Vedaranyeswarar Temple, Vedaranyam – Processional
Dance
The Thyagarajar Temple at Tiruvarur is famous for the Ajaba thanam (dance
without chanting). According to legend, a Chola king named Musukuntha obtained a boon from Indra(a celestial deity) and wished to receive an image of
Thyagaraja Swamy (presiding deity, Shiva in the temple) reposing on the chest of
reclining Lord Vishnu. Indra tried to misguide the king and had six other
images made, but the king chose the right image at Tiruvarur.
The
other six images were installed in Thirukkuvalai, Nagapattinam, Tirukarayil, Tirukolili, Thirukkuvalai and Thirumaraikadu. All the seven places are villages situated in the
river Cauvery delta. All seven Thyagaraja images are said to
dance when taken in procession (it is the bearers of the processional deity who
actually dance). The temples with dance styles are regarded as Saptha Vidangam
(seven dance moves) and the related temples are as under:
Temple
|
Vidangar Temple
|
Dance pose
|
Meaning
|
Thyagarajar Temple
|
Vidhividangar
|
Ajabathaanam
|
Dance without chanting, resembling the dance of Sri
Thyagaraja resting on Lord
Vishnu's chest
|
Dharbaranyeswarar Temple
|
Nagaradangar
|
Unmathanathaanam
|
Dance of an intoxicated person
|
Kayarohanaswamy Temple
|
Sundaravidangar
|
Vilathithaanam
|
Dancing like waves of sea
|
Kannayariamudayar Temple
|
Adhividangar
|
Kukunathaanam
|
Dancing like a cock
|
Brahmapureeswarar Temple
|
Avanividangar
|
Brunganathaanam
|
Dancing like a bee that hovers over a flower
|
Vaimoornaathar Temple
|
Nallavidangar
|
Kamalanaanathaanam
|
Dance like lotus that moves in a breeze
|
Vedaranyeswarar Temple
|
Bhuvanivividangar
|
Hamsapthanathaanam
|
Dancing with the gait of a swan
|
