Chit Sabha

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From a young age, I always felt a strange fascination with Chidambaram. I didn’t really know why, but whenever I heard the name, I felt drawn to it. There was something special about Chidambara Rashyam that caught my attention, and I would always listen carefully whenever it was mentioned.

When I turned 40, I decided to go on a trip to visit the Panchabhoota Shivalingams. I planned the trip in 2023, and thought I would start with Chidambaram, driving from Hyderabad, which is about a 16-hour journey. I had 18 years of driving experience and never had an accident. But, when I finally reached Chidambaram and was parking my car, something strange happened. I suddenly hit a wall very hard. I was completely shaken and couldn’t understand why it happened. But, I had finally reached my first Panchabhoota Shiva Linga.

Afterwards, I went to the temple, and to my surprise, a Deekshitar (a temple priest) welcomed me as though he knew me. Without me asking, he began explaining the complete history of the Chidambaram temple. He even invited me to his home for dinner, and I ended up meeting the other priests there, like a big family. After this experience, I continued my journey to visit all the Panchabhoota temples, and finally returned to Hyderabad after covering nearly 2000 kilometers.

From that point, until January 2025, I visited Chidambaram every month. Each time, I had unique experiences—meeting different people and learning more about the temple. One time, I got Kunchita Padam that had been on Nataraja for 24 hours, just before Ardra Darshanam. On Ardra Darshanam, I was gifted a Shivlinga by an unknown person. Many miraculous things happened during these visits. I also received my mantra deeksha from one of the Deekshitars there.

Through these visits, I came to understand what Chidambaram Rahasyam truly meant, thanks to one of the senior Deekshitars. I also began to observe different forms of the deity every time I visited. One Shivaratri, during my deep meditation in the temple, I felt an overwhelming sense of peace, as if my mind was completely blank for hours. It was then that I truly felt a deep connection to this temple. I felt like I belonged there, as if this temple was a part of me.

 Sage Patanjali is one of the most revered rishis in Indian tradition — known as the father of classical Yoga. He is the author of the Yoga Sutras, a profound collection of 196 aphorisms that form the foundation of Ashtanga Yoga — the eightfold path of spiritual growth.

But Patanjali is not just a philosopher or teacher — he is also considered a divine incarnation of Adi Shesha, the cosmic serpent who eternally serves Lord Vishnu.

He is often depicted as a half-human, half-serpent figure, symbolizing the awakening of spiritual energy (Kundalini) through discipline, devotion, and inner silence.

Chidambaram is no ordinary temple. It is where Lord Shiva dances as Nataraja — the Cosmic Dancer — revealing the rhythm and stillness behind creation. And it is here that Sage Patanjali found his heart's fulfillment.

• Patanjali, along with Sage Vyāghrapāda, desired to witness Lord Shiva’s Ananda Tandava — the blissful cosmic dance.
   
• They performed deep penance and devotion in the forests near Chidambaram.
   
• Their tapas (spiritual austerity) moved Lord Shiva, who granted them the ultimate darshan — dancing as Nataraja, within the Chidambara Rahasya (the Secret of Chidambaram — the space of consciousness).

• Patanjali represents Yoga — control of the mind.
   
• Vyāghrapāda represents Bhakti — pure devotion.
   
• Together, they show that both Yoga and Bhakti can lead one to the feet of the Divine.
   

Even today, their presence is honored in the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple. You can see sculptures of Patanjali with folded hands, lower body coiled like a serpent, standing beside Vyāghrapāda — both forever witnessing the Lord’s dance.

The Story of Sage Patanjali

Long, long ago — when time still moved gently through the breaths of sages and gods — the cosmic serpent Adi Shesha, upon whom Lord Vishnu rests, felt a stirring in his soul.

One day, as he listened to the Lord speak of Shiva's Ananda Tandava, the dance of bliss that shakes the heavens and silences the mind, Adi Shesha longed to see it — to witness, not just hear, the rhythm of creation and destruction move in perfect balance.

The desire grew so strong that Adi Shesha took birth on Earth, as a sage — one of wisdom, calmness, and deep spiritual fire. He was named Patanjali:

• “Pat” – to fall or descend
   
• “Anjali” – folded hands in prayer
   

A soul who descended to Earth with his hands folded in devotion.

Patanjali wandered in search of that sacred place where the Lord’s feet touched the earth in divine rhythm. Guided by an inner knowing, he reached the forests of Chidambaram, the hidden space where Lord Shiva dances not for the world, but for the soul.

There, he met Sage Vyāghrapāda, the tiger-footed rishi, who too was waiting — longing to offer his devotion and witness the Lord’s cosmic dance.

Together, the two sages performed fierce tapasya, their bodies still, their minds absorbed, their hearts open wide.

Years passed. Seasons folded and unfolded. And then… in the stillness of their devotion, the sky shimmered.

The golden doors of the inner temple opened. In the space behind the curtain, in the silence of the soul, Lord Shiva appeared as Nataraja — the Lord of Dance.

He danced… not to entertain, but to reveal —
To show the rhythm of creation and destruction, the beat of life and death, the still point at the heart of motion.

Sage Patanjali, with his serpent form, bowed low. His heart saw what even gods wait to see — the truth moving, the truth still.

He had come from the heavens for this moment. And in that instant, he dissolved into the joy of witnessing the truth — not in silence, but in cosmic movement.