Thillai Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram

Thillai Natarajah Temple, Chidambaram (Tamil: சிதம்பரம் கோயில் - Chidambaram Thillai Natarajar-Koothan Kovil or Chidambaram temple) is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva located in the centre of the temple town of Chidambaram, East-Central Tamil Nadu, South India. Chidambaram Thillai temple is known as the foremost Kovil to Saivites and has influenced worship, architecture, sculpture and performance art for over two millenium. The Sangam classics list chief architect Viduvelvidugu Perumtaccan as directing an early renovation of the shrine. A major shrine of Shiva worship since the classical period, there have been several renovations and offerings to Chidambaram by the Pallava, Chola, Pandya, Vijayanagara and Chera royals in the ancient and pre-medieval periods. Its 2nd century BCE bronze statues and 2nd century CE stone sculptures depicting various deities and the famous Thillai trees (Exocoeria agallocha) of the surrounding forest reflect the highpoints of early Chola and Pallava art while its famed gold plated gopuram towers are medieval structural additions by the royals Aditya I, Parantaka Chola I, Kopperunchinga I, Krishnadevaraya and Jatavarman Sundara Pandyan. King Kocengannan Chola was born following prayers his parents offered at the temple and later in his life he refined its structure.^[1][2][3] The shrine gave the town its name.