Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram – Nritta Sabha
Nrithya Sabhai (also called Nritta Sabha, Natya Sabhai,
or "Hall of Dance") is a 56-pillared hall, situated in the south
section of the second courtyard that circumambulates the Nataraja sanctum of
the complex. This second courtyard is near the temple's flag mast (Kodi Maram or Dwaja
Sthambam). The 13th century Nritta Sabha is traditionally considered
as the place where Shiva and Kali originally entered into a dance competition. Shiva
won with the Urdhva-Tandava pose that raised his right leg straight
up, a posture that Kali refused because she was a woman.
The hall is rectangular consisting of three stacked
squares, a 15-meter-sided square that is the main hall, which is connected to 4
meters by 8 meters rectangular mukha-mandapa to its north. The hall
now has 50 pillars, but evidence suggests that it may have had 56 or more
pillars earlier. These pillars are intricately carved from top to bottom.
The lower levels have dancers in Natya Shastra mudras accompanied
with expressive musicians as if both are enjoying creating the music and the
dance.
The pillars also have embedded narratives of legends
from Hindu texts, such as of Durga fighting the buffalo demon, as well as
humorous dwarfs frolicking. Below the kapota, the structures show reliefs of
seated people, many in namaste posture, some with a beard and yogi
like appearance representing saints and rishis. Nearly 200 of these are still
visible, rest appear to have been damaged or eroded over time.
The Nritta Sabha platform's base is carved as a chariot,
with horses and wheels, as if it is rising out the ground. Historic texts state
that the wheels were exquisitely carved and visible in the past, each about 1.25-meter
diameter with 28 spokes and 33 medallions, the chariot had 1.55-meter-high
ornamented horses, on the wheel was a seated rishi as if he was guiding the
movement. Only remnants of this structure remain now.
The chariot form of the Sabha commemorates Shiva as
Tripurasamhara Murti, the Destroyer of the three Demon Cities. Several divine
powers joined together to create Shiva's chariot. Thus, the sun and moon became
the wheels, the Vedas the horses etc. After destroying the three Cities he
descended from his chariot, having landed opposite the Chit Sabha, and ascended
into the Sabha to commence his Dance. From this, the Nritta Sabha is also
called Edir Ambalam or opposite hall.
The northern niche of the hall is carved with 14 figures
in addition to Shiva as Kanakamurti. The Shiva image had been damaged and is
now restored. The 14 figures include Surya (sun god), Chandra (moon god) and 12
rishis of which Narada and Tumburu with Vina can be identified, the others have
been too damaged to identify but are likely Vedic rishis. Near them are women
in seductive postures, some nudes, likely the wives of the rishis. Next to the
northern niche with Shiva are two smaller niches, one for Patanjali seated on
coiled serpent and another for bald headed Vyakrapada, the two mythical
Chidambaram saints.
The western wall also has a niche with a large Shiva
image in his Vrisabhantika form. Once again rishis are with him, this time
in worshipping posture. A few figures are dressed royally like
warriors and these may be representation of the Chola kings. The hall's center
is an open square, with an ornate inverted lotus ceiling
decoration. Around this lotus are 108 coffers, each with two human figures
in worshipping posture, all oriented to be along the north-south axis
likely to suggest the direction to performance artists who would perform live
and aligning themselves to the chit Sabha in the sanctum.
One other feature sets this edifice apart from any other
hall within the temple complex and from all other temple halls in India. This
Sabha is mysteriously connected to the Sphinx. Just under the floor surface of
the raised platform which is the body of the Sabha is a belt or pattika,
surrounding the whole Sabha. Here we see lions and sphinxes alternating in
pairs, girdling the Sabha. Also, the pillars of the two pavilions on the
western side of the Sabha are supported by four sphinxes which function as
caryatids. The Nritta Sabha is considered by tradition the second oldest
building in the complex, without any real indication of its age. It is reported
in inscriptions as having been renovated by the Chola King Kulottunga I in the
11th century.