Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram – Religious Significance

Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram – Religious Significance

Pancha Bhoota Sthalam:

Pancha Bhoota Sthalam refers to the five Shiva temples, each representing the manifestation of the five prime elements of nature - land, water, air, sky, fire. Pancha indicates five, Bhoota means elements and Stala means place. All these temples are located in South India with four of these temples at Tamil Nadu and one at Andhra Pradesh. The five elements are believed to be enshrined in the five lingams and each of the lingams representing Lord Shiva in the temple has five different names based on the elements they represent. In the temple, Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the form of sky.

The other four manifestations are;

·        Prithvi Lingam (representing land) at Ekambareswarar Temple

·        Appu Lingam (representing Water) at Thiruvanaikaval

·        Agni Lingam (representing fire) at Annamalaiyar Temple 

·        Vayu Lingam (representing air) at Srikalahasthi Temple

Aathara Sthalams:

Aathara Stala indicates the Shiva temples which are considered to be divine impersonification of Tantric chakras associated with human anatomy. Nataraja temple is called the Anthaga Sthalam associated with Anthagam - the third eye. There are 6 Aathara Sthalams in India. Out of 6, 4 temples are located in Tamil Nadu, one in Andhra Pradesh and one at Varanasi.

Aathara Sthalams are;

Tantric Chakra	Description	Temple	Location
Anthagam	Brain directly behind eyebrow	Natarajar Temple	Chidambaram
Visuthi	Neck region near spine	Kalahasteeswara Swami Temple	Kalahasthi
Anahata	Central channel behind spine	Kashi Vishwanath Temple	Varanasi
Manipooragam	Spine directly behind the navel	Arunachaleswarar Temple	Thiruvannamalai
Swathistanam	One's own abode	Thiruvanaikaval	Trichy
Moolatharam	Basal end of the spinal	Thyagaraja Swamy Temple	Tiruvarur

Pancha Sabhai:

Pancha Sabhai Sthalangal refers to the temples of Lord Nataraja, a form of Lord Shiva where he performed the Cosmic Dance. Pancha indicates Five, Sabhai means hall and Stala means place. All these temples are located in Tamil Nadu, India.

Thandavam (Dance)	Hall	Temple	Location
Kali Thandavam	Rathinachabai	Vada Aranyeswarar Temple	Thiruvalangadu
Ananda Thandavam	Porchabai	Natarajar Temple	Chidambaram
Sandhya Thandavam	Vellichabai	Meenakshi Amman Temple	Madurai
Muni Thandavam	Thamirachabai	Nellaiappar Temple	Tirunelveli
Tirupura Thandavam	Chithirachabai	Kutralanathar Temple	Courtallam

Pancha Puliyur Shrines:

There are five shrines believed to be worshipped by Sage Vyakrapada. They are called as Pancha Puliyur Shrines. Thillai Nataraja Temple is one among them. All these shrines are revered by the Tamil hymns of the Nayanmar Saints.

They are;

·        Omampuliyur

·        Perumpuliyur

·        Erukkattampuliyur

·        Thirupathiripuliyur

·        Perumpatrappuliyur (Chidambaram)

Patanjali and Vyagrapathar are also believed to have worshipped Shiva at Vilamar and Tirupunkur. There is also a shrine to Patanjali Naathar (Shiva) at Kaanaattumullur.

Parivara Devathas of Thiruvidaimarudur Mahalinga Swamy Temple:

According to another Hindu legend, Mahalinga Swamy at Thiruvidaimarudur is the centre of all Shiva temples in the region and the Saptha Vigraha moorthis (seven prime consorts in all Shiva temples) are located at seven cardinal points around the temple, located in various parts of the state. The seven deities are;

·        Nataraja in Thillai Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram, 

·        Chandikeswarar temple at Tirucheingalur, 

·        Vinayagar in Vellai Vinayagar Temple at Tiruvalanchuzhi, 

·        Muruga in Swamimalai Murugan Temple at Swamimalai, 

·        Bhairava in Sattainathar Temple at Sirkazhi, 

·        Navagraha in Suryanar Temple at Suryanar Kovil 

·        Dakshinamoorthy in Alangudi Apatsahayesvarar Temple,  Papanasam

Chidambara Rahasyam:

Chidambara Ragasiyam / Rahasyam (Tamil for "secret of Chidambaram") is a Hindu belief that there is a secret message conveyed through the embossed figure near the shrine of Shiva in Chidambaram Temple. Since ancient times, it is believed that this is the place where Lord Shiva and Parvathi are present, but are invisible to the naked eyes of normal people. In the Chidambaram temple of Lord Nataraja, Chidambara Ragasiyam is hidden by a curtain (Maya). Darshan of Chidambara Ragasiyam is possible only when priests open the curtain (or Maya) for special poojas. People who are privileged to have a darshan of Chidambara Ragasiyam can merely see golden Vilva leaves (Aegle Marmelos) signifying the presence of Lord Shiva and Parvathi in front of them.

It is also believed that devout saints can see the Gods in their physical form, but no such cases have been officially reported. The phrase Chidambara Ragasiyam really means something different. The phrase literally means a secret associated to Chidambaram - the place. Behind this is a real meaning to a secret. As described above there is a particular curtain kind of curtain which when removed enables us viewing the secret. The real significance of doing so is that, when the curtain which is Maya is removed one can see his real self.

And the seeing of oneself removing the curtain of Maya is viewing the secret. According to legend, Chidambara Ragasiyam will never be revealed as it is the secret relating to a particular person who sees it removing the screen of Maya. In the temple, when the poojas are performed and the screen is removed, one will be able to see the secret only when he applies this to his mind and soul.

Virat Hrudaya Padma Sthalam:

The temple is supposed to be located at the Lotus heart of the Universe (i.e. Virat Hrudaya Padma Sthalam.

Trinity in single Temple Complex:

The Trimurti or Trinity of Hinduism, Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer are all worshipped within one complex.

Kovil:

To Saivites, primarily in Tamil Nadu, the very word Kovil refers primarily to Chidambaram Thillai Natarajar.