The Nataraja Temple is one of the most important temples of Hindus. This temple has a massive significance for the devotees of Lord Shiva. This is among the most sacred temples of Lord Shiva. The Nataraja Temple is an ancient temple which has a unique history.
The Nataraja Temple is very architecturally beautiful which makes it one of the most beautiful temples of Hindu. Every year, Lakhs of Devotees Visit the Nataraja Temple to see the fantastic beauty of the temple building and to get the divine blessing of Lord Shiva to flourish their life.
The Nataraja Temple is a culturally and spiritually significant temple for the Hindus. In this article, we will discuss the Significance of Nataraja Temple with its history, architecture, and the best time to visit.
Significance:
The Nataraja Temple has a massive significance for the Hindu Devotees of Lord Shiva. The Nataraja Statue of Lord Shiva mentions a demon lying under the feet of Lord Shiva, Which depicts the victory of good over evil.
The architectural building attracts many travellers from around the world. The temple has divine solid and spiritual energy, which helps to evoke positive energy in the body of devotees.
The temple is very sacred, holy, and one of the most prominent temples of Lord Shiva. Every year lakhs of devotees visit the Nataraja Temple to get the blessing of Lord Nataraja, which fulfils their life with wealth and prosperity.
History Of Nataraja Temple:
The Nataraja Temple was built by the Chola emperor Rajendra Chola 1 in the 10 century in the capital city of the Chola dynasty, Chidambaram. The foreign invaders later damaged the temple. The Cholas were the great devotees of Lord Shiv and considered Lord Shiva as their family god.
Cholas emperors always put their effort into building multiple temples dedicated to many Hindu gods and goddesses. The Nataraj temple has gone through numerous damages, renovation, and development for many years. The present structure of the temple has its origins in the 12th and 13th centuries AD.
Many other kings of different dynasties, like Vijayanagara, Pallavas, Pandyas, and Chera contributed to maintaining and safety of the Nataraja Temple during their ruling period. The Nataraja temple, which still stands firm in the 21st century, is considered the most ancient temple of Lord Shiva.
Where is The Nataraja Temple?
The Nataraja Temple is located in the temple town of Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu state, which is in the southern part of India. The Chidambaram town is situated in the Pondicherry district. The Nataraja Temple of Chidambaram is 15 km far from the coast of the Bay of Bengal. Also, it is 5 km from the Kollidam River and 240 km away from the capital of Tamil Nadu, Chennai.
Architecture of Nataraja Temple:
The Chidambaram Nataraja Temple complex covers 45 acres of area. This temple is unique in that it portrays Lord Shiva through an idol instead of the traditional lingam.
The architecture of the temple represents the connection between arts and spirituality. Although Shiva is the main deity of the temple, it also denotes primary illustrations from Vaishnavism, Shaktism, and others with all due reverence.
The Nataraja Temple features stunning gopurams, carvings, five mandapams, and inscriptions. The temple has four tall gopurams adorned with Natya Shastra’s 108 engraved dance postures. Additionally, the temple boasts five main chief Sabhas (meeting halls) including Chit Sabha, Kanaka Sabha, Deva Sabha, Nritya Sabha, and Raja Sabha.
The temple showcases majestic Dravidian architecture, with detailed carvings, towering gopurams, and grand mandapams. The craftsmanship and attention to points in the temple’s design make it a sight to behold.
Darshan and Pooja Timing of Nataraja Temple:
The Darshan Timing for Nataraja Temple is from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm and 5:00 am to 10:00 pm. The temple timing is the same for the seven days of the week. The temple official Pandits and authority may change the temple timing and opening hours for special occasions, festivals, or events. It is recommended to verify and confirm the temple timing with them.
The Pooja timing for Pal Nivedhayam is from 6:30 am to 7:00 am, Maha Arti from 7:00 am to 7:30 am, Kala Sandhi Pooja from 7:45 am to 9:00 am, Irandaam Kaalam from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, Uchikaalam from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm, Saayarakshai from 5:15 pm to 6:00 pm, Irandaam Kaalam from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm and Ardhajaamam from 9:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Best time to Visit the Nataraja Temple:
You can visit the temple any time according to your preference of weather and moths or in your free time. As per the frequent visitor, the best time to visit the Nataraja temple is during the winter season from November to February due to the pleasant weather conditions. During this time, people celebrate the unique Natyanjali dance festival.
The period of November to February is so favourable for visiting the temple. If you see the temple on other periods you have to face the extreme and harsh climate conditions of Chidambaram as the Southern part of India has a high humidity and temperature rate, which may be a little inconvenient for you to visit the Nataraja Temple.
How to reach Nataraja Temple?
The Nataraja temple sits in Southern India, making it easily accessible for people in the region but a distant journey for those in the north. Different modes of transportation are available to reach the Nataraja Temple. You can choose the mode of transportation as per your preference. Follow are the modes of Transportation:
By Air:
There are several airports near Chidambaram Town but no direct flight so you can book a flight to the nearest airport to the Temple town of Chidambaram. The nearest airport to Chidambaram is Pondicherry Airport, which is about 65 km from the temple. After reaching the airport you can book a cab or taxi direct to the Nataraja Temple.
Also, The Neyveli Airport is about 36 km away from Chidambaram town but needs better connectivity. Another option is Tiruchirapalli (TRZ) Airport which is about 128 km from the temple town. Most of the airports have good connectivity with the major cities of India.
By Train:
Chidambaram has a railway station which has fair connectivity with the southern states. If you are a northern devotee you can book a ticket for the Villupuram or Mayiladuthurai railway station from your nearest railway station for a good connectivity of trains. If you love travelling by train, you can book a ticket for the given station, which is quite affordable for you.
By Road:
If you love traveling through the road you can choose a bus or personal vehicle to reach the Nataraja temple. Many public buses run on the route of Chidambaram and many pilgrim tourist services cover the town at a low cost. But if you are a north Indian, it is difficult for you to find a direct bus to Chidambaram Town due to the considerable distance.
Nearby Attractions to Nataraja Temple:
Chidambaram, known as the temple town, has many sacred temples and pilgrim spots. Also, Chidambaram town has many exciting tourist locations you can visit with the Nataraja Temple.
Follow are some nearby attractions to the Nataraja Temple:
Pichavaram Mangrove Forest:
If you are a nature lover, you should visit the Pichavaram Mangrove forest, which is the second-largest mangrove forest in the world. The Pichavaram Mangrove forest boasts a rich biodiversity of various plants and trees, making it a beautiful nature site. Here you can also try other fun water activities to get relief from the travel tiredness.
Achalpuram Temple:
Local devotees believe strongly in the positivity and worship of Lord Shiv at the Achalpuram Temple dedicated to him. This temple is about 25 km from the Chidambaram town. You can visit this temple after the Nataraja temple to witness a different form of Lord Shiva.
Thillai Kali Amman Temple:
The Thillai Kali Amman Temple in the southern region of India honours Goddess Kali, who is revered as the divine form of goddess Durga Puja. The temple radiates divine positive energy. Praying in this temple helps to awaken the positive energy in the devotees.
Annamalai University:
A renowned knowledge centre in India, holds the distinction of being one of the oldest sacred universities known for centuries. Annamalai University has provided advanced knowledge about engineering, medicine, literature, and research. This can be your best place to visit after the Nataraja temple.
Entry Fee and Dress Code for the Nataraja Temple:
There is no entry fee in the Nataraja Temple to have the Darshan of Lord Shiva. You can enter the temple at the opening hours for free, however, you can book an online Darshan ticket to make the Darshan process easy and convenient.
The Natarajas is a Hindu temple so it is advised to wear traditional and cultural attire. Males can wear a Dhoti Kurta, and females can wear a Saree or any other conventional clothes while having the Darshan of Lord Shiva.
It is suggested that wearing light fabric clothes during the hot season will keep you safe from the high temperature of the Chidambaram town.
Avoid wearing over-fashioned and non-traditional garments as they will look so irrelevant and inappropriate according to the temple environment. Also, remember to remove your shoes and leave your phone outside before entering the main sanctum of the temple.
Is photography allowed in the Nataraja Temple?
Photography and taking pictures inside the main sanctum are strictly prohibited. However, visitors can bring their Phones and DSLRs to the temple campus and capture images of the outer side of the temple and other architectural features such as gopurams, tanks, walls, etc.
Conclusion:
The Nataraja temple is one of the most significant temples for the Hindus who dedicate it to Lord Shiva. This temple is among the rare temples where devotees picture Lord Shiva as an Idol rather than a Shiva Lingam.
The Chola emperor built the magnificent architecture of the Natarajas temple in Chidambaram town, Tamil Nadu, featuring many handmade paintings on its walls. You can visit the temple by your preferred mode of transportation like flight, train, or bus.
Every year, Lakhs of Devotees visit the Natarajas temple to get the blessing of the Lord Shiva to fill their life with happiness and prosperity. I hope this article helps you to get a brief about the Natarajas Temple.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lord Shiva is worshipped in the Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram.
The Nataraja temple is significant because it is one of the rare temples of Lord Shiva, where he is worshipped in the form of an idol rather than a Lingam.
The Nataraja temple was built by the Chola emperor Rajendra Chola 1 in the 10th century.
The Nataraja Temple is situated in the Chidambaram town in Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu, which is in the southern part of India.
The Darshan timing of Nataraja temple is from 6:00 am to 12:00 pm and 5:00 am to 10:00 pm.