This is the Eastern gopuram of Chidambaram Nataraja temple. The Nataraja temple in Chidambaram has many unique features and stands out among all the Shiva temples.
In Shaivism, "koil" amounts to only Chidambaram Nataraja sanctuary.
♦️ This is one among the "Pancha Bhootha" sthalas. It represents space or ether. This is the Akasha shethram. From Akasha individually the Pancha bhoothams exude. The others being Vayu - Kalahasthi, Agni - Thiruvannamalai, jal - Thiruvanaikka and Prithvi - Kanchipuram .
♦️ This is one of five" Puliyurs" ie.Perumpattra Puliyur venerated by sage Vyagrapadhar. The other four are Omamapuliyur, Kalnattampuliyur, Thirupadhiripuliyur and Erukatham Puliyur. Sage Vyagrapadhar had the feet of tiger and consequently called as " Pulikal munivar " in Tamil and "Vyagrapadhar" in Sanskrit and the spots had the addition Pulyur.♦️
♦️ Among the Pancha Sabhai sthalams of Nataraja , Chidambaram has the Kanakasabai or the brilliant Hall. The rest are thamira sabha - Thirunelveli, Chithra sabha - Thirukuttralam, Madurai - Rajath Sabha and Thiruvalangadu - Rathna Sabha.
♦️ Among the Athara sthalams Chidambaram represents the Anahata Chakra or the heart Chakra among the seven sthalams demonstrating the seven Chakras. The Mooladhara chakra is Thiruvarur, Swadishtana chakra is Thiruvanaikka, Manipuraha Chakram is Thiruvannamalai ,Anahata chakra is Chidambaram, Visuddhi Chakra is Kalahasthi, Agna Chakra is Varanasi and shasrahara Chakra is Kailash Parbhat. Chidambaram is in the center associating the lower Chakras with the higher Cakras.
♦️ This Chidambaram sanctuary has been sung by the saivite holy people Appar, Thirugnana sambandhar, Sundarar and Manikavasagar. The initial three being the creator of the accepted writing "Devaram".
Manikkavasagar is the creator of "Thiruvasagam".
♦️ Though innumerable number of holy people are associated with this sanctuary few stand apart as a result of the way that they got one with Nataraja. They entered the sanctum in their human structure and transformed into light and joined with Him. Manikkavasagar, Nandanar and Appaya Deekshidhar are the ones who got one with Nataraja.
♦️ Nataraja of Chidambaram was the nominal divinity of the Cholas. The Cholas had a solid association with this sanctuary. They have given widely to this sanctuary and improved the hallowed places and added new structures.
♦️ Adithya Chola l was the person who began crafted by laying the brilliant rooftop for the sanctum of Nataraja. It was finished by Parantaka Chola l and he called himself as the " Pon veindha Perumal" in his engravings.
♦️ The palm leaf compositions of "Devaram" was with the "Thillai Deekshidhars", the sanctuary clerics for safety's sake . It was by the endeavors of Rajaraja Chola l, Devaram original copies were recovered and arranged by Nambi Andan Nambi. There are no engravings expressing this reality except for there's abstract notice by Umapathy Sivam.
♦️ This sanctuary was where Sekkizhar got the primary word from as a matter of fact Nataraja himself. After his incredible work of "Periya Puranam" was finished, it was initiated in this sanctuary within the sight of the Chola King Kulothunga ll.
♦️ The Vijayanagar King Krishnadeva Raya was the person who finished the Northern Gopuram of this sanctuary. His sculpture can be found in a niche in this pinnacle. Tamilnadu owes an incredible obligation to the leaders of the Vijayanagar who shut down the Muslim onslaught.More than that the Vijayanagar leaders of the various lines contributed hugely towards revamping the numerous sanctuaries harmed by the Muslim attacks.
♦️ This Nataraja sanctuary has been the focal point of all the significant political,religious, social and financial exercises during the most recent thousand years.
♦️ This sanctuary with such an extensive amount strict profound and scholarly significance keeps on pulling in the aficionados just as admirers of legacy, engineering and model.
