A form of Siva is that of Lord Nataraja, The term 'Nataraj' means 'King of Dancers' (Sanskrit nata = dance; raja = king). It is believed that the energy from this dance of bliss (Ananda Tandavam) sustains the cosmos, and when Siva is finished with this dance, the Universe will end and a new one will begin. The dance is said to symbolize the five divine acts (pancha krityas) of creation, sustenance, dissolution, concealment and bestowment of grace.
Arudra denotes a red flame and Lord Siva has also a name called "Semporjyoti" or "Golden Red Flame," and thus Nataraja is the manifestation of Siva as a Light.
This Festival celebrates the cosmic dance of Lord Siva and is observed in the month of Marghazhi , on the day when the Arudra Star and the new moon coincides. This year the Festival fell on December 18, 2013. In this festival Abhishekam of Lord Nataraja takes place early in the morning and then He comes outside amongst his devotees.
Legends of Arudra Darshanam
One time while Lord Vishnu was lying down on the serpent Adisesha, the serpent felt the Lord was very heavy. On asking the reason, Vishnu responded that he was remembering and enjoying the great dance of Lord Siva.
A devotee of Lord Siva known as Viyagrapadha prayed to his Lord that he may attain the legs of a tiger so that he would be able to pluck flowers early in the morning for puja, before insects touched the flowers. He also prayed that he would receive darshan of the Lord in the form of Nataraja dancing the Cosmic dance. God appeared to the devotee on the day of Thiruvaadirai to grant the devotee his wish.
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