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| old image, Ratha yatra, Arudhra Darshan, Chidambaram temple, TN.i.ytimg.com |
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| old image. Chidambaram Nataraja temple Rath Yatra.thehindu.com |
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| Chidambaram temple chariot. wooden base, TN pinrest.com |
Above images: At the Sri Nataraja temple, Chidambaram, Therottam normally takes place twice a year during Arudhra Daashan in Margazhi (Dec. January; winter solstice ) and during the Aani Thirumanjanam day (July -Aug; summer solstice). The images of the chariots are old...... The wooden chariot base has superbly carved sculptures and episodes, depicting Lord Shiva's incarnation and related episodes. The processional deities or utchavers are not used for chariot procession. Instead, the main deity in the garbhagriha is used which will be taken around the Ratha streets to bless the devotees . The four foot tall decorated and bejeweled idols of Lord Nataraja , after certain puja rituals in the morning around 4.30 am is taken out of the sanctum reverentially in the morning clockwise around the chitsabha before being mounted on the big chariot. The other temple cars of medium size carry the idols of goddess Sivagamasundari, Lord Vinayaka, Lord Subramaniam and Chandikeswara. After the car festival the idols are taken to the Rajjya sabha for temple rituals. Following day the holy 'ritual bathing' that starts in the early morning will be for several hours.....
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| old image, Chidambaram temple Arudhra Darshan, TN hindutamil.in |
Among the Shiva temples, the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple (10th century) of Cuddalore district in Tamil Nadu is said be the holiest shrine where the god is worshipped as Akasa Lingam. Here, god is depicted as Nataraja in his Ananda Tandava pose commonly called cosmic dance.
Begun on the 4th of January, 2025 the Arudhra Dharshan festival (that falls in the month of Margazhi) concludes on the 14th of this month with Teppotchavam - float festival in the Gnanaprakasa Kulam. This annual grand and popular festival celebrates the cosmic dance of Shiva marking the conclusion of Margazhi Brahmotsavam
Lord Nataraja performed the tantalizing Ananda Thandava for his devotees Adi Shesha and devotee Vyagrapaadar. Adishesha, the seven-hooded serpent on whom Lord Vishnu rests in Milky Ocean, wanted to witness this divine dance of creation after hearing about it from Lord Shiva, according to the legend. As for Vyagrapaadar, a devotee of Shiva he undertook long penance and Tapas to witness the rare dance - Ananda Tandava. It was here the lord granted their request and Lord Shiva granted their request and performed it at Chidambaram in the presence of countless people including devas and sages.
This Cosmic Dance is intertwined with nature's ever active five elements - pancha krityas and their links to the essence of life. They are: Acts of creation on one side and dissolution- removal on the other side, sustenance -survival, concealment - Maya , and bestowment of grace (when humility takes precedence over arrogance and ego).
Surrounded by fire this divine dance symbolic of the continuous cyclic forces of the universe - aggradation and degradation, encompassing the rhythm of life, the dynamics of the cosmos (expansion and destruction), and the interplay of forces. The gist is Our earth is a transient one. So is life.
Among the various festivities the temple Chariot run (Therottam) at Chidambaram attracts thousands of lots of devotees and the Rath yatra takes place twice a year: During Arhdhra Dharshan and the other being Aani Thirumanjanam festival. The colorful Therottam during Arudhra festivities was held on 12th January (Sunday). Countless devotees participated in the Ther festival that began in the morning with customary puja and aarti by pulling the huge vadam (rope) accompanied by traditional music, chanting of devotional hymns in Thevaram and Thirvachagam; many devotees depicted the dance of God Shiva.
A posse of police 500 to 1000 personnel was on duty to take care of the crowd management during the festivities and during rath yatra.. To meet the needs of the visiting devotees from neighboring areas Free Meal Anna danam was held at many spots.
The well decorated fairly big five Thers each carrying the deities Ganesha, Subramaniya, Chandikeswarar and Sivakakasundary moved along the main veethis starting from the East street followed by the huge Chariot with richly carve wooden base in which were installed the festival idols of the temple. On January 12th at the end of Therottam, late in the evening Lord Nataraja (Shiva), Goddess Sivakami were brought in procession to the Raja Sabhai (Thousand Pillared Mandapam) and Laksharchanai was held
https://www.oneindia.com/lifestyle/arudra-darshan-2025-celebration-lord-shiva-011-4039369.html
https://www.hindu-blog.com/2007/12/significance-of-arudhra-darshan.html
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