Dance of Creation and Destruction!!

DANCE... that drives the soul to reach enlightenment!!

Chidambaresa meesam Namaami!!

Have you ever thought about why Shiva is being called as Nataraja, The Lord of Dance. It's not actually a simple or normal Dance. It's the indication of life cycle.

In 2004, a 2m statue of the dancing Shiva was unveiled at CERN, the European Center for Research in Particle Physics in Geneva. The statue, symbolizing Shiva's cosmic dance of creation and destruction, was given to CERN by the Indian government to celebrate the research center's long association with India. A special plaque next to the Shiva statue explains the significance of the metaphor of Shiva's cosmic dance with quotations from Fritjof Capra:

Hundreds of years ago, Indian artists created visual images of dancing Shivas in a beautiful series of bronzes. In our time, physicists have used the most advanced technology to portray the patterns of the cosmic dance. The metaphor of the cosmic dance thus unifies ancient mythology, religious art and modern physics.

Let me explain you about the iconography of  Nataraja. As the Lord of Dance, Nataraja, Shiva performs the Ananda Tandava (dance of bliss), the dance in which the universe is created, maintained, and dissolved.

NATA RAAJA - Lord of Dance

The symbolism in the art has been variously interpreted by scholars since the Chola empire era. He dances within an circular or cyclically closed arch of flames (Prabha Mandala), which symbolically represent the cosmic fire that in Hindu cosmology creates everything and consumes everything, in cyclic existence or cycle of life.

His long matted hair locks are shown to be loose and flying out in thin strands during the dance, which are representing the sins that are done by each and every living thing. We can say hardships and problems always be there in our lives from which we cannot get rid off. River Ganges personified as a goddess, from the Hindu mythology where the danger of mighty river is creatively tied up into a calm river for regeneration of life is shown flowing from his matted hair locks, which represents Hope that should be with us always to overcome the problems in our way.

The upper right hand holds a small drum - shaped like an hourglass that is called a DAMARU in Sanskrit. It symbolizes rhythm and time. We all know Bing Bang Theory, this Universe is being created from Sound. The same is depicted here, sound that comes from his Damaru indicates SHRUSHTI. People believes OMKARA (PRANAVA NAADA) has emerged from his DAMARU from which eventually this Universe has been created.

The upper left hand contains Agni or fire, which signifies forces of creation and destruction, the concept of LAYA. The opposing concepts show the counterpoise nature of life. A cobra uncoils from his lower right fore arm, while his palm shows the Abhaya mudra (meaning fearlessness in Sanskrit), suggesting not to fear nearby evil. Endless Whishes and Countless interests in this physical world are depicted as cobras on him. Abhaya Hastha also indicates ANUGRAHA to be enlightened.

The second left hand points towards the raised foot which is a sign of upliftment and liberation, indicating THIRODHANAM. We all know SHIVA's left part is PARVATHI (Prakruti, The Nature). In the cycle of Life, Energy/Shakti always moves from one to another. To indicate the same, his Left Leg was lift up and bent towards his Right.

He stands majestically on his Right Leg, which indicates STHITHI, the neutral behavior to be strong enough for enlightenment. The face shows two eyes plus a slightly open third on the forehead. The eyes represent the sun, the moon and the third has been interpreted as inner eye, or symbol of knowledge (Gnana), urging the viewer to seek the inner wisdom, self realization. The three eyes alternatively symbolize an equilibrium of three GUNA: Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.

The dwarf on which Nataraja dances is the demon Apasmara purusha, which symbolizes action and dance leads to victory over ignorance. The slightly smiling face of Shiva represents his calmness despite being immersed in the contrasting forces of universe and his energetic dance.

CHIT AMBARAM

Chidambaram is a town and municipality in Cuddalore district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The town is known for the Thillai Nataraja Temple. The traditional name of the temple complex, Chidambaram Tillai Nataraja-koothan Kovil. The mangrove forests houses the ancient Tillai trees (Exocoeria agallocha) surrounding the shrine. The shrine is venerated as Tillai ambalam literally meaning the open stage of Tillai. The name of the town of this shrine, Chidambaram comes from the Tamil word Chitrambalam (also spelled Chithambalam) meaning "small hall/stage". citt or chitthu means consciousness or wisdom while and ambalam denotes the stage.

As per Hindu legend, In the Thillai forests resided a group of sages who believed in the supremacy of magic and that god can be controlled by rituals and mantras. Shiva wanted to test the sages and strolled in the forest with assuming the form of Bhikshatana, a simple mendicant seeking alms. He was followed by his consort, Vishnu as Mohini. The sages and their wives were enchanted by the beauty of the pair. On seeing their womenfolk enchanted, the sages got enraged and invoked scores of serpents (nāgas) by performing rituals. Shiva lifted the serpents and donned them as ornaments on his matted locks, neck and waist. Further enraged, the sages invoked a fierce tiger, whose skins and dons were used by Shiva as a shawl around his waist. Then followed a fierce elephant, which was devoured and ripped to death by Shiva (the sequence derived the name Gajasamharamurthy to Shiva). The sages gathered all their spiritual strength and invoked a powerful demon Apasmara (Muyalakan in Tamil) - a symbol of complete arrogance and ignorance. Shiva wore a gentle smile, stepped on the demon's back, immobilized him and performed the Ánanda Tandava (the dance of eternal bliss) and disclosed his true form. The sages surrendered and understood the ultimate realization that god cannot be controlled by the rituals.

The temple complex is spread over an area of 40 acres in the heart of the city. The main complex is dedicated to Shiva as Nataraja and the complex contains shrines to deities such as Shivakama sundari (Shiva's consort Parvati), Ganesha, Kartikeya and Vishnu in the form Govindaraja Perumal. The temple's earliest structures were designed and erected by ancient craftsmen called Perumtaccan. The golden tiled roof for the Chit Ambalam (the vimanam) was laid by the Chola Kings.

Aakaasa Lingam - CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM

Pancha Bhoota Stalam refers to the five Shiva temples, each representing the manifestation of the five prime elements of nature - land, water, air, sky, fire. Pancha indicates five, Bhoota means elements and Stala means place. All these temples are located in South India with four of these temples in Tamil Nadu and one is in Andhra Pradesh. The five elements are believed to be enshrined in the five lingams and each of the lingams representing Shiva in the temple have five different names based on the elements they represent.  In the Chidambaram temple, Shiva is said to have manifested himself in the form of sky. The other four manifestations are Prithivi Lingam (representing land) at Ekambareswara Temple, Kaanchipuram; Jala Lingam (representing Water) at Thiruvanaikaval, Jambukeswaram; Agni Lingam (representing fire) at Arunachaleswara Temple, Thiruvannamalai and Vayu Lingam (representing air) at Srikaalahastheeswara Temple, SriKalahasthi.

Chidambara Rahasyam ("the secret of Chidambaram") is a Hindu belief that there is a secret message conveyed through the embossed figure near the shrine of Shiva in the Chidambaram Temple. Since ancient times, it is believed that this is the place where Shiva and his consort Parvati are present, but invisible to most people. In the temple, Chidambara Rahasya is hidden behind a curtain (symbolic of Maya). Worship, or darshan is possible only when priests open the curtain for special pujas. Behind the curtain are golden and silver BILVA leaves, signifying the presence of Shiva and Parvati. It is believed that saints can see the gods in their physical form. Among scholars and saints, the phrase "Chidambara Rahasya" has a more profound philosophical interpretation. The curtain unveils empty space. Emptiness is the truth being conveyed and Shiva Himself manifests Shakti in the form of conscious Emptiness, which bears this entire creation. To realize this thought, one has to unveil the "curtain of maya". We are often encapsulated in our world of illusion and are obscured to the absolute
reality. According to legend, "Chidambara Rahasya" will never be revealed as it is the secret relating to an individual and it is left to them to realize its true meaning.

Pancha Sabha - Five Halls of Dance

Pancha Sabhai refers to the five places where Lord Shiva is said to have displayed His cosmic dance and all these places have stages or ambalams, also known as Sabhai.Apart from Chidambaram which has the Ponna Ambalam - KANAKA SABHA - the Golden Hall, the others are the Rathna Ambalam - RATHNA SABHA - the Jeweled Hall at Thiruvaalangadu (Rathnam – ruby), the Chitra Ambalam - CHITRA SABHA - the Painted Hall at Thirukutralam (Chitra – Painting), the Velli Ambalam - RAJATA SABHA - the Silver Hall at Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple (velli – Rajata - silver)
and the Thamira Ambalam - THAAMRA SABHA - the Copper Hall at Nellaiappar Temple, Tirunelveli (Thaamiram - Taamra – copper).

Sivakaama sundari sameta Nataraja

Lord Shiva is being worshipped as Aruparupa (Formless form) - A Linga, whereas here one can see him as a majestic dancer. The main sanctum is divided into 3 rooms, first one accommodates Chidambara Rahasya/Shape less Aakaasa Linga, second one holds a golden statue of Nataraja and
third contains his consort Sivakama sundari (Parvati as a newly wedded Bride form). Every hindu temple holds Utsava Moorthies for ceremonial pujas, whereas in Chidambaram, Moola Moorthies are being taken out. Which is unique and the entire temple contains many Dance poises of Natya Shastra. Every year Natyanjali (worship through Dance) is celebrated at this temple and many artists from all over the world visits this place to pay their respects to the Lord of Dance - Nataraja.

The Dance Battle - Urdhva Tandava Moorthy

It is also believed, When SHIVA as MAHA KAALA and Parvati as MAHA KAALI are compete with each other in DANCE at this place. In course of dance battle, Shiva's ear ring has fallen off, which was noticed by Parvati and indicates him without stopping her moves. Shiva in turn picks up his ear ring with his right leg and lifted his leg up to keep his ear ring in place. Surprised Parvati declares him as Winner because of his act, Urdhva Tandava. The entire episode was witnessed by Maharshi Patanjali (Manifested Aadi Shesha, A celestial serpent on which Lord Vishnu rests in Vaikunta) and Maharshi Vyagra paada (A devotee of Shiva who was blessed with Tiger Foot to collect flowers - untouched even by Bees/Insects early in the morning for Shiva's worship).

May the Lord of Dance brings harmony to this world!!