The Thillai Nataraja Temple situated in the small town of Chidambaram in
Tamil Nadu, is widely known as the foremost of all Shiva Temples in the
world. This temple is referred to in almost all scriptures as the
Bhooloka Kailasam (Kailash on earth), as it is said that this temple was
Lord Shiva’s home on earth. This place received lot of remodeling from
various dynasties like the Cholas and the Pallavas. It is said that
King Kocengannan Chola was born after his parents prayed passionately to
Lord Nataraja and after he grew up, he refined the temple’s structure.
Here Lord Shiva is in the form of Lord Nataraja, The God of Dance, in
the middle of the Ananda Thandavam (The Dance of Delight). The postures
of the famous dance form, The Bharatha Natyam, were inspired from the
sculptures of Chidambaram. This city is also one of the five Pancha
Bootha Sthalams, which represent each of the five elements. Chidambaram
represents aether or akasha, which is the fifth element.
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