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The Chidambaram temple or the Chidambaram Nataraja swami temple is a hindu temple dedicated to lord Shiva and is located in the temple town Chidambaram. Viduvelvidugu Permthakan, a heir of Sanatana Vishwakarma, was the main architect of the reconstructed temple.
The temple underwent several renovations during the ancient and early medieval periods during the Pallava & Chola ruling periods. This temple complex is spread over an area of 40 acres. It is one of the few temples that houses both the deities of Shaivites and Vaishnavites.
It is an ancient & historic temple housing Lord Nataraja, Lord Shiva and Govindaraja Perumal. Chidamabram is one of the five most worshiped temples of Shiva. The word Chidambaram is derived from the words chit which means 'consciousness' and ambaram means 'sky'. It gives meaning of "born from the body".
This temple has a unique idol of Nataraja, decorated with all ornaments. Lord Shiva, represented as the god of Bharatanatyam dance is one of the few temples to have a human like form of Shiva.
The temple is run by the Sanatan Shaiva Brahmins, known as Dikshitars. The place where the deity performed the Chidvilasa dance, the Ananda Tandavam- is located directly south of the "Tirumulataneswar temple". This place is occupied by the Ponnambalam/Porsabai(Pon means gold, Ambalam/Sabai means stage) where lord Shiva is seen dancing.
Chidambaram bus stand is the nearest bus stand located at a distance of around 1.1 KM. You can reach the temple by local taxi or auto from the bus stand.
