NATARAJA TEMPLE
Nataraja Temple, also referred to as the Chidambaram Nataraja temple or Thillai Nataraja temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Nataraja – Shiva as the lord of dance – in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India.[1][3][4] The temple has mythical roots and a Shiva shrine existed at the site when the town was known as Thillai.
Location
The Nataraja temple in Chidambaram is located in the southeastern Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is about 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of the Kollidam River (Kaveri), 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) west from the coast of Bay of Bengal, and 220 kilometres (140 mi) south of Chennai. The closest major airport is about 60 kilometres (37 mi) north in Pondicherry (IATA: PNY). The National Highway 32 (old numbering: NH-45A) passes through Chidambaram.
History
The Nataraja temple has ancient roots, likely following the temple architecture tradition that is found all over South India from at least the 5th-century. Textual evidence, such as those of the Sangam tradition, suggest a temple existed here along with Madurai in ancient times,[22] but the town is not named Chidambaram in these pre-5th century texts.[23] The earliest mention of "dancing god of Chidambaram" as Shiva is found in 6th and early 7th century texts by Appar and Sambadar.
Architecture
The temple is spread over an 40 acres (16 ha) area, within layers of concentric courtyards. The inner sanctum, its connecting mandapams and pillared halls near it are all either squares or stacked squares or both. The complex has nine gopurams, several water storage structures of which the Shivaganga sacred pool is the largest with a rectangular plan. The temple complex is dedicated to Nataraja Shiva and theological ideas associated with Shaivism concepts in Hinduism.
Festivals
A whole year for men is said to be a single day for the gods. Just as six poojas are performed in a day at the sanctum sanctorum, six anointing ceremonies are performed for the principal deity - Nataraja in a year. They are the Marghazhi Thiruvaadhirai (in December - January ) indicating the first puja, the fourteenth day after the new moon (chaturdasi) of the month of Masi (February - March) indicating the second pooja, the Chittirai Thiruvonam (in April- May).
www.tmpooja online shopping.com
Our Other Topics:
No comments:
Post a Comment