Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram – Shrines
The temple complex has many shrines, most related to
Shaivism but elements of Vaishnavism and Shaktism are included. The innermost
structures such as the sanctum and the shrines all have square plans, but the gateways
do not align except the innermost two courtyards.
Sanctum:
For brief details, please refer below link;
Mother
Shrine:
For brief details, please refer below link;
Govinda
Raja Perumal Shrine:
For brief details, please refer below link;
Brahma
Shrine:
Within the inner courtyard, to the east of the Chit Sabha,
a small shrine houses the Idols of both the Creator god Brahma, of the Hindu
Trinity, and Chandikeshvara, a deified saint can be found. The presence of
Brahma (a deity almost never worshipped) establishes the worship of all three
deities of the Hindu Trinity with in one complex.
Thiru
Moola Nathar Shrine:
There is a shrine for the original Shivalingam
worshipped by Saints Patanjali and Vyagrapathar – called the Thiru Moola Nathar
and his consort Umaiyammai / Umaiya Parvathi in the Temple premises.
Pandya
Nayakan Shrine:
The Pandya Nayakan Shrine is dedicated to Murugan, the
second son of Lord Shiva and Parvati. This shrine is also shaped as a chariot,
pulled by horses and elephants. This temple was according to tradition build by
a king of the Pandya dynasty from Madurai, which superseded the rule of the
Cholas in the 13th century. His name was Sundarar Pandya, and the
temple is named after him.
Surya
Shrine:
The Nataraja temple has a pre-13th century Surya shrine. The image is unusual as it depicts a three
headed Surya same as Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu, with eight hands holding
iconographic items of these deities, along with two lotuses in a pair of hands
in front, accompanied by two small female figures possibly Usha and Pradyusha,
standing on a chariot drawn by seven horses and Aruna as charioteer.
Mukkuruni
Vinayagar Shrine:
The temple also has a significant shrine for Ganesha in the southwest corner.
63
Nayanmars Shrine:
There is also a shrine for the 63 prime devotees of Lord
Siva called Nayanmars inside the Temple premises.
Nalvar
Idols:
Each of the four most revered Saivite Saints (Appar,
Sundarar, Sambandar and Manikkavacakar) has worshipped at Chidambaram, and the
bulk of Manikkavasagar’s work is in praise of Shiva at Chidambaram.
Accordingly, their images are placed in the temple entrances corresponding to
their points of entry into the temple. (Sambandar - South, Appar - West,
Sundarar - North and Manikkavacakar - East).
Vyakrapada
& Patanjali Shrine:
Idols of the two great saints, Vyakrapada and Patanjali
can be found in the Ardhamandapam of the sanctum. They stand with their hands
folded, worshipping.
Kalpa
Vriksha Sculpture:
A Sculpture of the Kalpa Vriksha or Wishing Tree of
Paradise can be found on the western wall of the shrine.
Other
Shrines:
There are shrines for Navagrahas and Nine Lingams (Nava
Lingams) etc. can be found in the Temple premises.