Carl Sagan, in
his book, “Cosmos” asserts that the Dance of Nataraja (Tandava)
signifies the cycle of evolution and destruction of the cosmic universe
(Big Bang Theory). “It is the clearest image of the activity of God
which any art or religion can boast of.” Modern physics has shown that
the rhythm of creation and destruction is not only manifest in the turn
of the seasons and in the birth and death of all living creatures, but
also the very essence of inorganic matter. For modern physicists, then,
Shiva’s dance is the dance of subatomic matter. Hundreds of years ago,
Indian artist created visual images of dancing Shiva’s in a beautiful
series of bronzes. Today, physicists have used the most advanced
technology to portray the pattern of the cosmic dance. Thus, the
metaphor of the cosmic dance unifies ancient religious art and modern
physics.
- Carl Sagan
Shiva’s
dance is a symbol of the unity and rhythm of existence. The unending,
dynamic process of creation and destruction is expressed in the
energetic posture of Shiva. He dances in a ring of fire that refers to
the life-death process of the universe. Everything is subject to
continual change, as energy constantly assumes new forms in the “play”
(lila) of creation, except the god himself whose dance is immutable and
absolute. The pictorial allegory of Nataraja indicates the so-called
“five acts” of the deity: the creation of the universe, its sustenance
in space, its final dissolution at the end of the cycle of four world
ages (yugas), the concealment of the nature of the godhead, and the
bestowal of true knowledge.
Fritjof Capra (1939-) Austrian-born famous theoretical high-energy physicist and ecologist wrote:
“Modern
physics has thus revealed that every subatomic particle not only
performs an energy dance, but also is an energy dance; a pulsating
process of creation and destruction. The dance of Shiva is the dancing
universe, the ceaseless flow of energy going through an infinite variety
of patterns that melt into one another”. For the modern physicists,
then Shiva’s dance is the dance of subatomic matter. As in Hindu
mythology, it is a continual dance of creation and destruction involving
the whole cosmos; the basis of all existence and of all natural
phenomenon. Hundreds of years ago, Indian artists created visual images
of dancing Shivas in a beautiful series of bronzes. In our times,
physicists have used the most advanced technology to portray the
patterns of the cosmic dance.”
- Fritjiof Capra
The
posture and balance of Nataraja’s dancing form show Lord Shiva in the
aspect of tamas, the expansive centrifugal force that creates and
destroys the universe. This is the first of the three “tendencies”
(gunas) that permeate the universe in Samkhya philosophy. Tamas
(darkness), symbolized by Shiva, is responsible for the constant birth,
change and death of all living things; the force sattva (tranquility)
represented by Vishnu the Preserver, holds the atoms of every object
together. These two “tendencies” – one holding the atoms of the universe
together and the other ripping them apart – create a “friction” (rajas)
that “vibrates” the world’s atoms and creates the gravity to hold them
to the earth. This is the third tendency, symbolized by the deity
Brahma. It is the building stuff both of matter and of subtle energies
such as perception and thought.
Consciousness
inhabits all living things and has permeated the universe since it was
created from its original bindu (energy center). The first stave of the
universe was filled by “space”: the potential area in which the world
will “expand” with the energy of Shiva’s aspect as tamas. At the end of
Kali Yuga (the current age of ignorance), the expansion accelerates,
everything merges and Shiva performs the terrible tandava dance of
destruction.
The
most important Shiva image during the Chola dynasty was that of Shiva
as Lord of the Dance, or Shiva Nataraja. In this form, Shiva is a
summation of Indian religion, philosophy and culture. Shiva’s dance is
of cosmic significance and represents five principle manifestations of
eternal energy: Creation, Destruction, Preservation, Salvation, and
Illusion. He holds in his upper right hand a small drum, the symbol of
the sound of creation. In his upper left hand is a flame representing
the final destruction of the universe. His lower right hand makes the
gesture “fear not.” With his lower left hand he points to his raised
left foot, the place of refuge and salvation for the devotee. His right
foot is planted on the back of the demon Apasmara Purusha, the
personifying illusion of ignorance over whom Shiva triumphs. In Shiva’s
hairdo sits the river goddess Ganga, the personification of the Ganges
river which is said to spring forth from Shiva’s head.
- The Big Bang Theory Model
The
dancing lord Shiva represents the constant process of creation,
preservation and destruction of the universe. He trods on the dwarf,
symbolic of Ignorance, which must be eliminated if a believer is to
attain release from the eternal cycle of birth and death. In Shiva’s
upper hands are a drum, symbol of creation, and fire, symbol of
destruction. This magnificently modeled bronze image is a superb example
of Chola workmanship.
The
entire Universe is then engaged in movement and endless activity, in an
uninterrupted cosmic dance of energy. In Hindu iconography the images
that represent this dance are shown with Nataraja dancing with four arms
and waving hair and should be read as pictorial allegories.
The
upper right hand holds a small drum shaped as a clepsydra, which
according to Zimmer keeps the rhythms of sound, the vehicle of the word
transmitting revelation tradition and enchantment. The opposite hand, on
the top left, with fingers postured as half moon, (ardhachandra mudra),
carries a Flame, the element of destruction of the world on the palm of
the hand. In the balance of the hands creation and destruction are
shown as counterweights in the game of the cosmic dance made evident
even by the quietness and serenity of Shiva’s face at the centre between
the two hands. The second right hand is making the gesture of ‘motto
fear ‘ that gives peace and protection, while the last left hand,
suspended at the height of the breast, points toward the left foot
symbolising liberation from the enchantment of Maya.
Universally
regarded as the quintessential image of Hindu art and culture,
representations of the god Shiva dancing in joyous abandonment within a
circle of flames graphically depict his five cosmic acts of creation,
preservation, destruction, unveiling of illusion, and liberation of the
soul. His creative aspect is symbolized by the hourglass-shaped drum, in
his proper upper right hand, which reproduces the primordial sound of
creation. Shiva’s preservation of the universe is suggested by his lower
right hand held in the gesture of reassurance and safety. The flame in
his upper left hand and that encircling the aureole represent the fire
by which he destroys the universe in order to recreate it. He lifts the
veil of illusion through his engendering act of dancing. His liberation
of the soul is shown by his upraised left leg, which tramples on a
prostrate infant signifying forgetfulness and is thus a source of grace.
- Lord Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram, South India.
While
Shiva is believed to dance in various forms and locales for differing
purposes, in this pose as Lord of the Dance (Nataraja), he is praised by
the renowned eighteenth-century South Indian poet Thayumanavar as
performing the “Dance of Bliss in the Hall of Consciousness.” The dance
of bliss is specifically associated with Chidambaram, the sacred center
of Nataraja worship, where Shiva is said to have first performed it in
order to convert a group of holy men who were engaged in heretical
practices. Chidambaram is also the site of the great twelfth-century
temple specifically dedicated to Shiva’s aspect as Lord of the Dance.
The temple has a silver image of the dancing god as its main icon, and
the gateway around the complex is adorned with sculpted depictions of
the 108 basic postures of classical Indian dance, Bharata Natyam, which
has been performed since at least the second century B.C.
South
Indian copper alloy images such as this were originally carried in
processions during religious festivals; ropes were inserted through the
square holes in the base to tie it to support poles. The distinctive
elliptical shape of the aureole and slender figural style indicate that
it is one of the earliest surviving images of this type.
As
Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the Dance, Shiva enacts the end of the world.
He is the symbol of death but only of death as the generator of life and
as a source of that creative power ever renewed by Vishnu and Brahma.
He evokes the most intense adoration from devotees for he fascinates
even as he terrifies. He dances for cosmic re-creation. Shiva’s dance of
bliss is the catalyst for the destruction of one period of time and the
creation of a new cosmos. He has a third eye in the center of his
forehead, the skull and crescent moon in his headdress.
He
has long, matted hair and there is a small female figure of the river
goddess Ganga in the loose locks of hair twirling around head. The
Indian genius for expressing movement in sculpture derives in large part
from the high aesthetic value that dancing holds in Indian tradition.
It is the posturings and movements of the dance that inspire the
imagination of the sculptor. The four arms display the powers of Shiva.
The upper right holds the drum or vibrant rattle of creation. The upper
left holds the flame of destruction. The lower right hand is raised in
the gesture of protection. The lower left hand points to the upraised
foot that symbolizes escape from illusion, represented by the dwarf whom
he crushes beneath his right foot. The drum is a symbol of rhythm and
sound. The matted hair symbolizes his power (like Samson). Crescent moon
is the symbol of growth and birth.
- One of the Works of Richard Waterstone
Richard Waterstone studied
Sanskrit at the University of Edinburgh, journalist, creator of BBC
documentary, author, comments in his book on India: “Living Wisdom”
“Shiva’s dance is a symbol of the unity and rhythm of existence. The
unending dynamic process of creation and destruction is expressed in the
energetic posture of the god. Shiva dances in a ring of fire that
refers to the life-death process of the universe.” “There is a striking
resemblance between the equivalence of mass and energy symbolized by
Shiva’s cosmic dance and the Western theory, first expounded by
Einstein, which calculates the amount of energy contained in a subatomic
particle by multiplying its mass by the square of the speed of light :
E=mc2.” Well before 700 BC. Indian sages were chanting neti neti (not
that, not that), denying the ultimate reality of an external world in
which they saw little more than illusion, and searching instead for the
eternal spark of Brahman in the soul within all beings.Roger Housden
author of “Travels Through Sacred India” and a student of the spiritual
traditions of India for over 20 years, concurs in his book:”Time, for
example, is intimately connected with the goddess Kali, which partly
accounts for her destructive nature. Energy – in Einstein’s equation,
E=mc2 – is personified in India as Shakti in her various guises.”
