Pancha Sabhai: the five halls of Nataraja
Bhagwan Shiva as Nataraja, the Lord of dance, performs his tandava in five halls of Tamil Nadu, each named for the material of its roof or its character.
At Chidambaram is the Kanaka Sabha, the golden hall, where he dances the Ananda Tandava; at Madurai the Rajata or Velli Sabha, the silver hall, where for King Rajasekhara Pandya he danced with the right foot raised; at Tiruvalangadu the Ratna Sabha, the hall of gems, where he danced the Urdhva Tandava against Kali; at Tirunelveli the Tamra Sabha, the copper hall; and at Kutralam the Chitra Sabha, the hall of paintings. All five are sung in the Tevaram.
Temples in this circuit
StandingThillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram
Where Shiva danced the Ananda Tandava in the Thillai forest, and the Akasha (space) sthala of the Pancha Bhuta lingas. The sanctum’s ‘Chidambara Rahasyam’ is an empty space hung with a golden garland.
RebuiltMeenakshi Sundareswarar Temple, Madurai
The temple of the fish-eyed Devi who ruled Madurai as a Pandya princess and married Shiva. Plundered in 1311, it was raised again by the Nayaks into the city of fourteen gopurams that stands today.
StandingVadaranyeswarar Temple, Tiruvalangadu (Ratna Sabha)
The Ratna Sabha, hall of gems, among the five sabhas of Nataraja: here Shiva danced against Kali and won with the Urdhva Tandava, and here Karaikkal Ammaiyar sang at his feet to the end of her life.
StandingNellaiappar–Kanthimathi Temple, Tirunelveli
A twin temple of Shiva and Devi covering about 14 acres in the heart of Tirunelveli, famous for its musical stone pillars and for the Tamra Sabha, the copper hall, one of the five halls where Nataraja dances.
StandingKutralanathar Temple and the Chitra Sabha, Courtallam
The Chitra Sabha, hall of pictures, among the five sabhas of Nataraja, stands a short walk from the Kutralanathar temple at the foot of the Courtallam falls; its walls are covered with painted scenes from the Puranas and Itihasa.