Nataraja

Nataraja (literally, The King of Dance) is the dancing posture of Lord Shiva, the aspect of God as the Destroyer in Hinduism.

• The upper right hand contains the Dhamarukha or the drum, which signifies sound originating Creation.
• The upper left hand contains agni or the fire, which signifies destruction. The opposing concepts in the upper hands show the counterpoise of creation and destruction.
• The second right hand shows abhaya, (Sanskrit Fear Not), said to indicate that though Shiva is the God of Destruction, the righteous (those who respect dharma) need not fear Him, as He destroys evil and ignorance.
• The second left points towards the raised left foot which signifies prayer for salvation. The hand also looks like the trunk of Ganesha, the obstacle remover.
• The dwarf on which Nataraja dances is a demon that symbolises ignorance in man, which is defeated by the dance of Shiva.
• The surrounding flames represent the manifest universe.
• The snake swirling around His waist is kundalini, man's inherent power.

Within Lord Siva's dancing manifestation is represented not only all of time and space, but also the primal creative force that is beyond the circle of illusion that mortals live within, all movement and vibration of the universe, and the stillness beyond all existence.

The entire form of Nataraja can be seen to mirror the Hindu sacred syllable Aum, thus imputing that Lord Shiva's dance of Destruction and Creation is contained within the existential principle of the Divine Sound.

The image of the Lord as the Cosmic Dancer is shown at the Chidambaram temple, which is uncommon because of Shiva's being depicted in an anthropomorphic form rather than the typical non-anthromorphic form of linga.

See also

• [1] An excellent review of Nataraja symbolism.
• [2]
• Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy
• [3]