Pancha Sabhai Sthalams


Lord of Dance, Nataraja represents the Big Bang (creation of universe) from his dance. 
He is portrayed as below,
  • He dances in space surrounded with fire that represents Big Bang and that happened in space (aahasam)
  • His crest holds crescent moon and Devi Ganga along with all living beings that shown by snake (from his head). Before destroy and facilitate Brahma to create new universe, He preserve all living beings in Himself. He saves panja bootham (5 states of material) Land (Moon), Water (Ganga), Fire (on His left hand), Air (His breathing) and Space (where he dance) which is more important for creation
  • His Upper right hand holds small drum (udukkai) which symbolizes sound originating as OM
  • His left upper hand holds flame the representation of destroy
  • His lower right hand shows abayam that means I am there to protect you from evil and ignorance
  • Left lower hand represents that you surrender yourself completely to Me and I am here to give liberation (free from birth) and enlighten (Gnanam)
  • Snake around from his waist represents the Kundalini Sakthi (the divine power in every one), His right leg standing on demon Muyalagan represents that everyone to eradicate laziness and uplifted right leg represents everyone to uplift the Kundalini Sathi to achieve the immortally living with Lord Siva 
  • He is always in a dancing pose with one leg down and the other in the air. One hand as abhaya hastam (the hand that gives blessings) and other swings in air pointing towards the leg that is in the air called Kunjidapadam or Thookiyathiruvadi (the lifted leg), Which is were all the anmas (souls) are supposed to get their mukthi.

Among the many Shiva temples, five temples - Chidhambaram, Maduarai, Thiruvilankadu, Tirunelveli and Kutralam, are very revered and is known as the five sabhas. It is said Lord Shiva has danced at these five places as Nataraja, to benefit different devotees in different occasions.
S.No
Temple
Name of the Sabhai
Dance/Nadanam
1
Chidambaram
(Golden hall) Ponnambalam - Kanaka sabha         
Anadha Thandavam
2
Madurai
(Silver hall) Velliyambalam - Rajata sabha
Sandhya Thandavam
3
Thiruvalangadu
(Gem hall) Iraththinasabai - Ratna sabha
Oorthuva Thandavam
4
Thirunelveli
(Copper hall) Thamira sabai - Tamira sabha
Gowri Thandavam
5
Thirukutralam
(Picture hall) Chiththira sabai - Chitra sabha
Thiripura Thandavam

Dance of Nataraja also represents his five activities: 
·         'Shrishti'  - படைத்தல் (creation, evolution)
·         'Sthiti' - காத்தல் (preservation, support)
·         'Samhara' - அழித்தல் (destruction, evolution)
·         'Tirobhava' - மறைத்தல்(illusion)
·         'Anugraha' - அருள்ளல்(release, emancipation, grace)

It is notable that 3 of the 5 Cosmic Dance Halls are in Pandiya Dynasty, one in Chola Dynasty and one in Thondai Dynasty. All the Cosmic Dance Halls are also Thevaram hymn Shrines (Padal Petra Sthalangal). The Cosmic Dance Halls are in Tamil called as Nadana Sabai.


Natarajar    அம்பலத்தரசே அருமருந்தே

The Lord does the five great activities of (ஐந்து தொழில்களையும் ஆற்றும் இறைவன் ஆடல் வல்லானாக ஐந்து திருச்சபைகளில் நடனம் புரிகிறான்) - Creation, Protection, Destruction, Concealment and Grace (படைத்தல்காத்தல்அழித்தல்மறைத்தல்அருளல்)

1. தில்லை பொன்னம்பலத்தில் ஆனந்த தாண்டவம்  (Anandha Thandavam in Chidambaram Ponnambalam)

2. திருவாலங்காட்டில் ரத்தின சபையில் ஊர்த்துவ தாண்டவம் (Oorthuva Thandavam in Thiruvalangadu Rathna Sabai)


3. மதுரையில் வெள்ளியம்பலத்தில் கால்மாறி சந்தியா தாண்டவம் (Sandhya Thandavam in Madurai Velli Sabai)

4. குற்றாலத்தில் சித்திர சபையில் ஓவியமாக திரிபுரதாண்டவம் (Thiripura Thandavam in Kutralam Chitira Sabai)


5. திருநெல்வேலியில் தாமிரசபையில் முனிதாண்டவம் (Muni Thandavam in Thirunelveli Thamira Sabai)


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