Chidambaram: Home of NatarajaVivek Nanda, George Michell Among Tamil Nadu's innumerable temples, the one at Chidambaram occupies a unique place as the home of Nataraja, the dancer form of Shiva. This is now one of the most celebrated images of any Hindu deity, renowned throughout India and all over the world. The story of the dance competition that took place in the Golden Hall, or Chit Sabha, at Chidambaram underscores the iconography of Nataraja and the architectural configuration of the temple itself. Both the image and temple of Nataraja took on their distinctive forms under the Chola kings in the 9th-12th centuries, though the story of the dance competition is much older. It is the interrelationship of legend, history, art, and architecture at Chidambaram that is explored by various writers in this book. Also included is a visual8185026726 |
Contents
A Ritual Topography | 7 |
Bharath Ramamrutham | 23 |
Chidambaram and the Dance of Shiva | 45 |
Copyright | |
4 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
9th century ajapa anandatandava Apasmara brahmans chakra Chidambara Mahatmya Chidambaram temple Chit Sabha Chola period circa consort cosmic dance cult dance of Shiva dancer dancing Shiva deity Delhi devotional Dikshitar Dvarapala east gopura festival figure goddess gopura Hindu Hundred-Pillared Hall hymns icon iconography image of Nataraja inscriptions Kali Kanaka Sabha Karaikkal Ammaiyar king Koyil Puranam Kulottunga Kunchitanghristava later Chola linga Madras mandapa Manikkavachakar mantra Mohini Mulasthana murti myth Nagaswamy narrative Nataraja Nataraja image Nataraja in Art Nataraja temple Nayanars niches Nritta Nritta Sabha paintings Pallava Patanjali Photograph courtesy pillars priests puja Rahasya religious Rishi ritual sacred sages saints Sanskrit sculptures second prakara Shaiva Siddhanta Shaivism Shesha Shiva Nataraja Shiva temple Shiva's dance Shivaganga tank Shivakamasundari shrine Siva Sivaramamurti Somaskanda symbolism Tamil Nadu tandava temple complex Tevaram third prakara Tillai Amman Tirumantiram Tirumular Tiruvalangadu Tiruvarur traditions Tunmata Tyagaraja Umapati urdhvatandava Vaishnava verses Vishnu Vyaghrapada