65 2015 JEERNODHARANA KUMBHABHISHEKAM Sri Nataraja Sabha Manadapam at SSVT Sthapati R. Selvanathan & Smt. Ponni Selvanathan S ri Nataraja Sabha Mandapam, another improtant addi- tion to the SSVT Temple complex is the miniature of Sri Chidambaram Temple moola vimanam. is sabha mandapam has been designed and carved in teakwood with a brass kavacha, covering, as we see at SSVT. e Iconic rep- resentation of Sri Nataraja “King of Dance” poses in Ananda taandava gesture—the Dance of bliss, is installed along with his consort Sri Sivakami ammai and Saint Sri Manickava- sagar. is arrangement is also addressed as kanaka sabha, the golden stage. Before entering into the design and the architectural aspects of Sri Nataraja Mandapam, we would like to give you a glimpse on the fabrication of the Universe associated with Lord Nataraja to better understand this Sabha Mandapam. e universe soon aſter the Big Bang was filled with cubical atoms which were then pulsating as a whole, comprised of energy filled atoms of primal light and primal sound. is breathtaking vision of the universe accommodated all the primal atoms in a rhythmic state of motion. is was experi- enced in the divine vision of our great Maharishis of the past. Further describing the state of existence of these primal par- ticles, the traditional science and technology goes to say that these particles are not static, but are in a state of vibration and hence always in a state of harmonized and rhythmic motion, self-illumined by the brilliant radiance of primal Light. In brief, the space is full of such luminous particles, throbbing with energy. Our Maharishis therefore chose to depict this as the dance of the ‘anu’ or the primal atom- expressing its state of existence both literally as well as from an artistic point of view. e same has been acknowledged and acclaimed by the modern day scholars and researchers. Upanishads refer to the primal atom ‘anu’ as anoraneeyan mahato maheeyan…meaning that which is smaller than the smallest and bigger than the biggest, implying the sig- nificance of the particle. In his treatise, ‘Sthapatya Veda’, Dr.V.Ganapati Sthapati makes reference to the ‘anu’, as ‘andamoolmai pindamoolmai kondilangu oliveliyena…’ Scholars choose to put this as, ‘the tree that resides within the seed and the seed that exists inside the tree’. To put it in another way, the akasha or the energetic space is the vibrant medium of the universe, where the subtle metamorphoses into gross forms and gross into subtle. is phenomenon is constantly taking place in the Universe. By the term akasha, both types of space are to be considered – Chit-akasa as inner space and para-akasa as outer space. at which resides within every organism in the universe is the inner space which is but the essential part of the outer space. Hence every movement or change that happens in the outer space occurs in the inner space also. is is the rule of nature. e wisdom of our ancient shilpi-rishis in depicting the form of Nataraja and comparing it to the very evolution of the universe stands supreme even to this day. In the dancing form of Lord Nataraja, the fire and the drum held out in the hands depict the brilliant radiation of light and the sound of the loud explosion associated with the evolution of the uni- verse. e darkness associated with this event of evolution is depicted by the demon, asura, named apasmara/muy- alagan on whom the Lord places one foot and assumes the dancing posture, symbolizing the suppression of the dark- ness by light. e graceful posture of his legs, with the leſt leg liſted frontwards to the right and the right leg footed is compared to the vibrant motion of the ‘anu’ or the cosmic dance of the sub-atomic particle. e Lord revels in this pos- ture and in the background is the halo -Tiruvasis, filled with sparks of fire and brilliant light, that depicts the countless luminous particles or ‘anu’ scattered in the entire universal space. Shilpa Shastram lays down that the form of the Nata- raja be made out of pancha loha or the alloy of five metals, representing the five elements. is divine form of Lord Nataraja revealing the secret of the evolution of universe has been experienced and visualized by