Chidambaram is perhaps the only place where Lord Shiva is worshiped in the form of Nataraja rather than the usual shiva linga.
Since most of the posters have covered on the major aspects of Nataraja, let me add a few details on the legends of the holiest of Shiva shrine in South India- Chidamabram - also known as Tillai in Tamil.
Chidambaram has a towering presence in Tamil Puranic Literature. There is hardly a saint or musician who has not stood in front of the deity at Chidambram and sung His glory.
Lord Shiva is considered as the embodiment of the five elements- air, fire, water, earth and space.
There are five specific temples scattered in South India where He is worshiped as the manifestation of a particular element. For instance- in Kanchipuram Shiva is worshiped as the element Earth, in Arunachala He is worshiped as the representative of the Fire Element.
In Chidambaram, Lord Shiva represents the element Space (Akasha). Effectively, it represents the space in our hearts. Hence the name - Chit (heart) + Ambaram (space)
Apart from Sivaratri, the other major festival at Chidambaram is the Arudra Darisanam- celebrated when the star Arudra is in Dhanur Rashi (Dec- Jan). With thousands of fully bloomed lotuses being offered to Nataraja, it is a sight to be seen.
Nataraja's consort here is Sivakama Sundari
Chidambaram was the karma-yoga bhoomi for two great sages - Patanjali and Vyagrapada.
Edited by varaali - 11 years ago
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