 Dedicated to Lord Nataraja, this ancient temple of the Cholas is unique as it is one of the rare temples where Shiva is represented by an idol rather than the customary lingam. The 22 hectare complex has four gopurams (spires) with finely sculptured icons depicting Hindu myths facing each of the cardinal directions. The temple is renowned for its Chola artistry and has since been patronized by numerous dynasties. The eastern and western gopurams depict 108 Bharatnatyam dance poses. The icon in the inner sanctum is a stunning piece of sculpture that evokes a sense of continuous movement. Though non-Hindus are not allowed inside the sanctum, replicas of this idol are easily available in most handicraft emporia and shops. The other notable features of the temple are the 1000-pillared hall, the Shivaganga tank and several other shrines in the temple courtyard. A shrine to Govindaraja or Lord Vishnu lies adjacent to the main shrine and has a beautiful idol of the lord reclining on Adisesha, the serpent. Of the many festivals that are held here the two largest are the 10-day Car festivals which are celebrated in April/May and December/January. The Natyanjali Dance Festival is held every here February and it attracts performers from all over the country. |
This famous pilgrim centre is known for its Nataraja (Shiva as the Cosmic Dancer) Temple. It was a Chola capital from 907 to 1310 AD and the Nataraja Temple was erected during the later time of the administration. This small town is developed around the temple. Chidambaram is also known as Thillai, since the place was originally a forest of Thillai (Excecaria agallecha) shrubs. Traditionally, Chidambaram has also been a leading centre of Tamil scholarship.
