Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple (Dharbaranyeswarar Temple), Karaikal – Processional Dance

Tirunallar Saniswaran Temple (Dharbaranyeswarar Temple), Karaikal – Processional Dance

The Thyagarajar Temple at Tiruvarur is famous for the Ajapa Thanam (dance without chanting), that is executed by the deity itself. 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 Lord 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.

All the seven places are villages situated in the river Cauvery delta. All seven Thyagaraja images are said to dance when taken in procession (it is the bearers of the processional deity who actually dance). Thirunallar claims to be the Second of the seven Saptha Vidanga Sthalas. In other words, this sacred place enshrines a naturally formed Maragatha (emerald) Linga known as Navagavidanga which is the second out of the seven images gifted the Indra to a Chola King by name.

Lord Shiva, the King of dances, performs the Unmatha dance in this Kshetra. The sanctum on the left side of Thyagaraja has the Maragatha Linga kept in an iron safe. Abhishekas and pujas are offered to it five times a day. The temples with dance styles are regarded as Saptha Vidangam (seven dance moves) and the related temples are as under:

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