Thillai Nataraja temple
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Jan 03 2015
Chidambaram Lord Shiva is celebrated in Chidambaram as Nataraja, engaged in the cosmic dance of Tandava. It is considered the foremost among the Shiva temples according to Shaivite beliefs. It was here that Shiva strolled into the mangrove forest (thillai vanam), as a simple mendicant, along with Vishnu (disguised as Mohini) and vanquished the pride of the rishis.Shiva immobilised the demon Muyalakan and performed the Ananda Tandavam over him. As his consort, Parvati is worshipped here as Sivakami Amman. Dating back to the classical period, the Thillai Nataraja temple has been revonated several times by Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Vijayanagara and Chera royals in the ancient and pre-medieval periods.The Periya Puranam, a biography of Nayanmar saints, was written in the shrine's thousand-pillared hall.The eastern gopuram is renowned for its complete enumeration of 108 poses of Bharatanatyam.To this day, dancers give recitals at the temple as an offering to the deity.The Natyanjali festival of dance, that takes place towards the end of February is a major attraction here. Chidambaram city is located on the Karaikal-Cuddalore-Chennai high way and frequent buses are available from most major cities in Tamil Nadu.A municipal town and a taluk headquarters in Cuddalore district, Chidambaram also has a railway station.
