Temples in Chidambaram
Sabhanayaka Nataraja Temple
This is the original temples dedicated to the Nataraja form of Lord Siva, where Lord Siva is found in his famous dancing pose, with one leg in the air and four arms. This temple is dedicated to Lord Siva in his aspect of Nataraja (the Celestial dancer). Lord Siva is in the Ananda Tandavam dancing posture. He defeated goddess Kali in a dance contest. The Nataraja deity here has been the model for innumerable bronze statues of Siva performing this dance.
It is a 10th century temple, built during the reign of Vira Chola Raja. Raja Krishnadeva Raya of Vijayanagar reconstructed the temple in 1520. The outer wall is 1800 ft long and 1480 ft east to west.
The temple is spectacular with four huge gopurams towering 50m (150 ft) high. The north and south gopurams are 49 metres high. The east and west temple gopurams are elaborately carved with the 108 classical dancing postures of Nataraja. Siva is believed to have invented 108 different dances out of which the most famous is the "Tandava"
Non-Hindus are not technically allowed in the inner sanctum. The local brahmanas, known as Dikshitars, act as the temple. It may be a good idea to hire one because they can enable you to bypass the ban on temple entry. Without a guide non-Hindus are not supposed to go in the inner sanctum of the temple.
The temple is in the northern part of the city. It takes at least an hour to see the temple. The evening puja is the most interesting. On Friday, before the temple closes, Nataraja is carried on a palanquin in procession, with priests triumphantly carrying tridents and torches.
Tirukkadaiyur
There is a Siva-linga in the Amritaghateswara Temple here. It is believed that anyone that visits this temple will not meet Yamaraja at the time of death. A visit to this place is supposed to be equal to performing 100 Aswamedha-yajnas (horse sacrifices). This beautiful huge temple has some of the most intricately carved sculptures in all of India.
The story of the temple is that when Yamaraja (the god of death) came to take Markandeya away, Markandeya clasped onto the Siva-linga to save himself from Yamaraja's shackles. Yamaraja threw a noose to catch hold of Markandeya, which also encircled the Siva-linga. Lord Siva is said to have then come out of the linga and killed Yamaraja. The clasp marks and the mark of Yamaraja's rope are still on the linga.
Tirukkadaiyur is about 40 northeast of Kumbakonam, between Mayuram and Tranquebar
Brihadiswara Temple
Brihadiswara Temple is a large Siva temple that can be seen from a distance because of its enormous 55m high vimana (tower over the altar). This temple was built by Rajendra Chola in1025 to celebrate his victorious expedition to the River Ganges. This magnificent temple was built in the same design as the Brihadiswara Temple in Thanjavur, which was built by his father. It has a massive Siva-linga enshrined in it, but the temple is no longer used for worship. There are shrines that house Kailasanatha and Ganesh. The temple has a huge wall resembling a fort and an assembly hall containing over 150 pillars. It has may detailed sculptures on it.
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