THILLAI NATARAJAR 108 DIVYA DESAM SERIES

Hailed in the Tiruvacakam series by Manikkavacakar, these very volumes of the Tirumurai literature canon were themselves found in secret chambers of the temple. It is the primary shrine of the 275 Paadal Petra Sthalams вЂ“ Shiva Sthalams glorified in the early medieval Tevaram poems by Tamil Saivite Nayanar saints Tirunavukkarasar, Thirugnana Sambandar and Sundarar. Chidambaram is glorified in TirumularвЂs Tirumandhiram and was visited by PataГ±jali and Pulikaal Munivar. Д¬hidambaram is one of the five Pancha Bootha Sthalams, the holiest Shiva temples each representing one of the five classical elements Chidambaram represents akasha (aether). The Chidambaram complex is admired for its five famous halls ( ambalam or sabhai), several grand smaller shrines to the Hindu deities Ganesh, Murugan, Vishnu and Sivakami Amman which contain Pandyan and Nayak architectural styles, and for its endowment from many water tanks, one of which links it to the Thillai Kali temple. The sculptures of Chidambaram inspired the postures of Bharatha Natyam. Lord Shiva is captured in pose as Nataraja performing the Ananda Tandava (вЂњDance of DelightвЂќ) in the golden hall of the shrine Pon Ambalam (а®ЄаЇЉа®©аЇЌ а®…а®®аЇЌа®Єа®Іа®®аЇЌ). Two other forms of Lord Shiva are represented close to this in the vimana (inner sanctum) of the temple вЂ“ as a crystallised lingam вЂ“ the most common representation of Lord Shiva in temples, and as the aether space classical element, represented with empty space and a garland of fifty one hanging golden vilvam leaves ( Aegle marmelos). The consort deity here is Sivakami Amman (form of Amman вЂ“ mother goddess and female energy). The shrine is the only Shiva temple to have its main deity represented in this anthropomorphic form, as the supreme being who performs all cosmic activities. Chidambaram is the birthplace of the sculpture and bronze image representation of Lord Shiva as the cosmic dancer, a Tamilian concept and motif in Chola art that has since become notable as a symbol of Hinduism.

The deity that presides here is а®•аЇ‚а®¤аЇЌа®¤а®©аЇЌ вЂ“ Thillai Koothan (Thillai Nataraja вЂ“ Shiva, The Lord of Dance). King Kocengannan Chola was born following prayers his parents offered at the temple and later in his life he refined its structure. Its bronze statues and stone sculptures depicting various deities and the famous Thillai trees ( Excoecaria agallocha) of the surrounding forest reflect the highpoints of early Chola and Pallava art while its famed gold plated gopuram towers are medieval structural additions by the royals Aditya I, Parantaka Chola I, Kopperunchinga I, Krishnadevaraya and Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan. The temple as it stands now is mainly of the 12th and 13th centuries, with later additions in similar style. The Sangam classics list chief architect Viduvelvidugu Perumtaccan as directing an early renovation of the shrine.ДЄ major shrine of Lord Shiva worship since the classical period, there have been several renovations and offerings to Chidambaram by the Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Vijayanagara and Chera royals in the ancient and pre-medieval periods. The temple is known as the foremost of all temples ( Kovil) to Saivites and has influenced worship, architecture, sculpture and performance art for over two millennium. Thillai Natarajah Temple, Chidambaram or Chidambaram temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the town of Chidambaram, East-Central Tamil Nadu, South India.

Thillai natarajar 108 divya desam