Nataraja or Nataraj, the dancing form of Lord Shiva,
is a symbolic synthesis of the most important aspects of Hinduism, and
the summary of the central tenets of this Vedic religion. The term
'Nataraj' means 'King of Dancers' (Sanskrit nata = dance; raja = king).
In the words of Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, Nataraj is the "clearest image
of the activity of God which any art or religion can boast of…A more
fluid and energetic representation of a moving figure than the dancing
figure of Shiva can scarcely be found anywhere," (The Dance of Shiva)
The Origin of the Nataraj Form:
An extraordinary
iconographic representation of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of
India, it was developed in southern India by 9th and 10th century
artists during the Chola period (880-1279 CE) in a series of beautiful
bronze sculptures. By the 12th century AD, it achieved canonical stature
and soon the Chola Nataraja became the supreme statement of Hindu art.
The Vital Form & Symbolism:
In
a marvelously unified and dynamic composition expressing the rhythm and
harmony of life, Nataraj is shown with four hands represent the
cardinal directions. He is dancing, with his left foot elegantly raised
and the right foot on a prostrate figure — 'Apasmara Purusha', the
personification of illusion and ignorance over whom Shiva triumphs. The
upper left hand holds a flame, the lower left hand points down to the
dwarf, who is shown holding a cobra. The upper right hand holds an
hourglass drum or 'dumroo' that stands for the male-female vital
principle, the lower shows the gesture of assertion: "Be without fear."
Snakes
that stand for egotism, are seen uncoiling from his arms, legs, and
hair, which is braided and bejeweled. His matted locks are whirling as
he dances within an arch of flames representing the endless cycle of
birth and death. On his head is a skull, which symbolizes his conquest
over death. Goddess Ganga, the epitome of the holy river Ganges, also
sits on his hairdo. His third eye is symbolic of his omniscience,
insight, and enlightenment. The whole idol rests on a lotus pedestal,
the symbol of the creative forces of the universe.
The Significance of Shiva's Dance:
This
cosmic dance of Shiva is called 'Anandatandava,' meaning the Dance of
Bliss, and symbolizes the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, as
well as the daily rhythm of birth and death. The dance is a pictorial
allegory of the five principle manifestations of eternal energy —
creation, destruction, preservation, salvation, and illusion. According
to Coomerswamy, the dance of Shiva also represents his five activities:
'Shrishti' (creation, evolution); 'Sthiti' (preservation, support);
'Samhara' (destruction, evolution); 'Tirobhava' (illusion); and
'Anugraha' (release, emancipation, grace).
The overall temper of the image is paradoxical, uniting the inner tranquility, and outside activity of Shiva.
A Scientific Metaphor:
Fritzof Capra in his article "The Dance of Shiva: The Hindu View of Matter in the Light of Modern Physics," and later in the The Tao of Physics
beautifully relates Nataraj's dance with modern physics. He says that
"every subatomic particle not only performs an energy dance, but also is
an energy dance; a pulsating process of creation and
destruction…without end…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 phenomena."
The Nataraj Statue at CERN, Geneva:
In
2004, a 2m statue of the dancing Shiva was unveiled at CERN, the
European Center for Research in Particle Physics in Geneva. A special
plaque next to the Shiva statue explains the significance of the
metaphor of Shiva's cosmic dance with quotations from Capra: "Hundreds
of years ago, Indian artists created visual images of dancing Shivas in a
beautiful series of bronzes. In our time, physicists have used the most
advanced technology to portray the patterns of the cosmic dance. The
metaphor of the cosmic dance thus unifies ancient mythology, religious
art and modern physics."
To sum up, here's an excerpt from a beautiful poem by Ruth Peel:
"The source of all movement,
Shiva's dance,
Gives rhythm to the universe.
He dances in evil places,
In sacred,
He creates and preserves,
Destroys and releases.
We are part of this dance
This eternal rhythm,
And woe to us if, blinded
By illusions,
We detach ourselves
From the dancing cosmos,
This universal harmony…"
"The source of all movement,
Shiva's dance,
Gives rhythm to the universe.
He dances in evil places,
In sacred,
He creates and preserves,
Destroys and releases.
We are part of this dance
This eternal rhythm,
And woe to us if, blinded
By illusions,
We detach ourselves
From the dancing cosmos,
This universal harmony…"
