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'{{Redirect|Nataraj}} [[Image:Natarajar at chidambaram.jpg|250px|thumb|Ananda natanam, the cosmic dance of Shiva at [[Chidambaram]]]] '''Nataraja''' (literally. ''The Lord (or King) of Dance'', [[Sanskrit]]: नटराज, [[Kannada]]: ನಟರಾಜ, Tamil: கூத்தன் Kooththan, {{Unicode|/nɐ.tɐ.rɑ.dʒɐ/}}) is a depiction of the [[Hindu]] god [[Shiva]] as the cosmic dancer who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe and make preparations for god [[Brahma]] to start the process of creation. Nataraja is most often depicted through a [[sculpture|statue]]. The dance of Shiva in Tillai, the traditional name for [[Chidambaram]], forms the motif for all the depictions of Shiva as Nataraja. He is also known as "Sabesan" which splits as "Sabayil aadum eesan" in Tamil which means "The Lord who dances on the dias".The form is present in most Shiva temples in South India, and is the main deity in the famous temple at [[Chidambaram Temple|Chidambaram]].<ref name="The Dance of Śiva">The Dance of Śiva By Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy</ref> The sculpture is usually made in bronze, with Shiva dancing in an [[aureole]] of flames, lifting his left leg (and in rare cases, the right leg) and balancing over a demon or dwarf ([[Apasmara]]) who symbolizes ignorance. It is a well known sculptural symbol in India and popularly used as a symbol of Indian culture.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/nataraja |title = Shiva as Nataraja - Dance and Destruction In Indian Art}}</ref> The two most common forms of Shiva's dance are the ''Lasya'' (the gentle form of dance), associated with the creation of the world, and the ''Tandava'' (the violent and dangerous dance), associated with the destruction of the world. In essence, the ''Lasya'' and the [[Tandava]] are just two aspects of Shiva's nature; for he destroys in order to create, tearing down to build again<ref name="Elephanta: The Cave of Shiva">Elephanta: The Cave of Shiva By Carmel Berkson, Wendy Doniger, George Michell</ref>. '''shiva got pwned and i hacked his wiki jks lol'''''''''Bold text'''''''''Bold text''''''''' ==Characteristics== [[Image:NatarajaHA.jpg|230px|thumb|right|Nataraja, Lord [[Shiva]] as the Cosmic Dancer representing the rhythmic movement of the entire cosmos.]] *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 the ''Dance of Bliss'', ''ananda tandava''. *The upper right hand holds a small drum shaped like an hourglass that is called a ''{{IAST|ḍamaru}}'' in Sanskrit.<ref>Michaels, pages 218.</ref><ref>For definition and shape, see: Apte, pages 461.</ref><ref>For the [[damaru]] drum as one of the attributes of Shiva in his dancing representation see: Jansen, pages 44.</ref>. A specific hand gesture ([[mudra]]) called ''{{IAST|ḍamaru-hasta}}'' (Sanskrit for "{{IAST|ḍamaru}}-hand") is used to hold the drum.<ref>Jansen, pages 25.</ref> It symbolizes sound originating [[Creation myth|creation]]. * The upper left hand contains ''Agni'' or fire, which signifies [[destruction]]. The opposing concepts in the upper hands show the counterpoise of creation and destruction. * The second right hand shows the ''Abhaya'' [[mudra]] (meaning ''fearlessness'' in [[Sanskrit]]), bestowing protection from both evil and ignorance to those who follow the righteousness of ''[[dharma]]''. * The second left hand points towards the raised foot which signifies upliftment and liberation. * The dwarf on which Nataraja dances is the demon [[Apasmara]], which symbolises Shiva's victory over ignorance(ego). * As the Lord of Dance, Nataraja, Shiva performs the [[tandava]], 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 manifest [[Universe]].Also, the circle of fire/flames symbolizes the cycle of transmigration/suffering the ego goes through(endless births and rebirths, before attaining salvation). * The snake swirling around his waist is [[kundalini]], the [[Shakti]] or divine force thought to reside within everything. * The stoic face of Shiva represents his neutrality, thus being in balance. ==Significance== [[File:Natarajainmetropolitan.jpg|thumb|left|[[Bronze]] [[Chola dynasty|Chola]] Statue depicting [[Shiva]] dancing as ''Nataraja''. [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]], New York City.]] The essential significance of [[Shiva|Shiva's]] dance at Tillai, the traditional name of [[Chidambaram]], can be explained as<ref name="The Dance of Śiva">The Dance of Śiva By Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy</ref>: * First, it is seen as the image of his rhythmic play which is the source of all movement within the universe. This is represented by the circular or elliptical frame surrounding the Lord. * Secondly, the purpose of his dance is to release the souls of all men from the snare of illusion. * Lastly, the place of the dance, [[Chidambaram]], which is portrayed as the center of the universe, is actually within the heart. To understand the concept of Nataraja we have to understand the idea of dance itself in Hinduism. Like [[yoga]], dance is used to induce [[altered state of consciousness|trance]], [[religious ecstasy|ecstasy]] and the experience of the [[divinity|divine]]. In India, consequently, dance has flourished side by side with the austerities of meditation (as [[fasting]], absolute [[introversion]] etc.). Shiva, therefore, the arch-[[yogi]] of the Gods, is necessarily also the Lord of the dance. Dancing is seen as an art in which the artist and the art s/he creates are one and the same, thought to evoke the oneness of [[God]] and [[Creation myth|creation]]. Shiva Nataraja was first represented thus in a beautiful series of South Indian bronzes dating from the tenth and twelfth centuries A.D{{Fact|date=December 2008}}. In these images, Nataraja dances with his right foot supported by a crouching figure and his left foot elegantly raised. A mirrored posture, where his right foot is raised, represents [[Moksha]]. [[File:Ellora Kailash temple Nataraj painted panel.jpg|thumb|A Nataraja stone relief, [[Kailash Temple]], [[Ellora Caves]]]] In the compact spiritual texts of divine knowledge, the holy [[Bhagavad Gita|''Geeta'']], there are three basic guna: Satvic, Tamsic and Rajsic. These combine with each other, and the life forms are created as a result of this divine activity. These life forms remain devoid of [[prana]] (breath), until the Divine entity infuses them with life. The ''Geeta'' says the division of the Divine entity is ninefold, of which eight can be known by humans, but the ninth is eternally unexplainable and hidden and secret. These eight divisions are the elements, Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Akash, Mana, Buddhi, Ahamkara. Nataraj is a visual interpretation of [[Brahman]] and a dance posture of Lord Shiv. It is the representation of reality at the time of cosmic destruction. We being life forms, cosmic destruction would mean the disappearance of all life. The half moon shown in the hand of Nataraj is a symbol only. The fall of the moon would result in cosmic destruction. The third eye on the forehead of the Lord is a symbol. The serpent wrapped around the neck is a cosmic entity, just as Shiv. Other vedic texts mention a cosmic serpent called Kundalini, present in every living form at the base of the spinal cord. Myths abound about Kundalini's presence and the cosmic dangers associated with its arousal. More abstract and invisible divine energy centres, called Chakras, are associated with its Rise. ==Statues== [[File:Shiva nataraja hg.jpg|thumb|A eight-armed Nataraja]] The visual image of Nataraja (god of people and places) achieved [[canonical]] form in the bronzes cast under the [[Chola dynasty]] in the tenth century AD, and then continued to be reproduced in metal, stone and other substances right up to the present times<ref name="Students' Britannica India">Students' Britannica India By Dale Hoiberg, Indu Ramchandani</ref>. The origins of the Nataraja cult is in the state of Tamil Nadu in southern India. The trajectory of the dancing Shiva is traced: from the processional worship of metal icons outside the sanctum<ref>A sacred or holy place (Origin: 1570–80; n. use of neut. of Latin sānctus; see [[Sanctus]])</ref> to the cultic elevation of the Nataraja bronze into the sanctum at [[Chidambaram]]. Archaeo metallurgical studies made on south Indian bronzes by [[Sharada Srinivasan]] combined with iconographic and literary showed that the Nataraja bronze was a Pallava innovation (seventh to mid-ninth century), rather than tenth-century Chola as widely believed. That formulation was informed of 'cosmic' or [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] connotations is also argued on the basis of the testimony of the hymns of [[Tamil people|Tamil]] saints.<ref>Shiva as 'cosmic dancer': on [[Pallava]] origins for the Nataraja bronze by Sharada Srinivasan in World Archaeology (2004) 36(3), pages 432-450</ref> The image of the Lord as the Cosmic Dancer is shown at the [[Chidambaram]] temple, an unusual fact as Shiva is depicted in an [[anthropomorphic]] form rather than in the usual non-anthropomorphic form of the [[linga]]. [[Image:Indian dance 6 nataraja.jpg|thumb|120px|right|Nataraja - classical Indian dance pose]] ==See also== * [[Tandava]] * [[Lasya]] ==Notes== <references /> *http://www.tillai.com ==References== *{{cite book |last=Apte |first=Vaman Shivram |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary |year=1965 |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass Publishers |location=Delhi |isbn=81-208-0567-4 }} (Fourth revised and enlarged edition). *{{cite book |last=Jansen |first=Eva Rudy|authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Book of Hindu Imagery|year=1993 |publisher=Binkey Kok Publications BV |location=Havelte, Holland |isbn=90-74597-07-6 }} *{{cite book |last=Michaels |first=Axel|authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Hinduism: Past and Present |year=2004 |publisher=Princeton University Press |location=Princeton, New Jersey|isbn=0-691-08953-1 }} * [http://www.tillai.com/ Home of God Natarajar] {{commonscat|Nataraja}} {{HinduMythology}} [[Category:Aspects of Shiva]] [[Category:Dances of India]] [[Category:Tamil deities]] [[cy:Nataraja]] [[de:Nataraja]] [[ml:നടരാജന്‍]] [[pl:Nataradża]] [[fi:Nataraja]] [[ta:நடராசர்]] [[te:నటరాజు]] [[th:ศิวนาฏราช]]'