|
It is to
this shrine the four great Saiva Samaya Acharyas - Appar, Sambandar,
Sundarar and Manikkavachakar are intimately connected and produced
master pieces eulogizing their respective paths Charya, Kriya, Yoga
and Gnana; it is on this temple towers the entire dance history
through 108 modes of dance are carved with descriptions as given in
the Bharata Natya Sastra; it is this kshetra, that gave liberation
to several hundreds of devotees, like Sage Nanda and
Tirunilakandanayanar, Vyagrapada, Patanjali etc., it is to this
temple Chola Kings made liberal endowments, like adorning the roof
with god plates; it is here according to inscriptions Hiranya Varma
Chakravarthi of Kashmir was cured of his leprosy with a single bath
in temple Pushkarini as back as in 500 A.D; it is to this temple
Nattukotti Chettiars vied with the royal families to making
endowments, such as covering the ceiling with gold etc., it is this
presiding Lord that was ardently worshipped by imperial monarchs as
the family deity; it is here the King dancer
- Nataraja propounded the theory and function of dance forms,
representing energy, rhythm, harmony and orderliness; for, he treats
the world as his stage and dance, representing the Primeval rhythmic
energy.
And he dances to keeping up the life of cosmos, and it is to
this temple, donors deemed it a great privilege to employing master
builders, whose craftsmanship left it a sculptural treasure house
and architectural museum. Emerged
thus as a monumental piece of superb art, and a spiritual haven of
supreme significance, it is lifting the devout from the abyss of
grief by releasing them from the vicious circle of births and
deaths, since the Vedic times.
|
