Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram – Kanaka Sabha
The Golden Hall, or Kanaka Sabha of the Temple is immediately in front
of the Chit Sabha, both being on an elevated platform as mentioned before,
with silver paneled doors in front. The Chit Sabha itself is a meter or so higher
than the Kanaka Sabha and is reached by a flight of 5 silver plated steps,
marking the five aksharas (or syllables) of the Panchakshara Mantram (the five
syllabled Namasivaya). Its roof is made of copper, although Kanaka means gold. Patanjali
and Vyakrapada stand sentinel outside the sanctum.
Most of the daily rituals of worship for Nataraja is
performed in this Hall only. The Yagna of the morning rituals, the rituals with
lamps and ritual objects and the abishekam of the Crystal Linga & Ruby
Nataraja are conducted in this Hall only. The public can enter certain areas of
the Kanaka Sabha for worship of the Nataraja and the Akasha Linga at specified
hours of the day. It is a controversy whether this Sabha was originally
constructed together with the Cit Sabha, or sometime later.