Chidambaram Nataraja Temple

Chidambaram Nataraja Temple: This temple is located in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. This temple has ancient roots and a Shiva shrine existed at the site when the town was known as Thillai. Chidambaram, the name of the city literally means “stage of consciousness”. The temple architecture symbolizes the connection between the arts and spirituality, creative activity and the divine. The temple wall carvings display all the 108 karanas and these postures form a foundation of Bharatanatyam, an Indian classical dance derived from Sathirattam. The present temple was built in the 10th century when Chidambaram was the capital of the Chola dynasty.