Natarajar temple,Chidambaram
Location: Chidambaram
Deity known as: Nataraja
Female Deity: Shivakami
Pathikam: Thirunavukarasar - 8, Sambandar - 2, Sundarar - 1
Gallery – Natarajar Temple, Chidambaram
How to Reach
Chidambaram is well connected by road from Chennai and various other cities and towns across Tamil Nadu. It is located at a distance of 230 km from Chennai.
Temple Address
Chidambaram
Chidambaram Taluk
Cuddalore District
PIN – 608001
The Significance
The Chidambaram Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram is an ancient and highly revered one, celebrated as one of the 'Pancha Bhoota' temples, representing the element of space (Akasha). Among Saivites, it is regarded as the foremost Shiva temple, so much so that the word “Kovil” traditionally refers to Chimbaram. It is believed that worshipping here grants liberation (moksha) to devotees. Uniquely, within this temple lies a sannidhi for Govindaraja Perumal, which is one of the 108 Divya Desams, symbolizing the harmonious union of Shaivism and Vaishnavism. Spread across nearly 40 acres in the heart of the town, the temple features a sanctum with a magnificent gold-plated roof. The presiding deity is worshipped as the Akasa Lingam, embodying space, and the temple is also one of the revered Pancha Sabha Temples of Shiva.
Notable sages such as Nandanar, Tirunilakandanayanar, Vyagrapada, and Patanjali are believed to have attained moksha at Chidambaram Nataraja Temple.
Temple Layout
The Chidambaram Nataraja Temple is renowned for its five sacred halls or Sabhas—Kanaka Sabha, Cit Sabha (Chitrambalam), Nritta Sabha, Deva Sabha, and Raja Sabha. Nataraja is worshipped here as one of the most profound manifestations of Shiva. The Cit Sabha houses the Akasa Lingam, symbolizing space, while the Kanaka Sabha enshrines the idol of Nataraja. The roofs of both these Sabhas are beautifully adorned with gold plates. The sannidhi of Shivagami is located to the left of the Natarajar sannidhi. In addition, there are separate sannidhis for Vinayaka and Subramanya within the temple complex.
The Chidambaram Nataraja Temple showcases remarkable architectural grandeur, with towering Gopurams on all four sides. The eastern and western towers are especially notable for their exquisite stucco depictions of the 108 Bharatanatyam dance poses, reflecting the temple’s deep connection with art and spirituality. Another striking feature is the grand 1000-pillared mandapam, known as the Raja Sabha, situated in the northeast of the outer corridor. This majestic hall once served as a ceremonial space where the rulers of the Pandya Dynasty and Chola Dynasty celebrated their military victories, adding historical significance to its architectural splendor.
The Chidambaram Nataraja Temple is also famed for its symbolic golden roof, which is adorned with 21,600 gold sheets fixed using 72,000 gold nails. These numbers carry deep spiritual significance—21,600 represents the number of breaths a human takes in a day, while 72,000 symbolizes the number of nadis (energy channels) in the human body according to yogic tradition, beautifully reflecting the connection between the human microcosm and the divine cosmos.
Gallery – Natarajar Temple, Chidambaram
