The Symbolic Dance of Shiva-Nataraja

THE SYMBOLIC DANCE OF SHIVA - NATARAJA
THE SYMBOLIC DANCE OF

SHIVA - NATARAJA
Symbols in Indian civilization have always been powerful representations of the higher
reality. The principle has been understood its support on our place of existence of its symbolical
counterpart. The link between the worlds, the outer and inner, the higher and the lower, is
through the language of symbols. How else can a reality where the sight cannot go, nor the
mind, where we cannot know, we cannot understand something other than all that is known
be comprehended?
The dance has been one of the most powerful vehicles for this representation and the
dancer is fortunate that through her entire being, she is an expression of infinity. The images
of our deities each manifest in their visible structures, one particular aspect of the world. But
the genius of Indian thought found a marvellous unity of science, art and religious fervor in the
sculpture of the Dancing Shiva, Nataraja, Lord of the Dance.
Whenever, as a dancer, we speak in the language of the dance of Nataraja, infinite are
the possibilities that cross our minds, with the realization that Nataraja imparts wisdom
constantly, through his famous pose that has been immortalized by the master carvers of
Southern India.
The deep significance underlying this image should be clearly understood not only
because this symbol has been alive for six thousand years but because the message is still
significant today.
The upper right hand holds aloft the damaru, representing Nada, the sound, the
evolution of the universe. From sound came all language, all music, all knowledge. The shape
of the drum, with its two triangles, tells us of nature and energy which combine together for all
creation. The upper left hand in the half moon gesture, holds a tongue of flame.
Why does Shiva hold the hope of creation in one hand, and the flame, the fire that
destroys, in the other? For, creation and destruction are the counterparts of His Own Being.
They are the two aspects of our life, for as we are surely born, so do we surely die. What then
is the answer? The right hand, held in front, in the wondrous gesture of protection and peace,
tells us, Look for Gods grace is ever with you.
Whether it be Shiva or Krishna, Buddha or Christ, every manifestation of the Supreme,
uses this Hasta called Abhaya Hasta in the language of the dance. But let us go on questioning.
How can we attain that grace; how may we be forever in Thy care? The left hand points the
way. It lies across the body, directing the gaze to the foot. The hand is in the gaja hasta, the
sign of the elephant hand. This is the hand movement depicting the trunk of the elephant and
herein is a still deeper meaning. The trunk is discriminating. It can pick up and break the
heaviest of objects, as well as handle the most delicate. It can choose between the two. So too,

should we choose between the higher and the lower, and be discriminating. And to help us, he
who owns the trunk, Ganesh remover of all obstacles, is ever present.
The left foot is raised, telling man that as the dancer raises his foot, so can man raise
himself and attain salvation. While one foot is raised, the right foot, upon which balances the
whole body of the universe, that which at this eternal moment of dance, precariously balances
the fate of the world, that foot is not on the firm ground, but upon the body of a struggling
dwarf, a man who is the embodiment of all that veils truth from falsehood, the Apasmara
purusha made up of ignorance of forgetfulness. This is the purusha within us, which prevents
us from realizing our own essential divinity. It is for us to firmly crush out the ignorance if we
are to attain the supreme joy which is our true nature, the eternal bliss that man calls God.
Around Nataraja, is a ring of flames, the prabha mandala, the dance of nature, all initiated by
the Self in the centre, all emanating from Him, and all dissolving within Him.
While Shiva dances, His mated locks hold the sacred river Ganga, the power and the
source of all movement in life, with its waters that purify mankind and the crescent moon
delicate as a new born baby with its promise of life in all its radiance and glory. His face, calm
and immobile, is a spectator in the external play of His own creative impulse. It is the secret of
life open to us all to read. A seeker of the Truth needs only to look with eyes that see.
(1) SIVA LINGAM:

THE SACRED SYMBOL OF HINDUISM
Temple worship, central to todays Hinduism, is as old as India itself, going back even
to the Indus Valley (C. 2500 B.C.E.) civilization of the pre-Aryan people who worshipped Siva
as the supreme Being symbolized through the Siva Lingam (literally meaning symbol of
Siva).
The Vedas and the Agamas are our sacred scriptures While the Saivite Hindu Agamas
prescribe the different modes of construction of Temples and installation of sacred idols
therein, the Vedas give us the mantras (hymns) for invocation of Gods grace in, the temples
so constructed. God is the embodiment of Nadha or sound from which Bhindu or form
emanated. Sound is indicated by a short line, while form is shown by a disc or half circle
Thus the short line and half circle both together assume the form of SIVA LINGAM a
symbol for God who is beyond time and space. The visual symbol for a formless and eternal
Siva, the fourth Entity high above the three entities, Viz: Brahmah, Vishnu and Rudra. AUM
NAMAH SIVAYAH is our most sacred Mantra.
(2) SIVA AS NATARAJA THE LORD OF DANCE

The dancing form of Siva as Nataraja is the most important of the 25 image forms of
Lord Siva in the South Indian Saivite tradition. Sivas dance is not an empty myth but an image
of the Energy which science must postulate behind all phenomena its significance is three
fold: - first it is the image of his rhythmic play as the source of all movement within the cosmos,
which is represented by the arch of flames; secondly the purpose of his dance is to release the
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countless souls from the snare of illusion; thirdly, the place of the dance, Chidambaram, is
within the individual heart.
This artistic symbol and focus of Hinduism represents the five-fold cosmic functions
of Siva and expresses the rhythm and unity of life. The dance of Siva as the journey of the
Spirit can be witnessed in the rising sun, in the waves of the ocean, in the lightning and thunder
indeed it is the whole cosmic play or activity. Siva is dancing over the body of the demon
who is the embodiment of ignorance, the destruction of which is the pre-requisite to
enlightenment, true wisdom and release from the bondage of mundane existence.
THE SACRED DANCE OF SIVA

[Extract from the book Finding Fulfilment Published by London Meikandaar Aadheenam]

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What does the dance of Shiva represent?

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THE SYMBOLIC DANCE OF SHIVA - NATARAJA

THE SYMBOLIC DANCE OF

THE SYMBOLIC DANCE OF SHIVA - NATARAJA

(1) SIVA LINGAM:

(2) SIVA AS NATARAJA THE LORD OF DANCE

THE SYMBOLIC DANCE OF SHIVA - NATARAJA

THE SACRED DANCE OF SIVA

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