Saturday, October 8, 2016

Vedaranyeswarar Temple, Vedaranyam – Processional Dance

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 VishnuIndra 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