Main Article Content
Abstract
Chidambaram is the one of seven holy cities in Tamil Nadu, situated in 11’ 25’ N and 29’ 42’ E in Cuddalore District. Chidambaram is principally renowned for its great Siva Temple. This temple covers an area of 39 acres in the heart of the town, and it is surrounded by four streets with 60 feet wide. It has Lord nataraja, one of the twenty five forms of Lord Shiva. They are namely BhikshatanaMurthi, Nataraja Murthi, Aja-EkapadaMurthi, Yoga- Sakshinamurthi, LingodhavaMurthi, KamadhanaMurthi, JalandharavataMurthi, GajasurasamharaMurthi, VirabharaMurthi, Kankala- BhairavaMurthi, KalyanasundaramMurthi, Trisha varushaMurthi, ChandrashekaharaMurthi, Uma MaheswaranMurthi, ShankaranarayanaMurthi, ArdanarishvaraMurthi, KirataMurthi, ChandeshvaranugrahaMurthi , SomskandaMurthi, GajamukhanugrahaMurthi, NilalanthaMaheswaraMurthi, SukhasanaMurthi. Among them Nataraja cult is very unique one. Moreover , this town has a great historical background, believed it had been ruled by the great kingdoms like Medieval Cholas, Later Cholas, Pallavas, Vijayanagar Empire , Maratha Empire and British. This study to focused on the origin and Evolution of the Natraja cult onthrough the ages.