Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram – Mother Shrine
Mother is called as Shivakamasundari. The main Devi
shrine in the Nataraja temple complex is offset towards the north of the
sanctum inside the third prakara, and found to the west of the Sivaganga Pool.
The temple faces east and has an embedded square plan, though the stacked
squares created a long rectangular space. The shrine has its own walls and an
entrance gateway (gopura). The oldest Shivakamasundari sculpture at the site
representing these aspects of the goddess has been dated to the king Parantaka
I period, about 950 CE. The goddess is worshipped here as the Jnana
Shakti: the energy and power of wisdom.
The galleries surrounding the temple are decorated with
a procession of dancers and musicians, sculptured in relief. This temple was
possibly build in the 11th century under the Chola king Kulottunga I. Inside is
the dedicated mandapas and brightly colored frescoes likely from the
17th-century Vijayanagara period. These narrate the story of Shiva and Vishnu
together challenging the learned sages, ascetics and their wives in the forest,
by appearing in the form of a beautiful beggar that dances (Bhikshatana Murti)
and a beautiful girl that seduces (Mohini) respectively.
Another set of frescoes are secular depicting temple
festivities and daily life of people, while a stretch narrates the story of
Hindu saints named Manikkavacakar and Mukunda. The shrine had artwork narrating
the Devi Mahatmya, a classic Sanskrit text of Shaktism tradition.
However, in 1972, these were removed given their dilapidated state. These were
replaced with a different story. Other parts of the paintings and shrine
also show great damage.
