This hall that the writing, inauguration and first exposition of Periapuranam (see below) by Sekkizhar took place in the twelfth The third prAkAra houses the hundred-pillared hall called the Deva- SabhA as well as the Raja SabhA, the 1000-pillared hall. The five prakaras are each separated by walls one within the other. Lord in the dance-pose called Urdhva-tANDava (with one foot up in theĪir). Structure in the form of a chariot drawn by horses. PrAkAra (wide corridor with walls of enclosure). The third SabhA called the Nritta SabhA (Hall of Dance) in the Chidambarm temple, is further south in the second The three temples, representing Akasha, Vayu and Prithvi - namely, Chidambaram, Kalahasti and Kanchipuram - are lined up in the same East Longitude of 79 degrees 41 minutes ! Chidambaram represents Akasha (Space) among the five fundamental elements. They have three representations of the Almighty, one in anthropomorhic form -the Nataraja icon -, the second in crystal linga form, named Chandramouliswara, and the third in the formless manner, namely, an empty space represented by a strand of vilva leaves hung on the outer wall of the chit-sabha. These two SabhAs constitute the Holy of Holies. Both the Kanaka SabhA and the Chit SabhA have gilded roofs, laid by Parantaka chola in the 10th century. Is from Kanaka- (golden) SabhA (called Pon-ambalam, in Tamil). Temples which measure longer from east to west. The temple itself is longer from north to south unlike the generality of Nataraja icon) is situated not right in the middle but slightly shifted to one The heart in the human body, the sanctum sanctorum (which is the Of the heart in the human body, the man lying with his head to the south. The Chit-SabhA is located in the temple in the position The temple is said to be located at the lotus heart of the whole universe. He is the Chit, the very Consciousness of all This Lord is the Lord of all assemblies and so He is knownĪs SabhA-pati. Installed, and has been consecrated ever since known historical times and This is where the famous Nataraja icon is The innermost, is the Chit-sabhA, the Hall of Knowledge. The temple at Chidambaram proclaims to the whole world the