Chidambaram

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Chidambaram is one of the most ancient and most celebrated of shrines in India. It is of great religious as well as historic and cultural significance. Chidambaram is associated with Nataraja, or Shiva in his Ananda Tandava pose (the Cosmic Dance of bliss) in the cosmic golden hall and the hall of consciousness (Chit Sabha). The word "Koyil" or temple in the Tamil Saivaite tradition refers to none other than the Chidambaram Nataraja temple.

Chidambaram is one of the Panchabhoota Stalams signifying the five elements of wind (Kalahasti), water (Tiruvanaikka), fire (Tiruvannamalai), earth (Kanchipuram) and space (Chidambaram).

Four most revered Saivaite Saints (Appar, Sundarar, Sambandar and Manikkavachakar) have worshipped at Chidambaram, and the bulk of Manikkavachakar's work is in praise of Shiva at Chidambaram. Accordingly, their images are placed in the temple entrances corresponding to their points of entry into the temple. (Sambandar - South, Appar - West, Sundarar - North and Manikkavachakar - East).

Other attractions in Chidambaram

The Nataraja Temple is about 43 km from Cuddalore and 45 km from Neyveli. The temple is located in the center of Chidambaram town and covers an area of 40 acres. The roof of the sanctum sanctorum is covered with gold plates. The presiding deity of the temple is represented by air, one of the five elements of the universe and is known as Akasa Lingam. This is the temple of the Cosmic Dancer, where the presiding deity is called Nataraja. This temple has five halls, of which two-the Kanaka Sabha and the Chit Sabha-have gold-plated roofs. The main icon of Nataraja is in the Kanaka Sabha. One of the significant aspects of the temple is that there is no image of god in the Chit Sabha, which houses the Akasa lingam. This to signify that God exists in vacant space too. The Nritta Sabha or the Hall of Dance is the most beautiful and remarkable of the five halls, built in the form of a chariot on wheels drawn by horses. There are 56 pillars in the hall depicting the 108 poses of Bharat Natyam, the classical dance of Tamilnadu.

How to reach Chidambaram

BY AIR: The nearest airports are Tiruchirapalli (195 km) and Chennai (245 km). From Tiruchirapalli, Indian Airlines flights can be taken to Chennai (Madras). Chennai is connected to all the major cities in India and abroad through regular flights.

BY RAIL: Chidambaram is situated on the Madras-Tiruchirapalli main line of the Southern Railway. It is connected with Tiruchirapalli, Madras, Madurai (335 km), Rameswaram (575 km), Bangalore (340 km), and Tirupati (290 km).

BY ROAD: Frequent bus services are available to various places in Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Pondicherry states from Chidambaram. There are non-stop bus services and express bus services to major cities like Chennai.

LOCAL TRANSPORT: For local transportation, taxis and auto rickshaws are available without meter. Other modes of transport are bus, and cycle rickshaw. Bullock carts for hire are a specialty.