It is said that the idol of Lord Nataraja is made in accordance with the rules laid in the Bogar 4000 text using various herbals and five metals known as Panchaloka.  Lord Shiva in the entrance of the temple is in the form of functioning His three activities of creation, sustaining and destroying.  After the building of the Nataraja temple, the back side area of the place is named Sivapuram. 

While generally we see saint Manickavasagar at the feet of Lord Shiva, we see Saint Tirumoolar in this temple.  Sages Vyakrapada and Patanjali are on both sides of Lord Nataraja in a sitting position.  Against the tradtion of Sun and Moon before the Lord in Shiva temples, Sun and Bhairava are here.  The significance is that Bhairava graces here with 10 hands in the name Dasabuja Bhairava.  Sani Baghwan graces from a separate shrine.

The temple is administered by Panniru Tirumurai Valarchi Kazhagam.  Another organization Naalvar Narpani Mandram serves the devotees.  An assembly prayer is conducted each Monday at 5.30 p.m. and Prasad offered to the sick.

Special pujas are performed with procession on the Guru Puja days of Nayanmars followed by a lecture on their lives.

Those aspiring to participate in the Natyanjali competitions in Chidambaram pray here offering special archanas to Lord.  Those seeking mental peace do meditation in the Dyan mandap.

Nayanmars - 63 distinguished saivite saints are collectively seen in a row in Shiva temples.  This is a temple where they are respectfully placed in separate shrines.  As rightly said by the divine Tamil women poet Avvai, the glory of Shiva devotees transcend powers of words.  Lord Shiva too expects that His devotees should be duly respected which alone would satisfy and please Him.  They grace in this temple wholly dedicated to them with 9 Kalasas.  Devotees choose to worship the saint belonging to their birth star to realize their wishes.

There are idols of Lord Vinayaka, Lord Chandrasekhara, Mother Parvathi, Saint Manickavasagar and Sekkizhar the author of Tiruthondar Puranam, an epic praising the glory of the 63 Nayanmars. There are five dance halls of Lord Sri Nataraja, in Tamilnadu, golden hall in Chidambaram, silver in Madurai, Precious Gems (Rathna) in Tiruvalangadu, pictures painted Chithira) in Kuttralam, Copper in Tirunelveli.  The dance hall built in this temple is of marbles.

There is shrine west of Lord Nataraja shrine called Sempon Jyothi Nathar shrine.  During abishek, devotees can see three cross lines as Vibuti (sacred ash) lines.  Around the shrine, Lord Vinayaka, Mother Aram Valartha Nayaki, Mother Ashta Buja ( 8 hands ) Durga, Lord Dakshinamurthy, Lord Annamalayar, Mother Durga and Lord Muruga with Valli and Deivanai grace the devotees.

The Navagraha Mandap ((9 planets) is differently designed.  It is made of a single stone in a round shape as a rath-car.  Sun-God is at the centre on lotus petals.  Other planets facing 8 directions are in sitting and mediating forms.  The rath is  drawn by seven horses.   Arunan the charioteer of Sun is driving the car.  Deities of the 8 directions are around the car-rath.

Following the ancient system of Manu Needhi, a prayer box is provided in the temple.  Devotees write their grievances in a piece of paper and put it in the box and ring the bell nearby thrice.  The Dikshit (priest) take the petitions during the morning puja, read it before the Lord secretly and burn them then.  Devotees, on realizing their wish, write a thanksgiving letter and put it in the box.

Many are worried not knowing to win the fate.  It is generally believed that chanting some hymns related to a particular problem, authored by great saints, do bring solace to the aggrieved, proved by experience.  To help the aggrieved, such hymns, relevant to the Rasi (the zodiac sign) of the devotees are engraved in the wall to facilitate proper prayers.

Tirumurai Hall: The hymns sung by the Saivite Saints are collectively called Tirumurai.  A hall is built in the temple named Tirumurai Arangam.  On the first Sunday of each month, classes are conducted in this hall on Saiva Siddhanta by the Tiruvavaduthurai Mutt.  Classes are also held here to learn the hymns along with dance classes on Maha Shivrathri day.  Prizes are offered to participants in competitions on these subjects.  Tamil scholars use the hall for their studies and research.

Saint Manickavasagar sang his celebrated Tiruvasagam in Chidambaram which was written on the palms by Lord Shiva himself in the guise of a devotee.  After completing the writing, He signed it with the note “written to the dictation of Manickavasagan” as Azhagia Tiru Chittrambalam Udayan.  Mother Sivakami is by the Lord in the name Osai Kodutha Nayaki – Mother who gave voice and Tala to the dance of the Lord gracing the devotees.