Thillai Vana Kshetra (Chidambaram) - Abode of Lord Nataraja (Pancha Bhoota Sthalam)

• Meditation:

1. जटाटवीगलज्जलप्रवाहपावितस्थले
गलेऽवलम्ब्य लम्बितां भुजङ्गतुङ्गमालिकाम् ।
डमड्डमड्डमड्डमन्निनादवड्डमर्वयं
चकार चण्डताण्डवं तनोतु नः शिवः शिवम् ॥
- Shiva Tandava Stotram - verse 1 (Lord Shiva performed the Ananda Tandava dance in Thillai Vana)

Sri Nataraja

► Shiva: I meditate on Lord Nataraja dancing the Ananda Tandava in Thillai Vana (Chidambaram) before the celestials and sages.

• Stotra: Shiva Tandava Stotram (Lord Shiva performed the Ananda Tandava dance in Thillai Vana)
(Cuddalore district, Tamil Nadu)

• Greatness:

• Chidambaram is primarily a Shiva Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Shiva):
- Lord Shiva as Lord Nataraja danced the Ananda Tandava in Thillai Vana before sages Vyaghrapada, Patanjali and other celestials and sages.
- Chidambaram is a Pancha Bhoota Sthalam (Place representing a prime Element of Nature) [Kanchipuram (Prithivi), Thiruvanaikaval (Jala), Thiruvannamalai (Agni), Srikalahasti (Vayu), Chidambaram (Akasha)] representing the element of Akasha (Space)
- Chidambaram is also a Paadal Petra Sthalam (Glorified by Nayanmars) [Koyil]

• Chidambaram is also a Devi Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Devi):
- Devi Kali as Devi Thillai Kali had a dance competition with Lord Shiva in this place.

• Chidambaram is also a Rishi Sthalam (Place of Rishis):
- Sage Vyaghrapada worshipped Lord Shiva in this place and witnessed the Tandava dance of the Lord.
- Sage Patanjali also worshipped Lord Shiva in this place and witnessed the Tandava dance of the Lord.

• Sacred Geography:

☸ Thillai Vana (Puranic)
▬ River Vellar flows
▬ River Kollidam flows (5 km south)
◼ Shiva-Ganga Teertha (Temple Tank)

• Puranic Events:

1. Presence of Lord Shiva in Chidambaram: (Chidambara Mahatmya)
(1) Lord Shiva & Tandava dance: Lord Shiva danced the great Tandava dance at Darukavana and later on in Thillai Vana (Chidambaram) before the gods and the sages.

(2) Lord Shiva & sages of Darukavana: Once Lord Shiva went to Darukavana in the form of a mendicant to remove the pride of learning of the sages there. Lord Shiva was having a begging bowl in his hand and he was accompanied by Mohini (Lord Vishnu in disguise of a beautiful woman). The wives of the sages were greatly attracted by this beautiful pair. The sages became angry because of this and tried to destroy them through supernatural powers. They sent a tiger. Lord Shiva killed it and wrapped the tiger skin around his waist. Then they sent a poisonous serpent. Lord Shiva tied it around his neck. Thereafter they sent Apasmara Muyalaka. Lord Shiva crushed him under his feet. The sages became humble and confessed defeat. Lord Shiva became pleased and started to dance the great Tandava dance before the gods and the sages.

(3) Lord Shiva & sage Patanjali: Sri Adisesha heard the description of the great Tandava dance of Lord Shiva and yearned to see it himself. He performed penance and had the darshan of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva directed him to go to Thillai Vana. Adisesha incarnated as Patanjali and went to the Thillai forest.
- Note: The hermitage of sage Patanjali is at Ananteeshwaram.

(4) Lord Shiva & sage Vyaghrapada: Sage Vyaghrapada joined sage Patanjali in the Thillai Vana. Both of them started worshipping Lord Shiva in the form of a Lingam. When the time was ripe, Lord Shiva appeared there in the form of Lord Natarajar and performed the Ananda Tandava in the presence of Devi Shivakamasundari, the gods and the sages (including Patanjali and Vyaghrapada).
- Note: The hermitage of sage Vyaghrapada is at Thirupapuleeshwaram in Chidambaram. The Chit Sabha, the innermost sanctum of the Chidambaram Temple is the place where Lord Shiva is said to have performed the Ananda Tandava. Chidambaram is also one of Divya Desams known as Thiruchitrakootam Divya Desam.

2. Presence of Devi in Chidambaram:
• Devi Thillai Kali had a dance competition with Lord Shiva in this place.

3. Presence of Sages in Chidambaram:
• Sage Vyaghrapada: Sage Vyaghrapada worshipped the Adi Moolanathar Linga in Thillai Vana and was blessed to witness the Ananda Tandava of Lord Nataraja here.
• Sage Patanjali: Sage Patanjali (incarnation of Shesha) also worshipped the Adi Moolanathar Linga in Thillai Vana (along with sage Vyaghrapada) and was blessed to witness the Ananda Tandava of Lord Nataraja here.

• Temples (Summary):

• Shiva:
- Lord Nataraja
- Lord Thirumoolanathar

• Devi:
Devi Shivakama Sundari
Umai Ammaiyar
Thillai Kali (separate temple)

• Vishnu:
Sri Govindaraja Perumal (Divya Desam)

• Vinayaka:
Sri Mukkuruni Vinayaka
Sri Karpaga Vinayaka

• Subramanya:
Sri Balasubramanya

• Five Sabhas:
(1) Chit Sabha (Chitrambalam)
(2) Kanaka Sabha (Ponnambalam)
(3) Nritya Sabha
(4) Deva Sabha (Perambalam)
(5) Raja Sabha

• Puranic References:

• Chidambara Mahatmyam (About Chidambaram)

• Location:

• Chidambaram is located in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu.

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