Antique Shiva Nataraja Bronze Statue Figure Indian Cosmic Dancer Lord of Dance

Description

Natarajais a depiction of the godShivaas the cosmic dancer who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe and make preparations for the godBrahmato start the process of creation.



A cobra uncoils from his lower right forearm, and the crescent moon and a skull are on his crest. He dances within an arch of flames. This dance is called theDance of Bliss,aananda taandavam.

The upper right hand holds a small drum shaped like an hourglass that is called a damaruin Sanskrit.A specific hand gesture (mudra) calledḍamaru-hasta(Sanskrit for "ḍamaru-hand") is used to hold the drum.[7]It symbolizes sound originating creationor the beat of the drum is the passage of time.

The upper left hand containsAgnior fire, which signifiesdestruction. The opposing concepts in the upper hands show the counterpoise of creation and destruction or the fire of life.

The second right hand shows theAbhayamudra (meaningfearlessnessinSanskrit), bestowing protection from both evil and ignorance to those who follow the righteousness ofdharma.

The second left hand points towards the raised foot which signifies upliftment and liberation. It also points to the left foot with the sign of the elephant which leads the way through the jungle of ignorance.

The dwarf on which Nataraja dances is the demonApasmara (Muyalaka), which symbolises Shiva's victory over ignorance. It also represents the passage of spirit from the divine into material.

As the Lord of Dance, Nataraja, Shiva performs thetandava, the dance in which the universe is created, maintained, and dissolved. Shiva's long, matted tresses, usually piled up in a knot, loosen during the dance and crash into the heavenly bodies, knocking them off course or destroying them utterly.

The surrounding flames represent the manifestUniverse.

The snake swirling around his waist iskundalini, theShaktior divine force thought to reside within everything. This also parallels the cords of life worn by the Brahmins to represent the second rebirth.

The stoic face of Shiva represents his neutrality, thus being in balance.

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