Raagam: Kamaas
Valathu patham thookki aadum VeLLi-ambalathn Iraivaa, un idathu pathaM thaangum Muyalagan thavam ennae!
Aadal arubaththu naalu purinthavaa, Paadal punainth aLiththa Aalavaai Sundaraa...
Kaal pathiththu Maduraiyai punitham seithavaa, Kadamba vanathaaLin karam pidith aaLbavaa, Sambanthan veNNeetru pathigam kondavaa, santha Tamizh vaLartha Sangath thalaivaa ...
Audio Link
Sung by Shri S. Thiagarajan
Background
In the great Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar temple, in the great
temple city of Madurai, to northern aspect of the Sri Sundaresvarar shrine,
there is 'VeLLiyamabalam'. This is the
shrine where Lord Siva as Nataraja, is performing the Cosmic Dance. The Dancing
Nataraja is said to perform his Cosmic Dance in five places (also called sabhas).
The Sabha at Chidambaram is the Golden Sabha or 'Pon
Ambalam' (Tamil)
The Sabha at Madurai is the 'Silver Sabha' - 'VeLLi Ampalam'
(Tamil)
Normally, the Dancing Nataraja stands on his right leg and
throws across the left leg.
Here in Madhurai, the Lord is seen dancing with his right
leg raised, unlike in Chidambaram.
According to the ThiruviLaiyaadal puraaNam, there was a
Pandya king called Rajasekara Pandyan who felt that Nataraja has been standing
on his right leg for eons of time. Out of intense devotion, he prayed to
Nataraja to shift his stance and posture. He wanted to the Lord to stand on His
left leg and raise his right leg instead. To fulfill his intense and innocent desire, to
alleviate the Lord of the stress and strain of standing on this right leg, the
king immersed himself into severe Tapas. The Lord pleased with the child-like
devotion of the King and gave him the darshan standing on his left leg, with
his right leg raised. This is known as
'Kaal maaRi aadiya patalam' among the 64 ThiruviLaiyaadal's - 64 Divine Sports
of Lord Sundareshwara of Madurai. This is story # 24 in the puranam.
References
1. http://jaybeetrident.blogspot.com/2012/04/left-shift.html
2. http://www.shaivam.org/english/sen_vil_maariyaadina_padalam.htm
