CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM (THE TEMPLE SECRET)

CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM

(THE TEMPLE SECRET)

https://ramamohanraocheruku.blogspot.com/2016/10/chidambara-rahasyam-secret.html

At the outset I would like to bring about very briefly about what ‘Sath’ and ‘Chith’ is before I start to tell about Chidambara Rahasyam. ‘Sath’ is that which exists. ‘Chit’ is the one which is self-illuminated. One Astronomical reality is Sun is also moving round something and what it is, is yet to be proved. So that one which expresses itself as self-illuminating is ‘Chith'.

‘Ambaram’ in Sanskrit has got two meanings 1. Sky 2. Cloth. So here is one who has the sky as his cloth to wrap up himself. Shastra says ‘Akasam’ is ‘shunyam’ that is, it vacuum. Then what is he wrapping up. The entire universe.

Now let us derive what that 'Rahasyam or secret' is which is prevailing in Chidambaram.

Since ancient times, it is believed that this is the place where Lord Shiva and Parvathi are present, but are invisible to the naked eyes of normal people. In the Chidambaram temple of Lord Nataraja, Chidambara Rahasyam is on the other side of a curtain (Maya), which is meant for hiding. Darshan of Chidambara Rahasyam is possible only when priests open the curtain (or Maya) for special poojas. People who are privileged to have a darshan of Chidambara Rahasyam can merely see golden Bilva leaves (మారేడు దళములు) (Aegle Marmelos) signifying the presence of Lord Shiva and Parvathi in front of them. It is also believed that devout saints can see the Gods in their physical form, but no such cases have been officially reported. That needs sadhana, and such people can visualize God sitting at their own place. As described above there is a particular kind of curtain which when removed enables us viewing the secret. The real significance of doing so is that, when the curtain which is "maya", is removed one can see his real self. And the seeing of oneself removing the curtain of Maya is viewing the secret of himself by himself. According to legend, "Chidambara Rahasyam" will never be revealed as it is the secret relating to a particular person who sees it removing the screen of "Maya". In the temple, when the Poojas are performed and the screen is removed, one will be able to see the secret only when he applies this to his mind and soul. Chidambaram also called ponnambalam (Golden hall), is the famous temple for Shiva devotees in Tamil Nadu. I am coming straight to the point please read. After 8 years of R & D, Western scientists have proved that at Lord Natesa's or Lord Nataraja’s big toe is the Centre Point of World’s Magnetic Equator. Ancient Tamil Scholar Thirumoolar did bring this to light five thousand years ago! His treatise Thirumandiram (tirumantram Namassivaya) can be reckoned as a wonderful scientific guide for the whole world. To understand his studies, it may need a 100 years for us. However let us know what Chidambaram temple embodies, very briefly.

Anybody will get dazed if follow the following characteristics carefully:

1)  This temple is located at the Center Point of world’s Magnetic Equator. 

2) Srikalahati – Srikalahastiswara Temple (13.749802, 79.698410) Kanchipuram – Ekambareswara Temple (12.847604, 79.699798) Chidambaram – Nataraja Temple (11.399596, 79.693559) 

The above three temples were built on the same longitude according to the yogic sciences, and are placed in a certain geographic alignment with each other, so that the entire region reverberated with the possibility they offered. Source: https://www.booksfact.com/mysteries/ancient-siva-temples-straight-line.html . Of the "Pancha bhootha" (5 Elements viz. prithvi (land) aapas(Water) tejas (Light) vayu(Air) aakaas (Sky)  i.e. 5 temples, Chidambaram Nataraja denotes the Skies.  

Srikalahasthi Srikalahastiswara denotes Wind.  

Kanchi Ekambareswara denotes land.  

All these 3 temples are located in a straight line at 79 degrees 41 minutes Longitude. This can be verified using Google.  An astounding fact & astronomical miracle! 

3)  Chidambaram temple denotes Human Body having 9 Entrances denoting 9 Entrances or Openings of the body ('తోలు తిత్తి ఇది' త్రోవలు తొమ్మిది తుస్సుమనుట ఖాయం).

4) Temple roof is made of 21600 gold sheets which denotes the 21600 breaths taken by a human being every day (15 x 60 x 24 = 21600) Normally a human being takes 15 breaths every minute.

5) These 21600 gold sheets are fixed on the Gopuram using 72000 gold nails which denote the total number of Nadis (Nerves) in the human body. These Nadis transfer energy to certain body parts that are invisible.

6)  Thirumoolar (Mulavirat) in Chidambaram represents Sadasivam which means Sadanandam who represents cosmic dance with his consort and at Chidambaram it is 'Ananda Tandavam' hence Sadanandam. That is (prkrithi-Purusha) Ardhanareeswara tatvam.

7) "Ponnambalam” is Kanaka Sabha and lord Siva here is called as Kanaka Sabhapathi. We find him being placed slightly tilted towards the left.  This represents our Heart.  To reach this, we need to climb 5 steps called "Panchakshara sopanamulu” or in Tamil “Panchakshara Padi”

"Si, Va, Ya, Na, Ma” are the 5 Panchakshara mantra.

There are 4 pillars holding the Kanaka Sabha representing the 4 Vedas. 

Here I will clarify that in Puranas have mentioned five Lord Sivas’ dancing halls as under:

 Kali Thandavam, Rathna Sabha, Vada Aaranyeswara Temple Thiruvalangadu, of Chennai.

Ananda Thandavam, Kanaka Sabha, Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram Sandhya Thandavam, Rajatha (Vendi) Sabha, Meenakshi Temple       , Madurai Muni Thandavam, Thamra Sabha, Nellaiappar (Venuvana natha) Temple, Tirunelveli Triupura Thandavam, Chithra Sabha, Kutralanatha Temple, Kutralam

8)  Ponnambalam (Kanaka Sabha) has 28 pillars denoting the 

28 ‘Agamas’ which are the 28 methods to worship Lord Shiva. 

Agama texts (Tamil) describe cosmology, epistemology and philosophical doctrines, precepts on meditation and practices, four kinds of yoga, mantras, temple construction, deity worship and ways to attain six fold desires. There are 28 Saiva Agamas and hence the pillars denote it. 

These 28 pillars support 64 +64 Roof Beams which denote the 64 Arts.  The cross beams represent the Blood Vessels running across the Human body.

9)  9 Kalasas on the Golden Roof represent the 9 types of Sakthi (Nava Durga) or Energies.

The 6 pillars at the Artha Mantapa represent the 6 Vedangas. The 18 pillars in the adjacent Mantapa represents 18 Puranas.

10) The dance of Lord Nataraja is described as Cosmic Dance can be defined as follows:

“According to quantum field theory, the dance of creation and destruction is the basis of the very existence of matter. Modern physics has thus revealed that every subatomic particle not only performs an energy dance, but also is an energy dance; a pulsating process of creation and destruction. For the modern physicists then, Shiva’s dance is the dance of subatomic matter, the basis of all existence and of all natural phenomena.”

When we evince interest we can come across several amazing things in our ancient Temples. It is all the perseverance and patience that counts.

Swasthi.