A question on Nataraja Icon

[Guest guest]

Namaste all.

 

This may take you away from the Shabda-jAlaM mahAraNyaM.

But feel free to write to me offline if you have an answer

to my question. It has nothing to do with advaita or

Shankara.

 

When was the Nataraja Icon (original) that we see in the

sanctum sanctorum of Chidambaram temple made? By whom?

>From the 4th century onwards images of it are seen in

temple architecture. Is there any evidence about the date

of the original one?

 

PraNAms to all devotees and admirers of Nataraja.

profvk

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "V. Krishnamurthy" <profvk wrote:

> When was the Nataraja Icon (original) that we see in the

> sanctum sanctorum of Chidambaram temple made? By whom?

> From the 4th century onwards images of it are seen in

> temple architecture. Is there any evidence about the date

> of the original one?

>

> PraNAms to all devotees and admirers of Nataraja.

> profvk

>

Namaste Prof vk-ji,

 

My guess is it goes back into the mists of time, past Pasupati and by

indicationt to the time of the Ramayana, which could be any date from

20BCE to 150,000 BCE or longer.

 

If you draw it some say it represents the path of subatomic particles

as in the page.

 

http://www.tamilnation.org/culture/sharada.htm

 

...ONS...Tony.

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "V. Krishnamurthy" <profvk wrote:

>

> Namaste all.

>

> This may take you away from the Shabda-jAlaM mahAraNyaM.

> But feel free to write to me offline if you have an answer

> to my question. It has nothing to do with advaita or

> Shankara.

> advaitin, "V. Krishnamurthy" <profvk

wrote:

>

> Namaste all.

It has nothing to do with advaita or

> Shankara.

>

> When was the Nataraja Icon (original) that we see in the

> sanctum sanctorum of Chidambaram temple made? By whom?

> From the 4th century onwards images of it are seen in

> temple architecture. Is there any evidence about the date

> of the original one?

 

> profvk

>

 

Namste Prof:

 

I think everything about naTaraaja is about advaita, as his nR^itya

represents all the five sR^iSTi, sthiti, sa.nhaara, tirobhaava, and

anugraha attributes. All being encompassed in one is real advaita.

 

puShpadanta has expressed this abhinava in his mahimnastotra (16)

 

mahi paadaadhaataad vrajati sahasaa sa.mshayapadaM |

padaM viShNorbhraamyad bhujaparidharugNagrahaNam ||

muhurdhaurdosthitaM yaatyanibhR^itajaTaataaDitataTaa |

jagadraxaayai tvaM naTasi nanu vamaiva vibhutaa ||

 

(Is puShpadantaa's work available on the internet by any chance? If

yes, please send me the link.)

 

The shilaalekha at the temple attributes the construction to the

king "choLa" (907 – 953 A.D.). As far as I recall Dr. Ferguson slots

the construction to be the 10th Century period.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Dr. Yadu

 

 

> When was the Nataraja Icon (original) that we see in the

> sanctum sanctorum of Chidambaram temple made? By whom?

> From the 4th century onwards images of it are seen in

> temple architecture. Is there any evidence about the date

> of the original one?

>

> PraNAms to all devotees and admirers of Nataraja.

> profvk

>

[Guest guest]

Dear Professor-ji:

 

The bharatanatyam dancer in me could not keep 'silent' when you

raised a question about the King of Dance , Lord Nataraja !

 

you write :

 

( It has nothing to do with advaita or Shankara.

 

When was the Nataraja Icon (original) that we see in the

sanctum sanctorum of Chidambaram temple made? By whom?

From the 4th century onwards images of it are seen in

temple architecture. Is there any evidence about the date

of the original one)

 

Professorji,may i please kindly draw your attention to this well-

researched artcle of the month that appeared in this web site ?

 

http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/nataraja

 

Professor-ji, please read :

 

"The significance of the Nataraja (Nataraj) sculpture is said to be

that Shiva is shown as the source of all movement within the cosmos,

represented by the arch of flames. The purpose of the dance is to

release men from illusion of the idea of the "self" and of the

physical world. The cosmic dance was performed in Chidambaram in

South India, called the center of the universe by some Hindus. The

gestures of the dance represent Shiva's five activities, creation

(symbolized by the drum), protection (by the "fear not" hand

gesture), destruction (by the fire), embodiment (by the foot planted

on the ground), and release (by the foot held aloft).

 

As Nataraja (Sanskrit: Lord of Dance) Shiva represents apocalypse and

creation as he dances away the illusory world of Maya transforming it

into power and enlightenment. "

 

http://www.lotussculpture.com/nataraja1.htm

 

 

i would also like to recommend a book called 'Dance of Shiva' by

Anand K. Coomaraswamy available at Amazon.com

 

here i reproduce two important passages from that wonderful book on

the icon of Lord Nataraja , the cosmic dancer :

 

In The Dance of Shiva, Ananda Coomaraswamy quotes a passage from the

Unmai Vilakkam in connection with Shiva as Nataraja:

 

"The Supreme Intelligence dances in the soul... for the purpose of

removing our sins. By these means, our Father scatters the darkness

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

down evil (mala, anava, avidya), showers Grace, and lovingly plunges

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

behold this mystic dance."

 

(Dance of Shiva, p. 62)

 

Further, Coomaraswamy summarizes the various interpretations of

Nataraja's dance found in the various scriptures and commentaries he

cites in his text:

 

"The Essential Significance of Shiva's Dance is threefold: First, it

is the image of his Rhythmic Play as the Source of all Movement

within the Cosmos, which is represented by the Arch; Secondly, the

Purpose of his Dance is to Release the Countless souls of men from

the Snare of Illusion; Thirdly, the place of the Dance, Chidambaram,

the Centre of the Universe, is within the Heart."

 

(Dance of Shiva, p.65)

 

http://www.worldu.edu/library/shiva_essay_griffin_pff.htm

 

Professorji, i would also like you to refer to this versy first verse

which Sage Patanjali composed on Lord Nataraja of Chidambaram!

 

 

"Heartily resort to the great dancer Shiva, residing in the holy

place,Chidambaram . He is called Hara (the destroyer) who smashed the

three cities (of demon tripura). He is worshipped by good people .

While dancing he has lifted one foot which is bent . His lovely

bracelets are set in motion of dance movements and hence are making a

jingling sound . He is like ointment to the eyes of Patanjali by

whose application the vision gets clear for receiving knowledge .

However, he is free from contamination of any kind . He destroys the

cycle of birth (and death). He possesses the loveliness of Kadamba

tree; wears the sky as garment . His throat is dark like the

multitude of rainy clouds . He is the jewel in the ocean of

consciousness . He is the the Sun blossoming the lotus- heart

of wise persons."

 

sanskrit.gde.to/doc_shiva/nataraj.html

 

Salutations to the Tillainathat at chitrambalam, the lord who is

always dancing in my heart!

 

ps - btw , professorji - i hope you will forgive me for breaking my

silence but i just could not help singing the praises of my lord and

master 'NATARAJA' THE COSMIC DANCER !

 

tHERE ARE NOT MANY TRUTHS ; THERE IOS ONLY ONE TRUTH

 

'SATYAM SHIVAM SUNDARAM'

 

yaduji :

 

HERE IS A LINK FOR THE SHIVA MAHIMA STOTRA BY PUSHPADANTA

 

http://www.shaivam.org/ssshivamahi.htm

love and regards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

..

[Guest guest]

advaitin, "dhyanasaraswati"

<dhyanasaraswati wrote:

>

> Dear Professor-ji:

>

> The bharatanatyam dancer in me could not keep 'silent' when you

> raised a question about the King of Dance , Lord Nataraja !

>

> you write :

>

> ( It has nothing to do with advaita or Shankara.

>

 

Namaste

Namaste Dhyanasaraswatiji and Lakshmim uthu-ji

 

My sentence about advaita was not intended to ignore the

absoluteness of Nataraja. I certainly thank you for the wonderful

note of yours on Nataraja. I agree with everything that you said

there. The sentence about advaita was intended as an apology for

opening this topic here on this list.

 

The question about Nataraja icon is about the physical icon and not

about the Nataraja concept. The concept is as old as the universe

and perhaps older. *I am of the opinion that no human hand made that

physical icon*. Since this statement is not acceptable to modern

youngsters I asked the question to see whether anyone would have

historical or architectural or archeological evidence. I have

browsed through the book of Shri B. Natarajan (a good friend of

mine -- I wish I had asked him this question) and I don't think

there is an answer there. I am open for correctrion here.

 

You may also want to have a look at my own website on Nataraja which

is at

http://www.geocities.com/profvk/gohitvip/4401.html

 

PraNAms to all devotees of Nataraja

profvk

[Guest guest]

Professor-ji,

 

Of course not! How can a bhakta-jnani like yourself not know the

sacred symbolism of the Nataraja icon ?But i just could not resist

the temptation of singing the glories of Lord Nataraja when an

opportunity presented itself!

 

Adi Shankara bhagvadapada sings raptuorously in verse 7 of Sivananda

lahari

 

 

Manasthe padhabjhe nivasathu vacha sthothra phanithou

Karou chabhyarchyam sruthirapi kadha karnana vidhou

Thava dhyane budhir nayana yugalam moorthi vibhave

Para grandhan kairvaa paramashiva janee para matha

 

Let the mind dwell on your two lotus like feet,

Let my words dwell on your praise,

Let my two hands dwell on your worship,

Let my ears dwell on hearing your holy stories,

Let my mind dwell meditating on you,

Let my two eyes dwell on your beauty,

And after this I do not find any use,

Of other great books to me, Oh supreme God?

 

This is the prayer ultimate for shiva bhaktas! Just as verse 27 of

saundarya lahari (japo jaslpah... ) the ultimate prayer of devi

bhaktas! but anyone who worships Shiva is also automatically a

worshipper of Devi for how can one ignore the 'tandava-sakshini'

while witnessing the great tandava dance of lord Nataraja .

If lord Nataraja is the flower, lady sivakami is his fragrance ! in

fact, in one of his kritis on Chdambara Nataraja, sri Muthudswamy

dikshitir, a sri vidyas upasaka, sings ecstaticlly thus :

 

`madambA shivakAmI patim'

My mother shivakami's husband'!

 

Instead of addressing Lord NATARAJA as his father, Dikshitir calls

the lord as his mother's husband! ( sivakami patim) !

 

anyway, to answer your question on the physical icon of Lord

nataraja, it is said that there is a mention of Lord nataraja in the

sivaagamas. For any icon to be made and conceived in a physical form,

the sculptors need to follow the decription of the icon in sacred

texts.

 

THIS IS WHAT I FOUND

 

"Icons depicting Shiva as the Lord of Dance (Nataraja) seem to have

originated in the North in Gupta times, and developed in the South

under the post-Gupta Vishnukundin dynasty early in the seventh

century. One of the first southern sculptures is a colossal dancing

figure carved upon the cliff face above the facade of a cave- temple

at Mogallarajapuram on the Krishna river. The Pallavas took up the

theme and developed it throughout the succeeding two centuries until,

in the tenth century, the Cholas perfected in bronze the form which

is the precursor to the present image. "

 

In any case , the imagery of Lord Nataraja is beautiful and divine !

 

thank you Professorji for that link to your web site - it is a

treasure house of knowledge and wisdom!

 

my grandkids are waiting for me to join them on a Disney cruise and

hopefully i will be dancing to their tune in less than 8 hours!

 

Natarajar adi paniyam oru bhakthai!

 

 

 

 

 

-- In advaitin, "V. Krishnamurthy" <profvk

wrote:

>

> advaitin, "dhyanasaraswati"

> <dhyanasaraswati@> wrote:

> >

> > Dear Professor-ji:

> >

> > The bharatanatyam dancer in me could not keep 'silent' when you

> > raised a question about the King of Dance , Lord Nataraja !

> >

> > you write :

> >

> > ( It has nothing to do with advaita or Shankara.

> >

>

> Namaste

> Namaste Dhyanasaraswatiji and Lakshmim uthu-ji

>

> My sentence about advaita was not intended to ignore the

> absoluteness of Nataraja. I certainly thank you for the wonderful

> note of yours on Nataraja. I agree with everything that you said

> there. The sentence about advaita was intended as an apology for

> opening this topic here on this list.

>

> The question about Nataraja icon is about the physical icon and not

> about the Nataraja concept. The concept is as old as the universe

> and perhaps older. *I am of the opinion that no human hand made

that

> physical icon*. >

[Guest guest]

dhyanasaraswati <dhyanasaraswati > wrote:

Karou chabhyarchyam sruthirapi

 

Karoucha Abyarchanam sruthirapi=Let my hands perform the archana with the recitation of the Veda mantras(Sruthirapi)

Para grandhan kairvaa paramashiva janee para matha= for sri

Parama Siva gjnaani what is the use of other texts or Other ways of worship(Para Matha)

 

Somayaji

 

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