Thillai Nataraja Temple Chidambaram

Thillai Nataraja Temple, also known as Chidambaram Temple, is a famous Hindu temple located in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Nataraja and is an important religious site. The history of Thillai Nataraja Temple is very old and it is counted among the holiest Shiva temples. This temple is associated with ancient Tamil culture and Indian classical dance. This temple is famous for the worship of Lord Shiva in the form of "Nataraja" in legends and scriptures. The temple was built by the rulers of the Pallava dynasty, but it was further expanded and preserved during the reign of the Chola Empire. The central deity of the temple is Lord Nataraja, who is in a dancing posture. This temple is situated on about 40 acres of land and has a huge courtyard. It has a total of five sanctums, but the most important sanctum is for Lord Nataraja. This temple is famous for the Nataraja form of Shiva. 'Nataraja' means the dancing god. The dancing form of Shiva is worshipped here, which is also called "Annamalai" or "Chidambaram Nritya". According to Hinduism, Lord Shiva imparted the knowledge of scriptures to Brahma through dance in the form of Ardhanarishvara at this place. The Chidambaram temple is also considered important from the tantric and yogic point of view. Various dance forms of Shiva are performed here, the most famous of which is the "Annamalai" dance.