Chidambara Rahasyam

Who knows for certain? Who shall here declare it?

When was it born? When came creation?

The gods are later than this world’s formation;

Who then can know the origins of the world?

No one knows when creation arose;

Whether he has or has not made it.

He who surveys it from the lofty skies,

Only he knows – or perhaps he knows not.

                                                      —Rig Veda (X:129)

Chidambara Rahasyam- The secret of Chidambaram.

A secret known as God’s secret is held next to the main deity in the Shiva temple at Chidambaram. In Chidambaram Shiva is found in a dancing form unlike the “ linga” form seen in most  temples. Here he is dancing in a bliss in a circle of fire, symbolizing the cosmic cycle of creation, protection and annihilation.

Nataraja and the atomic theory

Modern physics had shown that the rhythm of creation and destruction is not only manifest in the turn of the seasons and in the birth and death of living creatures, but is also the very essence of organic matter. For modern physicists….Shiva’s dance is the dance of subatomic matter —-Fritjof Capra (Austrian born American physicist- author of The Tao of Physics)

The dancing form represents the combined sources and forces of the dynamic universal energy.  The movements and vibration created by dancing led to birth of the universe. The circle of fire is the primal energy that flows in and out. This dance is rhythmic, regular and perfect and manifesting in many things, regularity of the seasons, movements of the planets, laws of the universe and the biorhythms of  bodies , cells , molecules and atoms.  The soul , that lies at his feet,  evolves through a process of karma over lifetimes and is ultimately liberated  from bondage in the cycle of life and death through grace. This is ultimately the Hindu perspective of life, that the world is nothing but the eternal cosmic dance of creation, sustenance and dissolution that happens with a rhythm.

After many years of intense research scientists have finally found the Higgs Boson particle or the God particle. Without the Higgs Boson, the universe would be cold dark and lifeless. In the year 1924, a young scientist named Satyendhranath Bose from Calcutta sent a research report to Albert Einstein. Bose and Einstein proposed the Einstein Bose constant. The principle of atom and subatom was first proposed by Bose. This has been the initiative for the discovery of CERN scientists. Later another scientist from England Peter Higgs made tremendous contributions in this field. After fourteen years of research at CERN on the god particle, their theory was similar to the Hindu philosophy on cosmos.

According to quantum theory of physics, creation is full of atomic particles. Each particle has enormous energy latent in it. These particles are very dynamic in nature and change their form within  a split second. Sub atomic particles have a dual nature- sometimes they appear as particles and sometimes they become a continuous stream of energy known as the wave form. They often change from the wave form to the particle form and vice versa in a rhythm and eternally lose their existence. It is discovered that matter is nothing but a group of atomic particles. Particles move about in a structural rhythm within matter. Because of that, forms get created, forms get dissolved and forms grow and decay in a continuous way. In every change there is a rhythm, beauty and harmony . It is a dance of cosmic life in which forms appear, disappear and reappear, from the minutest particle to a giant star. They undergo constant changes and remain in a state of flux, dancing to the symphony of cosmic breath of life and to the tunes of cosmic rhythm. In the Hindu philosophy,  the matter is represented by Shiva, the rhythm is Shakti and in their union, the universe is manifest.

In 2004, a two meter statue of the dancing Shiva was unveiled at CERN in Geneva. The metaphor of the cosmic dance unifies ancient mythology, religious art and modern physics.

 

So what is the secret ?

The real secret in Chidambaram can not be seen with our physical eyes, but can be seen by the eyes of wisdom.  The secret is held behind a curtain. The curtain is dark blue on the exterior indicating ignorance and bright red inside indicating wisdom and bliss. The secret is illuminated when the aarti (flame for worship) is given with flaming camphor. What does the physical eye see? An open space ….. Only a hanging garland of gold bilva leaves that adorns a form less space. Bilva leaves are a favored form of worship to Lord Shiva. So what is the true secret? The true secret can be understood only by the mind. The curtain represents maya or ignorance. When the screen is moved, what we see is a form less, figure less presence. The secret is that the Lord Shiva is consciousness himself and has no beginning or an end. The garland has 51 leaves which represents the sounds in the form of the mantra that created the universe and the destinies. The Bilva garland is held on a spot that has a chakra denoting Siva- Sakthi union in the yantra form.

 

“O Man! Nothing is with you”

The temple at Chidambaram is representative of the element ether or space. There are five elements and five senses

The first element of earth (Prithvi) can be perceived by all five senses ; hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell.

The second element water can be perceived by heard , felt, seen and tasted. It does not have odour.

The third element fire can be heard, felt and seen.

The fourth element air can be heard and felt.

The fifth element ether or sky can only be heard and is inaccessible to all the other senses.

This reminds me of the planetarium show in the American museum of natural history that I watched with my son, when Neil Degrasse Tyson was describing the dark matter and  space,  the presence of which is realized in the constant vibrational hummmm ( similar to the  universal mantra of consciousness Om).

The dancing form of Shiva is a mythical representation of his deeds.

Upper right hand : holding the drum emerges as prime power of energy and creation.

Lower right hand bestows protection of all beings .

Upper left hand with fire does the deed of destruction.

Lower left hand points to the raised foot and signifies surrender before the eventual upliftment and liberation.

His right leg symbolizes victory over ignorance (Suppression of maya or illusion)

Uplifted left leg is revealing grace releasing the mature soul from bondage.

 

Shiva’s Nataraja form symbolizes combination of religion, art, science and philosophy merged as one.

 

 

 

Reference:

Lord of Dance: Atoms, Arts & Abode: Dr Chandrika Subramaniyan.