Top Ten Unknown Facts About Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram

Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, also known as ‘Swamy Nataraja Temple’ or ‘Thillai Nataraja Temple’, is built on 50 acres of land, situated in a small place Chidambaram in Cuddalore District in Tamil Nadu. This famous temple was built in the 10th Century AD by Chola Kings and was significantly maintained by many other dynasties such as Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas, etc. It is one of the five holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. In this temple, Lord Shiva has been portrayed as the Lord of the dance Bharatanatyam. His cosmic dance form represents the motion of the universe as sustained by Lord Shiva. 

Chidambaram is made up of two words, i.e. ‘Chit’ meaning ‘consciousness’ and ‘ambaram’ meaning ‘sky,’ i.e. a stage signifying consciousness of a higher level, which one should try attaining in life. Interestingly, this temple follows both Vedic and Tamil versions of worship.

Ten Top unknown facts about the Nataraja temple are given herein below :

1. The Swamy Nataraja Temple is located on the equator at the centre of the world. It is believed that Lord Nataraja's big toe is the Centre Point of the World's Magnetic Equator. Its located at 11-degree latitude, which specifies that centrifugal force is directed upward towards Sky. 

2. Of the “Pancha Bhootha Sthalams’, Chidambaram Temple represents the Sky, whereas Sri Kalahasthi represents Wind and Kanchi Ekambareswar denotes Earth. All these three temples are situated in a straight line at a Longitude of 79 degrees & 41 minutes. 

3. The temple being a pre-cholan architecture is believed to be conceived by the great Yoga saint Patanjali in 200 BC. The temple meditating room has a roof consisting of 21600 gold sheets, representing the number of breaths taken by a human every day. These gold sheets are connected using 72000 gold nails representing as many nerves in a human body. The temple has 9 Kalasas on the Golden Roof, representing the 9 types of Shaktis. 4 pillars holding the Kanagasabha represent the 4 Vedas, and the 6 pillars at the Artha Mandapam represent the 6 types of Shastras. According to Hindu Mythology, the 18 pillars in the adjacent Mandapam represents 18 Puranas. 

4. The bejewelled brass Nataraja statue, along with a large Image, is one of the unique features of the temple. Here Lord Shiva is portrayed as the Lord of the dance Bharatanatyam. Interestingly out of several shiva temples around the world, only this one represents lord Shiva's dancing Idol rather than the classic, anionic Lingam. 

5. In this temple, Lord Shiva is depicted in three forms. (i) The “Tangible form” – where Lord Shiva has an appearance of Lord Nataraja, called the Sakala Thirumeni. (2) The other is the “Half-form” – representing as the Crystal linga of Chandramouleswarar, the Sakala Nishkala Thirumeni and (iii) the “formless” – as the Space in Chidambara Rahasyam, an empty space within the sanctum sanctorum, the Nishkala Thirumeni.

6. The temple is believed to be located at the Lotus heart of the universe. This place where Lord Shiva performed the Anand Tandava dance is considered to be an ideal place for the same. 

7. The temple has a tank located opposite the Shivgami Amman temple and has an intricate underground water source untraceable. The water is believed to be coming from an invisible stream of Ganga directly from Sky.

8. Shivgami Amman Temple is believed to be the oldest Devi temple in South India. The devotees have a firm belief that the idol changes its appearance during the day, and Devi mesmerizes everyone with her smile. This temple is the place where Devi gave her darshan to Shuk Brahma Maharishi, the son of Vyasa and the great guru of Adi Shankaracharya, in her divine form and presented him Shree Yantra, which is today installed in the premises of this very beautiful temple. 

9. On the ceilings of the Thilai Nataraja temple, there are 1000-year-old dye paintings. These paintings, along with the Nataraja statue, narrate the various stories related to the temple and tell about the sages who attained moksha. 

10.  It is believed that Chidambaram Temple is a place where Lord Shiva and Parvathi are present even today but are invisible to humans. Here Chidambara Ragasiyam is hidden by a curtain, and he can be viewed only when the holy priests offer special pooja & opens the curtain. Furthermore, it's a widespread belief that those who are fortunate to see Chidambara Ragasiyam can apparently view golden vilva leaves, which signify the presence of Lord Shiva and Parvathi there.

The original deity of the temple is a swayambhu lingam called Thirumoola Nathar, which was self-formed. In the temple, Thirumoolanthar is considered the original deity, whereas the Nataraja is considered the presiding deity. Nevertheless, as per my experience; lord shiva is present everywhere & one should meditate in front of the Nataraja idol every day to add energy to their lives.