CHIDAMBARA RAHASYAM (SECRET)

There have been many explanations given by various people about this dance form of Shiva. This statue is famous in  a place in Tamil Nadu known as Chidambaram. There is a mystical secret associated with this place known as ‘ Chidambara rahasyam’ and priests show the devotees, for a few seconds, by pulling off a screen where one can see falling strands of stems bearing leaves somehow denoting the futility of life on earth. This place also has been described as the epicentre of earth or as some describe as the epicentre of the whole of Universe.

Well, I seem to have an explanation for all the above. It surely denotes the origin of the Universe, as a demonstration. In sanskrit, the word ‘ Hiranyagarba’ is mentioned which is the cosmic womb. Before the origin of the Universe, only consciousness existed. This is depicted as the meditating form of Shiva. Then the idea of formation of Universe was conceived, maybe as a sort of entertainment. The Consciousness (God) created a cosmic womb. The sattvic quality was changed to Rajas, meaning dynamism or increased activity. In my opinion the Nataraja statue denotes this cosmic womb. Consciousness created matter and energy in a space, Prakruti, Shakti and Akasha with Consciousness also taking part in a subtle way. In this scheme of things, Shiva is depicted as  matter and Shakti became Parvati. So we have a concept in Hinduism as Ardhanaarishwara. 

The statue consists of all these ingredients. The consciousness, matter in the form of body, energy in the form of fire and space. This system seem to be enclosed in a ball of fire denoting its potential energy. 

Now, we can also assume that this statue is a Carbon atom. The six limbs (four hands and two legs) of Shiva (arising from the main body i.e nucleus) represents the six protons present in a Carbon atom. The body of Shiva itself is consciousness. With the dance ( heightened activity) the protons, neutrons and electrons are shattered.  This probably give the idea of a Big Bang theory. 

We know from Atomic theory that all elements are made up of atoms. Atomic number, which is the number of protons (and electrons) determine the element. For eg. if an atom contains one proton and one electron it is Hydrogen atom. Two protons, two electrons becomes Helium atom. Likewise Carbon, Oxygen, Iron, Gold, Silver etc.. Coming back to the statue, which is a Carbon atom, it undergoes fission and fusion within an energy field. The womb is broken.the protons, neutrons and the electrons are scattered and later  lead to the formation of  various elements. Some of the Carbon atoms, under some circumstances, also form co-valent bonding with some elements to form long and complex chains of molecules which lead to the formation of biological bodies such as trees, animals and humans. We have, depicted in the image, hair braids as leaves and a child on which Shiva is resting his one leg meaning that biological bodies get formed.  The instrument in one of his hands, called as the damru probably represents sound energy produced in this process. We cannot fail to notice that all this takes place in an atmosphere of tremendous energy which are both emanated as well as absorbed. The elements as well as biological bodies represent the matter. The light represents the energy. There is also the physical energy, the kinetic energy. The light energy, as per Quantum Physics, gets transmitted in the form of photon waves which on falling to a surface get converted to electrons (ElectroMagnetic theory) and this is how the matter and energy become convertible. 

When the biological bodies lose the life (i.e the Consciousness) they become mere matter subject to decay. The long chain carbon molecules get buried under the earth (which is also a matter) and in a process which happens over thousands of years, get converted into fossil fuels. They also get converted into some elements and their oxides which are then extracted as metal deposits. In some circumstances, the matter is burnt, i.e forest fires, Hindus burning of dead where the residue, the ash, may consist of some higher elements such as rare earths. Homa, performed as an austerity in Hindu religion is symbolic of this. 

And so the Natarajar Statue is a demonstration of the formation of the Universe and its many forms. The whole of Cosmic event of which humans are a small part is hidden inside of this statue/image. This is the reason, that the place Chidambaram is an epicentre and the statue, a mystical secret.