Significance Of Arudra Darshan

Arudra Darshan or Arudra Darisanam is a Shaivite festival that is observed in the Tamil month of Margazhi (December – January). Arudra Darshan 2023 date is on January 6 (Friday). In 2022, there will be no Arudra Darshan. The festival celebrates the cosmic dance of Nataraja, a form of Shiva. ‘Arudra’ means ‘golden red flame’. The deity performs the dance as a golden-red flame.

Ardra or Arudra or Thiruvathirai happens to be the name of a Nakshatra or birth star in Hindu astrology. The star is linked to Shiva.

Importance of Arudra Darshan

Arudra Darisanam is a very auspicious day in the Hindu calendar. The cosmic dance of Shiva is a symbolic representation of 5 activities. They are Creation, Protection, Destruction, Embodiment, and Release. In other words, it symbolizes the cycle of creation and destruction, which continues without end. Shiva’s cosmic dance occurs in every particle and generates all energy in the universe. Arudra Darshan is a celebration of this ecstatic dance.

Arudra Darshan at Chidambaram Nataraja Temple is very famous and attracts hordes of devotees. It also marks the end of Margazhi Brahmotsavam.

Other temples which celebrate it grandly are the Tiruvalankadu Temple, Tiruvarur temple, Nellaiappar temple, Kutralanathar temple, Kapaleeswarar Temple, etc. It is also observed in many other Shiva temples across the world. The festival is also celebrated in Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Australia, etc., where there is a sizeable population of Tamils.

When is Arudra Darshan?

It is on the Purnima or full moon night (along with Arudra Birth Star) in Margazhi. It is also the longest night of the year. The festival is mostly celebrated by Tamil people.

The grandest celebration of Arudra Darshan is at the Chidambaram Shiva Temple in Tamil Nadu. Shiva’s cosmic dance is enacted on this holy day at the temple.

The festival celebrating Nataraja's or Shiva's cosmic dance in the month of Margazhi is observed as Lord Nataraja Urchavam at Tiruvannamalai Temple. Tiruvannamalai Arunachaleswarar Temple also celebrates the festival on the day of Ardra Nakshatra in Margazhi. There will be special Poojas and rituals on this day.

Arudra Darshan at Chidambaram Nataraja Temple

At the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple in Tamil Nadu, one can worship Shiva in his Nataraja form. One can see him here in his Ananda Tandava pose. The festival coincides with the conclusion of Margazhi Brahmotsavam, which is the most important festival in this temple.

The Chidambaram temple is also known as the Thillai Nataraja temple, after the forest of Thillai trees, which once grew where the temple now stands. It was built in the 10th century when Chidambaram was the capital of the Chola kings. It is one of the Pancha Bhootha temples and represents the element of space or Akasa (sky). It lies at the center of the world’s magnetic equator. The temple is located 235 km from the state capital, Chennai.

The Legend behind Arudra Darshan

According to legends, Shiva performed the cosmic dance as Nataraja at Chidambaram for two devotees - Adi Shesha and Vyagrapaadar. Adishesha is the seven-hooded snake on whom Vishnu rests in the Milky Ocean. He wanted to see this cosmic dance of creation after he heard about it. Shiva instructed him to take the form of Sage Patanjali and go to the Thillai forest, where he would perform the dance. Sage Vyagrapaadar was a Shiva devotee who performed rigorous penance and Tapas to witness the Ananda Tandava. Lord Shiva performed the dance for these two devotees at Chidambaram.

In the Thillai (a species of mangrove trees) forests, a group of sages once resided. They had magical powers and thought that they could control even God with their rituals and 'mantras'. To curb their arrogance and ego, Shiva came to the forest in the form of Bhikshadanar, a simple mendicant. He was very handsome, and he was also accompanied by his consort, who was none other than Vishnu as Mohini.

The rishis and their wives were enchanted by the handsome mendicant and his wife. But the the sages became angry when they saw their wives going after the mendicant. They materialized many 'serpents' through their magic. But the mendicant wore them as ornaments on his matted locks, waist, and neck. Then the sages invoked a fierce tiger, which Shiva skinned and wore as a loincloth. The frustrated sages used all their spiritual strength to invoke a powerful demon called Muyalakan, who symbolized arrogance and ignorance. But Shiva stepped on the demon's back and immobilized him. Then he performed the Ánanda Thandava (the dance of eternal bliss). When they realized who the mendicant was, the sages surrendered at his feet, and their arrogance and ego vanquished.

Ananda Thandavam symbolizes the Pancha krityas or 5 divine acts of creation, sustenance, dissolution, concealment, and bestowment of grace.

The Symbolism of Ananda Thandava

The demon under the feet of Nataraja signifies that he conquers ignorance. The Fire in this hand signifies his powers of destruction. The raised hand means that he is the savior of all life. The Ring at the back denotes the cosmos. The drum in his hand represents the origin of Life. In the Chidambaram Temple, Shiva is also worshipped as Akasa Lingam or the ‘formless form’, which is called Chidambara Rahasyam.

Arudra Darshan is observed in Kerala as the Thiruvathirai festival, which is dedicated to Shiva and Parvati.