7 Chidambaram =========================================--- One of the most popular and celebrated Siva kShEtras in the country, Chidambaram is the confluence of the varied and significant streams of religion, philosophy and art. Nowhere else do we see such a congregation of yOgIs, philosophers, musicians, dancers, poets, composers and of course the simply devout, offering homage to the Supreme Being through the medium of their calling, as at Chidambaram. For, Lord Nataraja symbolises for all of them the ultimate in their chosen mode of worship. No other place is closely connected with the performing arts as Chidambaram, which for Shaivites is simply 'kOyil'. The Lord Himself is a dancer, a consummate Artiste as represented in the beautiful icon that adorns the citsabhA. Nataraja is variously referred to as sabhAnAyakan (the Lord of the hall of Consciousness), ADalvallAn (the dancing God), naTEshan (the Lord of Dance) or simply sabEshan and by hundreds of other names. The esoter...