Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram

Surrounded by wide streets (by the standards of the Middle Ages) to allow passage of trucks of procession, the shrine of Nataraja is surrounded by a wall dating from the twelfth century. It can be accessed by one of four gopuram ("towers" entry), gems of Chola art, and whose importance, both in terms of size and artistic treatment, is sometimes greater than the sanctuary itself (this being a constant in the Hindu religious architecture of South India).
Gopuram of the temple of Nataraja at Chidambaram

The interior of the sanctuary has five main rooms (Sabhas):

   1. Chitrambalam or Chit Sabha (the "Golden Hall"), which houses the sculpture of Nataraja.
   2. Ponnambalam, or Kanaka Sabha: The room where the Nataraja takes his ablutions.
   3. Perambalam or Deva Sabha, which contains the "five deities (Pancha Murtha).
   4. Nritya Sabha, where Nataraja danced the Tandava Oordhva.
   5. Raja Sabha (the "room with 1000 pillars"): Where the icon Mobile (utsavamūrti) of Nataraja is washed and walked to the 10th day of the festival and Ani Tirumanjanam Marghazi (December-January), before joining again the Chitrambalam (the "Golden Hall").

The bronze sculpture of Nataraja is exposed in the Chitrambalam, a rectangular room covered with gold and copper. This room (the "Golden Hall") is faithful to the center of the world where Shiva, under the representation of Nataraja performs his "cosmic dance". This sculpture of Nataraja, typical of Chola art, has a strong symbolic
Shiva Nataraja (British Museum)

    1. The Nataraja is held in a "ring of fire" (thiruvāsi) which symbolizes the vibrant nature, rhythmic, and cyclic life.
   2. It builds on his right foot, crushing the muyalagan (daemon), symbolizing the abolition of evil.
   3. His left leg lifted leads the way to salvation.
   4. His first right hand holds a drum (damaru) representing the vital rhythm.
   5. His second right hand is held palm forward, in the posture Pataka symbolizing protection, removal of fear.
   6. His first left hand holds the fire, which symbolizes the life force vital energy.
   7. His second left hand at the end of his outstretched arm to his body, adopts the posture hasta-kari, meaning "Here I am," Shiva refocuses him on everything.
    
8. To the left of his head, the crescent moon (Shandra) symbolizes the culmination of the knowledge and intellect.
   9. To the right of his head, the Ganges, in the form of fish, symbolizes the life-giving water.
  10. To the left of his body, the veil flying in the wind symbolizes the removal of illusion (Maya).
  11. On the right side of his body, the serpent, ancient symbol of fertility, is the breath and air.
 

On the other hand, the sculpture of Nataraja, which is carved by artisans of a particular type (the sthapati) who make icons for generations of Hindu temples, is subject to strict proportional rules: For example, an equilateral triangle upper vertex (om-ma-va) can be traced from the top of the head (om), the left foot (va), and the scarf when it crosses the thiruvāsi (Ring of Fire) (my) of Similarly, an equilateral triangle with lower vertex (if-ya-na) can be drawn between the right foot (if), the drum (there), and the hand holding the fire (na). The two overlapping triangles are the oldest known representation of the figure called "Star of David" symbol used in other religions (including Judaism). There, in the sanctuary, two types of idols: idols fixed (sthibera), which can not be displaced once the temple consecrated idols and mobile (utsavamūrti) that can be taken out of the temple, especially during ritual processions in the city.

Apart from the "Golden Hall", other parts of the sanctuary all have a symbolic own: thus, the 4 Vedas, 108 Upanishads, 18 Puranas, and all other Hindu canonical texts are identified by either party of this temple.

    * The temple of the goddess Sivakami:

Situated within the sanctuary of the Nataraja temple is dedicated to Sivakami, one of the representations of the goddess Parvati, consort of Shiva, in his role as "wife" of Nataraja. It dates from the Chola period and hosts numerous sculptures of Bharata Natyam dance postures.

    * The Temple Govindaraj:

Located near the shrine of Nataraja, the temple is dedicated to one of the representations of the god Vishnu.