Arudra Darshan Celebration Of Shiva’s Cosmic Dance

by Astro Ved Online Astrology Consultation

Arudhra Darisanam or Thiruvathira is a Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva. The occasion takes place majorly in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, is the most famous temple where the celebration happens on a grand level. People on the day celebrate the cosmic dance form of Lord Shiva, which is also called Nataraja. It is a belief that Chidambaram was the place where Shivs performed his cosmic dance for his devotees, including Sheshnag.

Every year, the event takes place in Margazhi Month as per the Tamil calendar on a full moon night. Thiruvathira or arudra darshan hence has a connection with Lord Moon.

Arudra Darisanam in Chidambaram

Ardra Darisanam is celebrated in five forms of Nataraja: Gold at Chidambaram, Silver at Madurai, Ruby at Tiruvalankadu, Copper at Tirunelveli, and in Pictures form at Kutralam.

In Thillai Chidambaram, the festivity goes on for ten straight days. The priest performs Maha Abhishekam on the 9th night. The Abhishekam is performed by Lord Nataraja and Goddess Sivakamasundari, which takes place around 3 am which goes on for three to four hours.

Once the Abishekam is performed, the Lord Nataraja is adorned with jewels like Alankaram and Rahasiya Puja. On the tenth day at 12 pm, Pancha Murthi Thiruveethi Ula is organized where devotees get a Darshan of Lord Nataraja and Goddess Sivakami.

Origin of the Festivity

The festivity happens during the Margazhi month as per the Tamil calendar. There is a full moon night which is also the longest night on which the celebration begins. There were several stone inscriptions that suggested the happening of this event dating back to more than 1500 years.

Hence following the inscriptions, the festivity still happens in Tamil states and wherever Tamil people live outside India. People take an early bath, and they visit the Shiva temples. A great flock of people also visit the temples in Chidambaram since this is the place where Lord Shiva performed the very cosmic dance for his devotees.

The temple authorities take the idols of Nataraja (Lord Shiva) and his consort Shivagami (Parvati) out to let the devotees get a glance at them. This is one of the Shiva events that people in Tamil Nadu don’t skip at any cost. A grand procession also happens in the temple premises holding the idols of the Lord and the Goddess.

Significance in Tamil Nadu

In Tamil Nadu, people observe fast in the daytime to get the blessings of Shiva. Women especially observe the fast and break it only after seeing the Moon in the night. Since the festivity here goes on for ten days, the fasting ends on Thiruvathirai day, and hence they last for ten days in total.

During the celebration, people prepare special foods such as Thiruvadhirai kali made of Rice, Jaggery, Moong dhal, Coconut, Cardamom, and Ghee with Thiruvathirai ezhlu curry koottu. People choose from vegetables like pumpkin, ash gourd), field beans, sweet potato, potato, eggplant, and more.

Shiva is taken out on a procession in his Nataraja form that represents the cosmic dance. In Chidambaram especially, the celebration is a must and is conducted on a grand level since this is the origin place where Shiva performed the cosmic dance. Lord Shiva gets adorned with several precious stones such as diamonds, coral, pearls, jade and emerald, and more.

Significance in Kerala

Kerala people celebrate the day to celebrate the union of Lord Shiva and Paravati. According to them, this was the day when the two of them met and became one. Goddess Parvati performed a difficult and long penance to get Lord Shiva as her consort. Lord Shiva seeing the long penance of Parvati, accepted her as his partner.

Thus on the day, the devotees are presented with the Ardhanarishvara avatar, which is half male, half female, and hence the form of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

As per another belief, the festivity also marks the death of the erotic God Kamadeva. Women also perform a dance called “Thiruvathirakali.” They also tell the tale of Parvati and how she was infatuated and devoted to getting Lord Shiva as his husband.

This year the celebration will happen on 20th December 2021. Visit the temple of Lord Shiva and get sanctified with his blessings.