Dance

The temple has an Adhishtana or a hall for dance performance which is in front of the main shrine. Here dances were performance as a part of the daily ritual which is called nitya puja and the naimittika puja, which was held during the special celebrations that were organised by the temple, especially during the period of the Brahmotsav (annual festival). The dance that was mainly performed here was the Bharatnatyam. In this manner the temple preserved a very rich tradition of dance and many talented dancers came here to showcase their talent. Even today, students of the classical Bharatanatyam dance come here to give their first public performance, which is dedicated to the God as an offering.

Closely related to the dance in the temple were the Devdasis, or the young girls who were dedicated to the service of the main deity of the temple, trained in dance and music, and would perform in temples.  As per an inscription in the temple, nearly 444 dancers had been employed the King ... More

Dance

The temple has an Adhishtana or a hall for dance performance which is in front of the main shrine. Here dances were performance as a part of the daily ritual which is called nitya puja and the naimittika puja, which was held during the special celebrations that were organised by the temple, especially during the period of the Brahmotsav (annual festival). The dance that was mainly performed here was the Bharatnatyam. In this manner the temple preserved a very rich tradition of dance and many talented dancers came here to showcase their talent. Even today, students of the classical Bharatanatyam dance come here to give their first public performance, which is dedicated to the God as an offering.

Closely related to the dance in the temple were the Devdasis, or the young girls who were dedicated to the service of the main deity of the temple, trained in dance and music, and would perform in temples.  As per an inscription in the temple, nearly 444 dancers had been employed the King for performing before the gods. The king provided for them and they used to stay in a street known as Tellichery, near the temple. They were all well adept in Bharatanatyam. The Devadasis had high respect in society in those days who nurtured and preserved the Bharatanatyam dance tradition. They were revered not just for their dancing, but also as literary critics and storytellers in their own right.

The sculptures in the temple also points to dance being an integral part of the traditions of this temple. While Lord Shiva is depicted as performing the tandava dance, his is wife Parvati is shown performing the lasya. The depictions of nartakis or dancers showing eighty one of hundred and eight karanas (synchronised movements of hands and feet) in Bharata Natyam are carved here. These karanas have been mentioned in the Natya Shastra of Bharata Muni or Sage Bharata. These depictions are first of their kind. The physical postures, and the movement, which is visible in these sculptures, give a unique dynamism to these figures.

When the temple turned 1000 years old in September 2010, the city of Thanjavur turned into a cultural hub for two days beginning 26 September. There were street performances and classical dances were performed throughout the town.

A Bharathanatyam Yajna, or a classical dance show was organised by the state government under a famous dancer, Padma Subramaniam. Nearly 1000 dancers from different parts of India and from other coutries such as Singapore, Malaysia and the USA performed here. They danced 11 verses of divine music Thiruvisaippa (ninth volume of Thirumurai) composed by Karuvur deva (the guru of Raja Raja Chola) which had been recorded.