could not visit the Chidambaram temple immediately. He swooned and fell on the barren fields. Next morning to his surprise and to the surprise of all people, including the master, it was found that the extensive farm land was full of rice plants, ready to harvest immediately. People were thrilled and the master realised this was purely an act of God. He fell on Nandan's feet and begged his forgiveness and immediately made all arrangements for his visit to the temple along with few more workmen.
Nandan had to face the ire of the temple priests who did not allow him inside. They heard about what happened in the field and did not believe it. They demanded that Nandan should yet again prove himself by bathing in fire. They created a huge fire and asked Nanadan to get into it and come out unscathed, if he has to see the Lord. Nandan did so and came out with glittering golden shine. All the caste Hindus were simply dumb founded and fell at his feet. He was named as "Nandanar", the saint, and they led him to the sanctum Sanctorum, where he was said to have disappeared by mingling with the Lord.
Let us listen to the song on Nanadanar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCS71yTNDMo
Sthala Viruksham, Thillai Tree.
Thousand years ago, Chidambaram town was a thick forest of Thillai Trees, which grows in salt waters. Even today the outskirts of the town is flush with mangroves swamps, containing the Thillai trees, though now reduced to a few in numbers, sparingly visible here and there in the Pichavaram forest range. The Tree has lent its name to the town, which is also known as Thillai Ambalam. The botanical name of the tree species is "Excoecaria", belonging to the "Euphorbiaceae" family.
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The Five Sabhais of Lord Nataraja
A few temples in Tamil Nadu are closely associated with Nataraja and have their own myths of dance along with the halls specific to their version of dance. They are Ratna Sabhai in Thiruvalangadu, Where Shiva danced with Kali, Kanaga Sabhai (gold) in Chidambaram, Rajatha Sabhai (silver) in Madurai Meenakshi temple, Tamira sabhai (copper) in Nellaiappar temple, Tirunelveli, and Chitra Sabhai in Courtallam.
A Scientific Perception of the Dance of Nataraja
(This dance is a vedic concept; but none the less, science).
All living and non-living beings on this universe are uniformly dynamic and the basic structure of all the beings on earth are one and the same, the atom. Only the number of sub-atomic particles differ, but nevertheless these particles are ever dancing within the atom. If one is aware of this wonder, one can understand the uniform structure of all beings, which ultimately leads to the Advaida philosophy that everything is one Brahman. The Natarajar image is thus an unifying symbol and is aptly exhibited in the CERN laboratories in Switzerland, where scientists are trying to identify the basic component of the atom and are hopeful of solving the mystery.
Historians have come forward with a structural theory that the microcosm, which refers to the human beings and other living organisms, is analogous to the macrocosm, referring to the planetary outer space in cosmos. They felt that both are of same design, made of same set of elementary particles but are different in complexity and composition. The building blocks are made of same fundamental particles, interacting through various forces and moving continuously like an endless dance. The entire universe is thus ceaselessly engaged in cosmic dance with enormous amount of energy and the particles of atom interact with each other to form various objects visible to us. The creation and destruction thus happens continuously. Higgs boson is often called God Particle because it is said to be the
one that caused the Big bang and that created our Universe millions of years ago. A big bang is a destruction to nothing and the Universe is created back again from that nothing.
According to the Scientist Capra “Modern physics has shown that the rhythm of creation and destruction is not only manifest in turn of the seasons and in the birth and death of all living creatures, but is also the very essence of inorganic matter”. The cosmic dance is not a random motion but it is beautifully choreographed movement by law of nature. Nothing in the universe has been created but only transformed from one form to another. So creation and destruction is only a transformation.
Lord Nataraja’s dance forms have 108 variations or dance poses. Here we need to mention the similarity with Mendeleev’s Periodic Table of elements. He predicted the properties of most of these elements even though these elements were not discovered at that time. He predicted the number of “stable” elements to be limited to 108 maximum, excluding some of the radio-active elements, which are not stable. Yet another similarity is found when we note that the number of devas and asuras who churned the Milky Ocean during Samudra Mandan were 64 each, adding up to 108. It was this Samudra Mandan which lead to creation of celestial bodies like Maha Lakshmi, earth, flora and fauna, metals. Is it possible that the dance of Nataraja represents the creation of everything our cosmos and earth are made of.
The Outer circular frame around the Nataraja image contains many flares of fire blowing in outward direction, which is in consonance with the “red-shift” theory propounded by modern cosmologists, including Edwin Hubble, according to which, the universe is continuously expanding outwards. There is also conformity with respect to Einstein’s theory that the universe is finite (and not infinitely vast), as shown by the circular boundary around Lord Nataraja. There is also a symbolic representation of the empty space within the special boundaries, signifying the vast emptiness in the universe.
Lord Nataraja is also associated with the String Theory of Einstein. When dealing with the concept on creation, the Hindu texts refer to Brahma Sutra or “Oli Nool” (Tamil) which say that creation started with sound vibrations from “OHM”, a rhythmic pulsation, as well as light form of “OHM”. Sutra in Sanskrit or “Nool” in Tamil also literally mean a thread or a string. A vibrating thread of consciousness refers to the dance of Shiva. Nataraja holds Light (fire) in one hand and Damaru (primordial sound) in the other hand indicating the start of creation or the beginning of fourth dimension, Time. The process of creation evolves from the dance as light then sound evolves from light and then all the visual and aural forms in this universe. Both creation and destruction are represented by Nataraja’s leg position. Creation is when His left leg is shifted to the right side and destruction happens when his right leg is shifted to the left side.
Adi Sesha, the thousand headed snake, is said to survive the end of time or Kaala, after the pralaya. At the beginning of creation, this snake is said to hold all the remaining karma of all the souls. “Sesham”, in Sanskrit, means that which is “left-over”. Adi Sesha therefore refers to the left-over karma from previous creation. The snake thus represent time. When creation begins, time begins too. The snake “Vasuki” which adorns Lord Nataraja is a representation of time. The snake move in various directions in different speeds on Lord Nataraja’s imagery, which is in resonance with Einstein’s theory of relativity of time.
Click here to hear the premordial sonics of the universe:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlBL186ABe0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvCu8W79qDM
The Chidambaram temple is well known for resembling the Human body structure, with 20,600 golden tiles on the roof of Ponnambalam (the no. of breaths in a day), attached with 72,000 threads, resembling the veins in the body, and the nine kumbhas on top of the golden roof resembling the nine openings in human body. The five pillars on the frnt of Chit Sabhai resembles the five senses. The five silver covers steps leading to Sactum sanctorium representing the five-syllabelled mantra: "Na Ma Si Va Ya". Shiva is present as Nada bindu and without form in the Sri Chakram in the sanctum.
The Idol of Lord Nataraja faces South direction in Chidambaram, which is unusual in any Shiva temple, where the idol faces either East or West only. It is no wonder that the Lord, who performs the Uzhi Thandavam, the dance of destruction faces South, the direction of Yama, the Lord of Death. The same is followed in most of the temples, where the idol of Lord Nataraja, if available, is generally kept facing South.
Thirumoolar states that man represents the shape of Shivalingam, which represents Chidambaram which represents Sadashivam which represents HIS dance!
"Ponnambalam" is placed slightly tilted towards the left. This represents our Heart. To reach this, we need to climb 5 steps called "Panchatshara padi". 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. The 6 pillars at the Artha Mantapa represent the 6 types of Sashtras. The 18 pillars in the adjacant Mantapa represents 18 Puranams. The granite plinth of the shrine is called Parvadam, because it does duty for Mount Kailasa in providing a support for Lord Shiva. On all special occasions puja or worship is performed to this plinth.
Where we now find this beautiful and ancient temple, was once an impenetrable forest of Thillai trees, which is a kind of mangrove. This forest gave Chidambaram its firs and most ancient name, Tillai. Within this sprawling forest was a lotus pond, and at the southern bank of this pond existed a Svayambhu Linga. A linga is a representation of Lord Shiva which unites both the concepts of Form as well as of Formless in itself. To this lotus pond in the Thillai forest came two saints, named Vyagrapada and Patanjali. They came from very different backgrounds and from very different directions, but they came for the same reason: to witness Shiva’s Cosmic Dance. It had been foretold to them that if they would worship the linga on the bank of the lotus pond in the forest, Lord Shiva would come to perform His Dance.
It is now scientifically agreed that Lord Nataraj's big toe is the centre point of the magnetic equator of the Earth. Chidambaram lies in the southeastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The place is situated very close to the magnetic point of equator. Its angle is 1.75o N. Besides, the coordinates of this place is 8.73 minutes N 77.7 minutes E. And this is the reason Chidambaram is supposedly considered to be the geomagnetic center of the Earth, Universe, and Geo magnetic equator.
Well. We have reached the end of this blog. See you in my next. Till then stay blessed.
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