Vedaranyeswarar temple
Temple Vidangar Temple Dance pose Meaning
Thyagarajar Temple Vidhividangar Ajabathaanam Dance without chanting , resembling the dance of Sri Thyagaraja resting on Lord Vishnu 's chest
Dharbaranyeswarar Temple Nagaradangar Unmathanathaanam Dance of an intoxicated person
Kayarohanaswamy Temple Sundaravidangar Vilathithaanam Dancing like waves of sea
Kannayariamudayar Temple Adhividangar Kukunathaanam Dancing like a cock
Brahmapureeswarar Temple Avanividangar Brunganathaanam Dancing like a bee that hovers over a flower
Vaimoornaathar Temple Nallavidangar Kamalanaanathaanam Dance like lotus that moves in a breeze
Vedaranyeswarar Temple Bhuvanivividangar Hamsapthanathaanam Dancing with the gait of a swan
Processional Dance
Entrance of the temple The Thyagarajar Temple at Tiruvarur is famous for the ajapa thanam ( dance without chanting ) . According to legend , a Chola king named Mucukunta obtained a boon from Indra ( a celestial deity ) and wished to receive an image of Thyagaraja Swamy ( presiding deity , Shiva in the temple ) reposing on the chest of reclining Vishnu . Indra tried to misguide the king and had six other images made , but the king chose the right image at Tiruvarur . The other six images were installed in Thirukkuvalai , Nagapattinam , Tirukarayil , Tirukolili , Thirukkuvalai and Tirumaraikadu . [ 18 ] [ 19 ] All the seven places are villages situated in the river Kaveri delta . All seven Thyagaraja images are said to dance when taken in procession ( it is the bearers of the processional deity who actually dance ) . The temples with dance styles are regarded as Saptha Vidangam ( seven dance moves ) . [ 20 ] and the related temples are as under : [ 21 ]
Vedaranyeswarar Temple is a temple dedicated to Shiva, located in the town of Vedaranyam in Tamil Nadu, India. Vedaranyeswarar is revered in the 7th century Tamil Shaiva canonical work, the Tevaram, written by Tamil saint poets known as the nayanars and classified as Paadal Petra Sthalam. It is the only temple to have found mention in all the seven Thirumurais. The temple is famed for the legend between Appar and Sundarar when the former sang to open the door while the latter sang to close the door. Vedaranyeswarar temple is a part of the series of temples built by Aditya Chola (871-907 CE) along the banks of river Kaveri to commemorate his victory in the Tirupurambiyam battle. It has several inscriptions dating back to the Chola period. The temple has six daily rituals at various times from 5:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., and three yearly festivals on its calendar. The annual Brahmotsavam (prime festival) is attended by thousands of devotees from far and near. The temple is maintained and administered by the Hindu Religious and Endowment Board of the Government of Tamil Nadu. Agathiyampalli Shiva Temple and Kodiyakarai Shiva Temple are other famous temples located in the same stretch.