What does Shiva's cosmic dance mean (Shiva Thandavam) ?
It's famously known as the 'Anandatandava', The dance of bliss. It contains the elements of a tandava, all of which are Sanskrit words, which mean -
Shrishti – Creation.
Shrishti – Creation.
Sthiti –State, or preservation.
Samhara – Destruction.
Tirobhava - Illusion.
Anugraha – Release, Emancipation.
In the form of Nataraja, Shiva depicts all of these elements. He holds a 'Damaru' or a drum in his upper right hand and that signifies the creation of the world through music. Some believe that the sound that emanated from the Damaru became the basis for the Sanskrit language.
He holds fire in his upper left hand, which characterizes destruction. Mostly accepted as the destruction of all that is bad. Both these hands are on the same level or, on the same line. This shows that creation and destruction are both equal.
The lower right-hand shows fearlessness, ensuring stability in the world and protection from Shiva. This gesture is known as the Abhaya Mudra. The lower left hand is pointing towards His feet. Here, the attention is drawn to the fact that life is graceful.
His right foot is pressed downward, expressing Tirobhava or Illusions in life; whereas, the left foot is drawn upwards, depicting Anugraha or release from the illusions of the world, towards enlightenment. The right leg is at the middle of the figure, which shows the preservation of a state, or Sthiti. It also holds down a demon, which can be perceived as the demon in all of us that shall be suppressed.
The flowing hair of Shiva depicts the waves that flow through the universe. In contrast to his fierce body, his face is entirely serene. He is in the state of ultimate consciousness, the same state that the Rishis today intend to achieve through meditation.
This is something that I read and it completely stunned me - It is noticeable that Shiva's body is angular and thus, depicts Maya (An illusion to the eye, and in turn the mind!). In this manifest, all the forms are in the Golden Ratio or the ratios equal to 1.618!
In the form of Nataraja, Shiva depicts all of these elements. He holds a 'Damaru' or a drum in his upper right hand and that signifies the creation of the world through music. Some believe that the sound that emanated from the Damaru became the basis for the Sanskrit language.
He holds fire in his upper left hand, which characterizes destruction. Mostly accepted as the destruction of all that is bad. Both these hands are on the same level or, on the same line. This shows that creation and destruction are both equal.
The lower right-hand shows fearlessness, ensuring stability in the world and protection from Shiva. This gesture is known as the Abhaya Mudra. The lower left hand is pointing towards His feet. Here, the attention is drawn to the fact that life is graceful.
His right foot is pressed downward, expressing Tirobhava or Illusions in life; whereas, the left foot is drawn upwards, depicting Anugraha or release from the illusions of the world, towards enlightenment. The right leg is at the middle of the figure, which shows the preservation of a state, or Sthiti. It also holds down a demon, which can be perceived as the demon in all of us that shall be suppressed.
The flowing hair of Shiva depicts the waves that flow through the universe. In contrast to his fierce body, his face is entirely serene. He is in the state of ultimate consciousness, the same state that the Rishis today intend to achieve through meditation.
This is something that I read and it completely stunned me - It is noticeable that Shiva's body is angular and thus, depicts Maya (An illusion to the eye, and in turn the mind!). In this manifest, all the forms are in the Golden Ratio or the ratios equal to 1.618!
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