Akasa Linga of Nataraja
temple , Chidambaram and Deekshithar’s
Krithi on Akasa
Lingam
Compiled by
P.R.Ramachander
Chidambaram
temple is located 255 km from
Chennai and is a unique
temple with Golden roof with a huge
temple complex of 50 acres. Chidambaram means the “Divine sky of consciousness”. Childamabaram is
called Thillai in tamil. To any Tamil Shaivite “koil(temple)” would indicate this great temple of
Chidambaram .The God presiding over this temple
is Nataraja(The king of dancers) who is
doing the cosmic dance of divine ecstasy.
The story goes like this. It seems Chidambaram was once a forest populated by sages who believed
in magic and were confidant that they
could control God by their mystic
powers. .It seems Shiva assumed
an extremely pretty form of Bhikshandar
and along with Vishnu as Mohini
he walked through that forest and the wives of sages were greatly attracted by the pretty Lord Shiva. The sages living there then sent
serpents to attack Lord Shiva and he wore them as ornament over his
matted hair. Then the rishis sent a
fierce tiger to attack lord Shiva and he killed the tiger and wore its hide as his dress. Then the rishis created an evil spirit called Muyalaka and send him to destroy lord Shiva. Lord
Shiva stepped on the back of Muyalaka
and danced , the dance of eternal
bliss. This news spread all over heavens
and Adhi Sesha wanted to see the dance again.Lord Shiva asked him to be
born in Chidambaram as sage Patanjali(the great grammarian of Sanskrit)
,He was joined there by another sage called Vyagrapada , who got the feet of tiger by penance so
that he would be able to climb the trees
and pluck pretty flowers for Lord Shiva.. It seems Lord Shiva again did Ananda Tandavam for the sake of two great sages and in that place
where a temple of temple of Thirumoolataaneswar temple existed , the present temple of Nataraja was built.In the sanctum sanctorum of the
temple there are two sections. In one section is the majestic lord Nataraja and near him there is
another Sannidhi called Chidambara Rahasyam(secret of Chidambaram) and here the lord exists
as formless ether(sky) . There is a huge emerald linga and a crystal linga inside the sanctum. Goddess Shivakamasundari is the consort of Lord Nataraja and she has a separate temple in side the temple complex.. The temple from its inception has been managed by a
group of Brahmins called
Deekshithars. In the olden times they
were referred to as Thillai moovayiram
(The 3000 of Thillai) .Once a Deekshithar either crosses the border of Chidambaram or undertakes
any other work other than
temple maintenance , he
loses his position. Also a
Deekshithar has necessarily get married
to another Deekshithar girl. Now the Deekshithar population has come down to
around 300. But even today the huge temple
complex is managed by them.
All the kings
of Tamil Nadu from the earliest times have donated properties and ornaments to the God . The
most interesting is a Padakkam of
emerald donated by Tippu Sultan.All the
Shivaite saints have visited and sung
about this great temple .
Ananda Natana prakasam
By
Muthuswami Dekshithar
Translated by
P.R.Ramachander
Ragam Kedaram
Thalam Mishra Chapu
Pallavi
Ananda natana prakasam chithsabhesam,
Aasrayami Shivakama vallesam
Pallavi
I take shelter in the luster of the
joyful dance,
Of the Lord of the divine stage who is the consort
of Shivakami.
Anupallavi
Bhanu koti samkasam,
Bhakthi mukthi prada daharakasam,
Dheena jana samrakshanachanam.
Anupallavi
He who is like the billions of Suns ,
He who is like the thin sky which gives
wealth and salvation,
And who is one who protects the
oppressed men.
Madhya Kala Sahithyam
Divya patathanjali Vyagrapada darsitha kunjithabja Charanam
Madhyama kala Sahithyam
The dancing feet which was seen
by the divine Vyagrapada and Pathanjali.
Charanam
Sheethamsu gangadharam , neela kandharam,
Sri Kedaraa dhi Kshethraadhaaram,
Bruthesam sardula charmambaramn Chidambaram,
Bhoosura trisahasra muneeswaram Visweswaram,
Nava neetha hrudayam sadaya guru guha thathamaadhyam,
Veda Vedhyam veetharaginam apremeya advaitha prathipadhyam,
Sangeetha vaadhya vinodha thandavajatha bahuthara bedachodhyam.
Charanam
He who carries the moon and
the ganges , He who has a blue neck,
He who is the basis
of Kedhara and other temples,
He who has a butter like heart , The
Shiva who is the father of Guru Guha,
He who is studied by Vedas, who is dispassionate, who is
dealt by the unfathomable Advaitha,
He who is entertained by
music and dance in its very many
different forms.
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