Of Siva’s Karanas

The dancing posture of Lord Siva depicts the evolution of the Universe

The shilpa tradition elucidates various postures of vigrahas — sitting, standing or reclining. One more stance in which deities like Ganesha, Krishna and Siva are seen is the dancing posture. Among these the most awesome is that of Lord Nataraja. Natya sastra and shilpa sastra explain 108 types of dancing forms of Lord Siva known as Karanas.

What is the significance of this dance form?

The shilpa tradition associates this form of Nataraja Tandavam with the evolution of Universe. In this dance form, the fire and the drum held in the upper hands depict the radiation of light and the sound of an explosion (Big Bang) connected with the evolution of the universe.

The darkness associated with this event of evolution is depicted by abhasmara or muyalagan, an asura, on whom the Lord places one foot and adopts the dancing posture, meaning to dispel the darkness.

What about the mudras?

The posture of His legs — the left leg lifted to the right and the right leg resting on abhasmaran — is compared to a vibrant motion. His lower right hand is holding the abhaya mudra (the ‘fear-not’ gesture) and His left the Gaja mudra pointing to the lifted leg. His streaming hair represents the fast dancing movement. In the background is the halo, Tiruvasi, a ring of flames.

This depicts the countless luminous atoms or anu scattered across the entire Universe during its evolution.

This form of Nataraja, the Cosmic dancer, is made out of panchaloha — an alloy of five metals — and precious stones such as emerald (maragatham), crystal (spatikam) and granite.

The writers are well-known sthapatis