Nataraja

Thillai Nataraja Temple
Chidabaram, Tamil Nadu, India

Akasha - ether

In the Thillai Nataraja Temple
Lord Shiva takes the form of Akasha - ether
- the most sacred of the five elements, everything in nature comprises of according to Hindu philosophy.

The holy city of Chidambaram is the place where Shiva is believed to have performed his cosmic dance, the Tandava Nritya. The Nataraja Temple is build around the spot where the dance is supposed to have taken place. In this city and especially in the Nataraja Temple, history merges with mythology and all ancient Hindu beliefs and practises are observed here through an endles cycle of rites and rituals.

The name of the city is derived from the innermost enclosure in the temple complex, the Chit Sabha or Chitambalam the "Hall of Bliss".
This temple has a unique collection of schulptures, the finest being the Urdhava Tandava.

In the inner sanctum containing the Akasha Linga is hidden behind a black curtain, symbolizing ignorance. The curtain is only removed during prayer time. This veiled sanctum has a aura of mystery and is often called "The Sacred Secret of Chidambaram".

The Dikshitars
Religious traditions in the temple are preserved by a group of hereditary priests, whose ancestors came to Chidambaram 3.000 years ago They are easily recognized by theis top-knots.

The gold-plated roof

The unusual hut-like gold-plated roof of the main sanctum santorum in the Nataraja Temple,
where the most revered dancing Shiva is installed behind a black curtain.

The Five elemental Shiva Temples
in South-East India

Abroad it is less known to the public that 5 magnificent Shiva temples dedicated to the 5 natural elements: ether (Akasha), air (Vayu), fire (Thejo), water (Jala) & earth (Pridhvi), is situated arround Chennai in the eastern part of South India:
The southernmost temple in Tiruvannaikaival, near Tiruchirapalli is apx. 350 km from Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu. From south going north the other Panch Bhoota Sthalams can be found in: Chidambaram, Tiruvannamalai, Kanchipuram and barely 100km north-west of Chennai in Andhra Pradesh the Sri Kalahasti Temple is situated.

The five natural elements - the "Pancha Bhootas" is a central and most important concept in Indian philosophy and tradition. In Hindu faith it is beleived that these five essential elements created man and the universe.

Lord Shiva, one of the three main Gods in the Hindu Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, is represented in these temples as the embodiment of these five elements.

In the Ekambareswara Temple the Shiva Linga is made of earth.
In Jambukeswara Temple Lord Shiva takes the form of water and the Linga here is immersed in water.
In the Arunachaleswara Temple Shiva takes form as fire.
In the Kaahateeswara Temple Shiva is representing wind or air.
Last, but not least in the Nataraja Temple Lord Shiva takes the form of ether, the most sacred of the five elements.

The Vedic rituals performed in the numerous Hindu temples all over India has been worshipping the Gods using the natural elements in every ritual performed since time immemorial.

Acess for foreigners or non-hindus
These days it is difficult to enter into the Sanctum Sanctorum to see the Shiva Lingam and thereby get the darshan of Lord Shiva. The atmosphere in these magnificent temples is soothing to the heart and just visiting the temple compound itself is a divine experience.
No photos exists of the Shiva idols inside, only paitings are allowed.

The 5 Shiva temples are as follows:

Sri Ekambeswara Swamy Temple, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu - representing the earth element
Sri Jambukareswara Swamy Temple, Thiruvanaikaival, Tamil Nadu - representing the water element
Sri Arunachaleswara Swamy Temple, Thiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu - representing the fire element
Sri Kalahasteeswara Swamy Temple, Sri Kalahasti, Tamil Nadu - representing the wind element
Sri Nataraja Swamy Temple, Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu - representing the ether (Akasha) element

Arriving at the Nataraja Temple

The Nataraja Temple main gate seen from the street