An enfolding Dance- The Dancing Shiva!

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In , "sivadancer <sivadancer>"

sivadancer> wrote:

 

But no, the image is perfect as it is. It captures the essence of

what

you are saying:

 

The wild dancer creating, preserving and destrying universes, yet

completely still, a serene, smiling countenance on his lotus face.

 

This is magnificent! an apt description.

 

Satyam, Shivam and SUNDARAM! (TRUTH, AUSPICIOUSNESS (BLISS) AND

BEAUTY!)

 

yes, what do you see when you see the statue of 'DANCING SHIVA'?

 

RHYTHM , HARMONY AND BALANCE!

 

how is the dance of shiva blissful? when lord Shiva performs his

cosmic dance called 'AnandaTandava' (dance of bliss) , he is creating

and destroying as well as producing rhyhmic cycles of birth and

death.

 

The cosmic dance of shive involves five energies...

 

1) creation -Shrishti

 

2) preservation - sthithi

 

3) destruction- samhara

 

4) Illusion- tIROBHAVA

 

5)EMANCIPATION OR GRACE -ANUGRAHA

 

lOOK AT THE 'DANCING SHIVA' !

 

The dancing shiva has four hands - the upper right hand carries aN

HOUR GLASS drum signifying creation -the 'creative energy of sound' .

 

In the UPPER left HAND , the dancing shiva has a tongue of flame

which is a symbol of destructiobn /purification.

 

The lower right arm is the abhaya mudra, the 'fear not' gesture and

the lower left arm is pointing to the lifted foot, indicating release

from ignorance - Grace.

 

In 'dancing shiva; - the left foot is raised and the right foor is

standing still on a prostate figure.

 

The raised left foot represents the 'refuge' for all devotees.

 

the prostRate FIGURE represents 'Apasmara Purusha', the

personification of illusion and ignorance over whom Shiva triumphs.

 

The whole figure of dancing shiva is within a circle- the circle

represents 'prakriti' or nature- creative energy of the universe.

 

yes, Creation, Destruction and the Granting of Grace.all happening

simeltaneously!

 

A shaiva text captures the essence of dancing shiva thus...

 

"The supreme Intelligence dances in the soul…for the purpose of

removing our sin. By these means, our Father scatters the darkness of

illusion (maya), burns the thread of causality (karma), stamps down

evil (avidya: ignorance), showers grace, and lovingly plunges the

soul in the ocean of bliss (ananda). They never see rebirths, who

behold this mystic dance."

 

Now, try doing the nataraja pose. this is supposed to be the most

difficult pose in dance. for, you have to show movement while

standing still with left leg raised and right leg resting on the

ground.one half of right hand raised and one half of lefy hand down!

this takes practice to get this pose perfected. if you think

the 'tree' pose and 'warrior' pose are difficult in yoga, try doing

the 'nataraja' pose!

 

but once you have perfected the nataraja pose, you will know what it

means to be focussed, to be still and to be balanced. this is a very

powerful pose and one which is full of beauty. .

 

IT TEACHES YOU how to BALANCE.

 

IT TEACHES YOU HOW TO BE STILL.

 

ABOVE ALL, IT TEACHES YOU HOW TO USE THE BODY AS AN INSTRUMENT OR AS

A VEHICLE TO EXPERIENCE THE 'DIVINE'.

 

aum namaha shivaye!