CHIDAMBARAM TEMPLE

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 Source:  Chidambaram Temple : Pancha Bhoota Sthalam 

Chidambaram, a town in Tamil Nadu, claimed fame with one of the holiest temples dedicated to Lord Shiva—Natraja Temple or Thillai Nataraja temple. Lord Shiva manifested himself as the sky (akasha) element at this temple. Here Lord Shiva is worshipped as “Akasha Lingam” to signify that God is divine and beyond human comprehension.

The Nataraja temple is one the rarest since here no customary Lingam, which is worshipped. The main deity is “space”. An idol of Nataraja—Lord Shiva in a cosmic dancer position, is installed in a golden-rooted sanctum sanctorum. Behind the idol is a black screen that signifies the sky.

Nataraja—the Lord of Dance is the symbolic representation of the supreme bliss or “aananda thandavam” in Tamil. Nataraja is considered to be one of the most significant forms of Lord Shiva. Goddess Parvati is worshipped here as the Shakti—“the power of wisdom”.

The sanctum is also known as Ponnambalam or Kanaka Sabha. Lord Shiva’s consort Devi Sivakama Sundari is enshrined to the left of the main sanctum. While two revered saints—Patanjali and Vyagrapada stand guarding the sanctum.