Pancha Sabhai
Encyclopedia
Pancha Sabhai Sthalangal refers to the temples of Lord Nataraja
, a form of Lord Shiva
where he performed the Cosmic Dance. Pancha indicates Five, Sabhai means hall and Stala means place. All these temples are located in Tamil Nadu
, India
.
are closely associated with Nataraja
and have their own myths of dance along with the halls specific to their version of dance. The seven dances of Lord Siva can be recognised as the varied facts of single theme viz. the Beauty and Bliss of the Absolute. Herein lies the aesthetic fact of the dance. The seven dances are:
It is significant to note that the above classification of Siva
's dance, as mentioned in puranic literature are found within the geographical and cultural limit of Tamil Nadu
. Of the seven dances, the seventh dance, Ananda Thandavam is representative and symbolic of the themes inherent in all other dances. The seventh is a composite ideal of the main tenets of Saiva Siddhanta Philosophy. The dance itself is a source of supreme aesthetic enjoyment of the beauty and bliss of god
Nataraja
Nataraja or Nataraj , The Lord of Dance; Tamil: கூத்தன் ;Telugu:నటరాజ is a depiction of the Hindu god Shiva as the cosmic dancer Koothan who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe and make preparations for god Brahma to start the process of creation...
, a form of Lord Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
where he performed the Cosmic Dance. Pancha indicates Five, Sabhai means hall and Stala means place. All these temples are located in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Nataraja
A few temples in Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
are closely associated with Nataraja
Nataraja
Nataraja or Nataraj , The Lord of Dance; Tamil: கூத்தன் ;Telugu:నటరాజ is a depiction of the Hindu god Shiva as the cosmic dancer Koothan who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe and make preparations for god Brahma to start the process of creation...
and have their own myths of dance along with the halls specific to their version of dance. The seven dances of Lord Siva can be recognised as the varied facts of single theme viz. the Beauty and Bliss of the Absolute. Herein lies the aesthetic fact of the dance. The seven dances are:
| Thandavam(Dance) | Hall | Temple | Location |
| Kali Thandavam | Rathinachabai | Vada aaranyeswarar Temple Thiruvalangadu Thiruvalangadu is a village in Tamil Nadu, India.Thiruvalangadu is a village on the western suburbs of Chennai. The railway station is located on the Chennai-Arakkonam Route, the penultimate station before Arakkonam. The temple is situated at a distance of 5 km from the station. It can also... |
Thiruvalangadu Thiruvalangadu Thiruvalangadu is a village in Tamil Nadu, India.Thiruvalangadu is a village on the western suburbs of Chennai. The railway station is located on the Chennai-Arakkonam Route, the penultimate station before Arakkonam. The temple is situated at a distance of 5 km from the station. It can also... , Chennai Chennai Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India... |
| Ananda Thandavam | Porchabai | Natarajar Temple | Chidambaram Chidambaram Chidambaram is a fast growing industrial city in Eastern part of Tamil Nadu and the taluk headquarters of the Cuddalore district. It is located in 58 km from Pondicherry, 60 km from Karaikal, and 240 km south of Chennai by rail... |
| Sandhya Thandavam | Vellichabai | Meenakshi Amman Temple Meenakshi Amman Temple Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple or Tiru-alavai is a historic Hindu temple located in the south side of river Vaigai in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India... |
Madurai Madurai Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and... |
| Muni Thandavam | Thamirachabai | Nellaiappar Temple Nellaiappar Temple Nellaiappar Temple is one of the famous Shiva Temples situated at the heart of Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India.-History:... |
Tirunelveli Tirunelveli Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu... |
| Tirupura Thandavam | Chithirachabai | Kutralanathar Temple Thirukutralam Kutralam is a popular tourist resort in Southern Tamilnadu known for its waterfalls, amidst picturesque surroundings - and is a source of inspiration of many a literary work. Thousands visit this town when the waterfalls are in season. Kutralam represents one of the 5 Pancha Sabhas of Nataraja -... |
Tenkasi Tenkasi Tenkasi pronounced as is a town and a municipality in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located in the foothills of the Western Ghats near the Courtallam Waterfalls.Tenkasi is also famous for saaral... |
| Samhara Thandavam | Irundanalliravu | ||
| Gowri Thandavam | Chittsabai | Thirupattur | Thirupattur |
It is significant to note that the above classification of Siva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
's dance, as mentioned in puranic literature are found within the geographical and cultural limit of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. Of the seven dances, the seventh dance, Ananda Thandavam is representative and symbolic of the themes inherent in all other dances. The seventh is a composite ideal of the main tenets of Saiva Siddhanta Philosophy. The dance itself is a source of supreme aesthetic enjoyment of the beauty and bliss of god
The Five Temples
| Category | Temple | Location | Element |
| Rathinachabai | Vada aaranyeswarar Temple Thiruvalangadu Thiruvalangadu is a village in Tamil Nadu, India.Thiruvalangadu is a village on the western suburbs of Chennai. The railway station is located on the Chennai-Arakkonam Route, the penultimate station before Arakkonam. The temple is situated at a distance of 5 km from the station. It can also... |
Thiruvalangadu Thiruvalangadu Thiruvalangadu is a village in Tamil Nadu, India.Thiruvalangadu is a village on the western suburbs of Chennai. The railway station is located on the Chennai-Arakkonam Route, the penultimate station before Arakkonam. The temple is situated at a distance of 5 km from the station. It can also... , Chennai Chennai Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India... |
Emerald |
| Porchabai | Natarajar Temple | Chidambaram Chidambaram Chidambaram is a fast growing industrial city in Eastern part of Tamil Nadu and the taluk headquarters of the Cuddalore district. It is located in 58 km from Pondicherry, 60 km from Karaikal, and 240 km south of Chennai by rail... |
Gold |
| Vellichabai | Meenakshi Amman Temple Meenakshi Amman Temple Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple or Meenakshi Amman Temple or Tiru-alavai is a historic Hindu temple located in the south side of river Vaigai in the temple city of Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India... |
Madurai Madurai Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and... |
Silver |
| Thamirachabai | Nellaiappar Temple Nellaiappar Temple Nellaiappar Temple is one of the famous Shiva Temples situated at the heart of Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India.-History:... |
Tirunelveli Tirunelveli Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu... |
Copper |
| Chithirachabai | Kutralanathar Temple Thirukutralam Kutralam is a popular tourist resort in Southern Tamilnadu known for its waterfalls, amidst picturesque surroundings - and is a source of inspiration of many a literary work. Thousands visit this town when the waterfalls are in season. Kutralam represents one of the 5 Pancha Sabhas of Nataraja -... |
Tenkasi Tenkasi Tenkasi pronounced as is a town and a municipality in Tirunelveli district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located in the foothills of the Western Ghats near the Courtallam Waterfalls.Tenkasi is also famous for saaral... |
Art |