Description: The Thillai Nataraj Temple is a famous place of jqLord Shiva, who is known as the Cosmic Dancer. It is one of the "Pancha Bootha" Temples and this Temple Denotes the Skies. It is located in the town of Chidambaram, which is 78 km from Pondicherry and 235 km from Chennai in Tamil Nadu. The name "Chidambaram" means Stage of Consciousness. This Temple has a long history, with a Shiva Shrine present at this location even when it was called Thillai. The Temple's design connects art and spirituality, showing how creativity and the divine come together. The carvings on the walls show all 108 Karanas, which are Dance Positions from the Natya Shastra, an ancient text by Bharata Muni. These positions are the base for Bharata Natyam, a Traditional Indian Dance. The current Temple structure was built in the 10th century when Chidambaram was the Capital of the Chola Dynasty. The Cholas, who saw Nataraja as their family God, took care of the Temple through many repairs and renovations over the years. Most of what you see in the Temple today was constructed in the late 12th and early 13th Centuries, with later additions made in the same style. Though the main deity is Shiva as Nataraja, the Temple also includes important elements from other Hindu traditions such as Shaktism & Vaishnavism. It has an old Amman Temple, a Surya Shrine with a Chariot, and shrines for Ganesha, Murugan, and Vishnu. 

There is also a Sacred Pool called Shiva Ganga, large halls for Pilgrims to rest, and other important structures. In the Temple, Shiva is shown as Nataraja Performing the Ananda Tandava dance in a special hall called Pon Ambalam. Chidambaram Temple is one of the five elemental lingas in Shaivism, which is a significant tradition within Hinduism. It is considered one of the most important Shiva temples. The temple also hosts cultural events, including the Natyanjali dance festival, which takes place every year on Maha Shivaratri. Thousands of devotee’s witness car festival of Sri Nataraja temple in Chidambaram at Arudra Darshan festival. The devotees pulled five cars carrying the processional-cum-presiding deity Lord Nataraja, his consort Sivagamasundari and other deities through the town, covering the four car streets. The Post office is located in one of the streets of the car’s route and a Carried cover was issued with the inauguration of the Permanent Pictorial Cancellation which was carried by Lord Nataraja car.