Five Important Nataraja Shrines of Tamil Nadu Essay

There are lots of synagogues in Tamil Nadu where Siva is idolise as Nataraja. skipper Siva, as the god of dance is known as Nataraja. There are lots of temples in India and especi bothy in Tamil Nadu where Siva is hero-worship as Nataraja. further, there are mainly 5 places in Tamil Nadu where the cult of Nataraja is worshipped with gaiety and pomp. The dance graven characterization Nataraja send packing be seen in these Pancha sabbas or fiver h anys of Tamil Nadu. The five temples Chidhambaram, Maduarai, Thiruvilankadu, Tirunelveli and Kutralam, are very revered and is known as the five sabhas. It is utter superior shivah has danced at these five places as Nataraja the dancing skeletal frame of Shiva, to benefit different yellowish browns.Kanaka SabhaThe most important shut in for Nataraja is the Kanaka Sabha or sumptuous hall at Chidambaram. The Nataraja dances here in the Ananda Tandava or the dance of bliss form and he is called Kanaka Sabhapati or the Lord of the Golden Hall. This temple has been birdcall in a lot of Dhevaram and Thiruvasakam. Here Lord Shiva is worshipped in all the three forms, namely, arupa which is called chitambara rahasyam, aruparupa shiva lingam and rupa nataraja. Nataraja was the favourite deity of the Chola kings of Tanjavur and thus they kept idol of Nataraja in all the Siva temples built by them in various places in their empire in Tamil Nadu and all over in South India. Chidambaram marks an important stage of ontogenesis of southern Indian architecture.Rajatha SabhaRajatha Sabha or silver hall (velli ambalam) at the Minakshi Sundareshwarar temple in Madurai is another important Natarja shrine of Tamil Nadu. Nataraja is shown in a very rare mystify here. He is shown his undecomposed leg elevated and dancing on the dwarf (apasmara purusha) with his left foot. Both the main image of stone (moolavar) and the processional image (utsava murti) in this shrine are in unusual behave. The usual posture of Na taraja is dancing with his right leg lay on the dwarf with his left leg upraised. The change in posture of Nataraja here is linked with the legend (sthala-purana) of this place. It is said that the Pandyan king of Madurai was a devotee of Nataraja and under pressure from a rival Chola king, tried to master dance. But while trying to do so, he realised the difficulty of the task.He was filled with agony to see his favourite deity dancing with his right foot always as he did feel while doing himself. So, he prayed Lord Nataraja to change his posture so that he does not discover tired in a same posture. The Lord listened to his request and changed his posture. So, Nataraja is seen dancing on his left foot here. One of the five important shrines of Nataraja can be seen at Madurai in Tamil Nadu. Here the dancing posture of Ambalavanan (Lord Siva) with ten hands can be seen only in the Velli ambalam at Madurai. Here the dance performed by Nataraja is known as Paramananda Thandavam and similarly as Chokka Thandavam. It is also known as Sundara Tandavam.Tamra SabhaAnother important Nataraja shrine of Tamil Nadu is situated at the Nellaiappar temple in Tirunelveli. The Tamra Sabha or the hall of grunter is found here in the vast campus. Here the icon of Lord Siva is made of Bronze and is encircled by a prabha or aura of very attractive workmanship. It is said that the Nataraja image here was originally in the temple of Agnishwaram. Once a fire out broke here and then it was kept on the bed of a river. Later, it was brought to the Nellaiappar temple and worshipped here.Ratna SabhaThe Ratna Sabha or the hall of rubies in Tiruvalangadu is another important Nataraja shrine of Tamil Nadu. It takes approximately two hours from Chennai by road to reach Tiruvalangadu. The Lord here is called Ratna Sabhapati or the Lord of the Hall of rubies. There is a unreal story related to this place and the shrine. It is said that once Siva and glasswort had a dance contest. At tha t time glasswort was in a very angry mood and could not be pacified easily. Initially, Kali gave a better performance than Siva.But, later Nataraja (Siva) performed the Tandava dance also known as the Chanda (terrific) tandava and lifted his leg up above his head. Then, Kali out of backlog accepted her defeat. Lord Nataraja won the contest but he also declared that Kali was second to none than himself in dance. There is a very stunning metal image of eight-armed Siva dancing in the Urdlwa Tandava can be seen in this temple. There is also a small(a) shrine nearby and there is another metal image of Kali who is also eight-armed can be seen.Chitra SabhaThe last among the five Nataraja shrines in Tamil Nadu is situated at Kuttralam. The Chitra Sabha or the hall of paintings is found here in Kuttralam, which is famous for its waterwaterfall. Here the lord Siva is known as the Kuttralanathan. But, all the rituals conducted here are first offered for Nataraja and then for Kuttralanathan . Here, Nataraja is known as Ananda Nata-rajeshwarar or the God of Blissful Dance. Kuttralam has nine Water Falls 1. Main move 2. Chitaruvi 3.Shenpagadevi falls 4. Thenaruvi 5. Five falls 6. Orchard falls 7. New falls 8. Tiger falls 9.Old Courtallam falls. Legends on Chitrasabhai goes like The wedding of Shiva and Parvathi attracted huge celestial crowd at Himalaya that Shiva requested angel Agastyar to proced southwards to balance the earth, and Agastyar is said to have created the Shivalingam here by fall an image of Vishnu, hence the name Kutralam. The Chitra Sabha is located outside the areas of the main temple. It is in reality a huge hall built in a true Kerala style. A huge painting of Nataraja in Tanjavur style can be seen here.