Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram - A Journey on the foot path of Nandanar as Thirunalai Povar, One of the 63 Nayanmar, Chidambaram, Cuddalore District, Tamil Nadu.

15^th July 2018.

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On the Footpath of Nandanar... a visit to the places and the temples associated with Nandanar, also called Thirunalai Povar, one of the 63 Nayanmars, was organized by Prof Madhusuthanan Kalaiselvan and the songs composed by Sri Gopalakrishna Bharathi are rendered by Vidwans Bharat Sundar and Sunil Gargyan between 14^th July & 15^th July 2018. The last phase of our Nandanar Trails on 15^th July 2018, was to visit Chidambaram Natarajar Temple, where Nandanar attained salvation in Thiruchitrambalam.

After three days of circumambulation of Thillai, he was very much disappointed not to have the darshan of Lord Nataraja. On the third night, he stayed in a palm grove farm on the outskirts of Chidambaram. Gopalakrishna Bharathi expresses the feelings of Nandanar than Sekkizhar. Written like “irakkam varamal ponathen”… Lord Shiva decided not to make Nandanar wait anymore. That night, Lord Shiva came in his dream and asked him to come to the temple for the darshan. Dhikshithars will welcome you, and they will create a fire, immerse, and come out like Yogi, leaving the pulayar caste sentiments. Lord Shiva also told the same in all 3000 Dikshithar’s dreams.

The next morning, all the Dhikshithars were waiting with poorna Kumbh to welcome Nandanar at the south side entrance of Natarajar temple. Nandanar came to the south side entrance and hesitated to enter the temple. Dhikshithar told him that Lord Shiva had asked him to  welcome him in all of Dhikshithar’s dreams. Nandanar was immersed in the fire and came out as Nandha Mamuni with Jadabaram over his head, wearing rudraksha and yagnopaveetha. Nandhanar went inside the temple along with the Dhikshithars and had the darshan of Lord Nataraja. Nandanar went near Nataraja and disappeared. As per Sekkizhar...

உலகு உய்ய நடம் ஆடும்

எல்லையினைத் தலைப்பட்டார்

யாவர்களும் கண்டிலரால்.

The praharam wall bearing the Vikrama Chozha inscriptions was constructed during the 12^th century with an entrance opposite to the stucco Nandi and Palipedam. The South entrance existed till the 19^th century. It was said that there was a Nandanar statue was there at the south side entrance. The entrance was closed during the 20^th century, and the fate of Nandanar’s statue is not known.

( Thanks to skandagurunatha.org )

---OM SHIVAYA NAMA---