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Architecture: The temple is mainly renowned for the great temple of Lord Shiva as Nataraja. The temple extensively occupies an area of 51 acres surrounded on all sides by massive walls, intersected by lofty and magnificent Gopurams. The temple is associated with Nataraja in his Ananda Tandava pose (the Cosmic Dance of bliss) in the golden hall and the hall of consciousness (Chit Sabha).

Importance of the temple: The temple is considered as one of the Panchabhoota Stalams that signifies the five elements of wind, water, fire, earth and space. This temple indicates Space. The sanctuary contains one of the 12 Jyotirlingams namely Akasa Lingam which has been described as the Chidambara Rahasyam or secret of Chidambaram. It means that the Akasa Lingam does not appear to the naked eye. It requires an inner eye to visualize the Lord in an empty space. This is the secret or the Chidambara Rahasyam. There is perhaps no other temple in India where the religious differences of the cults – Saivism and Vaishnavism have been overcome by absolute tolerance simultaneously made possible by the erection of a shrine to Vishnu as Govindaraja Perumaal at right angle to the shrine of Lord Nataraja in the same temple complex.

Famous for: The temple also boasts about one of the five dance halls of Lord Shiva (Kanakasabhai). The other four dance halls can be found in Kutralam, Madurai, Tirunelveli and Tiruvalankadu. The temple is architecturally great. Artistically, the temple is fantastic with thousands of sculptures, dancers, drummers and musicians. The 108 Lasya poses of the dance is chiselled in Granite all over the temple Prakarams and in the Nritta Sabha. The temple is immensely popular for the grand celebrations of Margazhi Tiruvadirai, Aani Tirumanjanam and Shivaratri festival. Annually, during the month of February and March, the temple plays host to the Natyanjali Dance Festival of Chidambaram. The festival starts on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivaratri and goes on for a period of five days drawing thousands of spectators.

Legend: Legend says that Aadi Seshan, the serpent bed of Lord Vishnu, heard from him the magnificence of Lord Shiva's celestial dance. Seshan had a great desire to observe this dance form at Chidambaram and came in person to earth as Patanjali (the one who descended). Meanwhile, another devotee of Lord Shiva called Vyagrapaadar, worshipped Shiva to get hold of tiger's claws in order to get the blessed Bilva leaves meant for Shiva's reverence at Chidambaram. When the fixed time arrived, Shiva along with Goddess Sivakami granted Vyagrapaadar and Patanjali, a visual delight through his Cosmic Dance of Bliss, to the accompaniments of music played by numerous celestial personalities. Further legend says that, this magnificent dance was witnessed by Lord Vishnu, and hence there is a shrine of Govindaraja Perumaal inside the Natarajar temple.

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