Utsav, Bharatanatyam, and Chidambaram Temple

Isha Utsav is right around the corner in Chicago (June 10th), San Francisco (June 16th), Seattle (June 17th), and Detroit (June 30th). At each celebration, Radhe Jaggi will be giving a special Bharatanatyam performance. Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form from the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The dance originated in 1000 B.C., inspired by the carvings of the ancient Chidambaram Temple. Drawing thousands of visitors a year, the temple is a magnificent monument that epitomizes the spirit and tradition of temple-building – an integral part of the ancient culture of India.

On October 24th, 2010, Sadhguru was in the town of Chidambaram for the evening’s Mahasathsang program – a part of a series of Mahasathsangs in the “Ananda Alai – A Wave of Bliss” . In the afternoon, Sadhguru paid a visit to the legendary Chidambaram Nataraja Temple. Appalled at the lack of even basic cleanliness and seeing the sorry state of affairs at the temple premises, Sadhguru asked Isha volunteers to initiate periodic cleaning of the temple.

Sadhguru explains the awe-inspiring architecture and the consecration of the Temple.

“In South India, five temples were built for each of the five elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Air and Space. For every element, they built a temple, making the whole geography like a human body, so that people could make use of it and do the necessary sadhana. These five temples were created for sadhakas when there was a whole tradition of spiritual process. If you wanted to do sadhana for the element of Space you went to Chidambaram. Like this it was all fixed up. That is what a temple is supposed to be: the energy is created in a particular way for the specific purpose of sadhana.

This temple is very significant for us because it was consecrated by Patanjali himself. It is an incredible space.

This is how the culture has been. Even in ancient times, just look at the kind of temples that they built. Whether you see the Rameshwaram Temple, the Chidambaram Temple, or the Madurai Temple, these are all colossal establishments and they were created 1,000 to 1,200 years ago. At that time, almost every human being except the king lived in shacks. There was no machinery, there were no trucks, no cranes, but they worked for a couple of generations on these temples with a single-minded purpose. These people dedicated their whole life, they lived and died to create these temples because it meant so much to them.

When I went to the Chidambaram temple, I was almost in tears. You will wonder whether this is a temple or a garbage bin. It is in that condition. Nobody would want to go there after some time.

Whoever built this temple were not ordinary people – tremendous human beings. As engineers, as artists, as human beings – incredible people. Now, we are keeping it like a dump. We cannot build a place like that, but can’t we at least maintain this place for what it is? That we can definitely do – I think we are going to take that up.”

Following Sadhguru’s visit to the temple, a team was set up the very next weekend to start cleaning up the premise on a regular basis. For the volunteers who had gathered, it was an opportunity to offer something with joy and devotion.

The cleaning was no small task. It is not uncommon to see visitors throwing empty water bottles in the corridors, smearing kumkum on the pillars and carelessly scattering food packets in the premises. But the volunteers – armed with broomsticks, dustpans and every type of cleaning equipment they could get their hands on – left no dusty corner un-dusted, no pillar crevice unexamined, and no stone unturned (Metaphorically speaking of course. Rest assured – the temple’s stones are all in place).

Enthused by the team spirit and commitment, the locals also gave a helping hand and soon, thanks to some timely donations, the team got some hi-tech equipment such as cold and hot water jet cleaning machines, vacuum cleaners and mechanical scrubbers.

With their united effort and considerable support from the temple administration, the volunteers accomplished the mission – bringing the temple back to form – clean and welcoming to all who wish to have a darshan of Lord Chidambara.

A project of this magnitude is not a one-time job. It is an ongoing effort. Every Sunday, volunteers get together and carry out a thorough cleaning of the Temple Complex.