| Nataraja | |
|---|---|
Lord of the dance | |
 Shiva as Nataraja, the Lord of Dance (c. 950–1000 CE) | |
| Other names | Adalvallan, Koothan, Sabesan, Ambalavanan[1] |
| Affiliation | Shiva |
| Symbols | Ether (sky) |
| Texts | Amshumadagama Uttarakamika agama |
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Nataraja (Sanskrit:नटराज,IAST:Naṭarāja;Tamil:நடராஜர்,Naṭarājar), also known asAdalvallan (ஆடல்வல்லான்,Ādalvallāṉ),[2] is a depiction ofShiva, one of themain deities inHinduism, as the divine cosmic dancer. His dance is called thetandava.[3][4] The pose and artwork are described in many Hindu texts such as theTevaram andThiruvasagam inTamil and theAmshumadagama andUttarakamika agama inSanskrit and the Grantha texts. The dancemurti is featured in all majorHindu temples ofShaivism,[5] and is a well-known sculptural symbol in India and popularly used as a symbol of Indian culture,[6][7] as one of the finest illustrations ofHindu art.[8][9] This form is also referred to asKuththan (கூத்தன்,Kūththaṉ),Sabesan (சபேசன்,Sabēsaṉ), andAmbalavanan (அம்பலவாணன்,Ambalavāṇaṉ) in various Tamil texts.[10][11][12]
The sculpture is symbolic of Shiva as the lord of dance and dramatic arts,[13] with its style and proportions made according to Hindu texts on arts. Tamil devotional texts such as theTirumurai (The twelve books of Southern Shaivism) state that Nataraja is the form of Shiva in which he performs his functions of creation, destruction, preservation, and is also attributed withmaya and the act of blessing his devotees. Thus, Nataraja is considered one of the highest forms of Shiva in Tamil Nadu, and the sculpture or thebronze idol of Nataraja is worshipped in almost all Shiva temples across Tamil Nadu.[14] It typically shows Saiva dancing in one of theNatya Shastra poses, holding various symbols[14] which vary with historic period and region,[3][15] trampling upon a demon shown as a dwarf (Apasmara or Muyalaka[4]) who symbolizes spiritual ignorance.[14][16]
The classical form of the depiction appears in a pillar of rock cut temple at Seeyamangalam –Avanibhajana Pallaveshwaram Temple constructed by a Pallava KingMahendravarman I in 6th century CE, which is known by Archeological Survey of India and Archeological Survey of Tamil Nadu as the oldest known Nataraja sculpture in India. The stonereliefs at theEllora Caves and theBadami Caves, by around the 6th century, are also among the oldest Nataraja sculptures in India.[17][18] Ancient Tamil songs during theBhakti movement written by the fourShaivite saints ofSambandar,Appar,Manikkavacakar, andSundarar, popularly known as "Nalvar" (The four) extol Nataraja and describes theNataraja Temple, Chidambaram as the home of Nataraja as themain deity, dating Nataraja worship way before the 7th century CE. Around the 8th to 10th century, statues emerged inTamil Nadu in its mature and best-known expression inChola bronzes, of various heights typically less than four feet,[14] some over.[19] Nataraja reliefs have been found in many parts ofSouth East Asia such asAngkor Wat and inBali,Cambodia, and Central Asia.[13][20][21]
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The word Nataraja is aSanskrit term, from नटNata meaning "act, drama, dance" and राजRaja meaning "king, lord"; it can be roughly translated asLord of the dance orKing of the dance.[22][23] According toAnanda Coomaraswamy, the name is related to Shiva's fame as the "Lord of Dancers" or "King of Actors".[24]
The form is known asNataraja and asNarteśvara (also written Nateshwar) orNṛityeśvara, with all three terms meaning "Lord of the dance". However, Nataraja and Nateshwar represent different forms of Shiva.[25]Narteśvara stems fromNṛtta same asNata which means "act, drama, dance" andIshvara meaning "lord".[26]Natesa (IAST:Naṭeśa) is another alternate equivalent term for Nataraja found in 1st-millennium sculptures and archeological sites across the Indian subcontinent.[27]
In Tamil, he is also known as “Sabesan” (Tamil:சபேசன்) which splits as “Sabayil adum eesan” (Tamil:சபையில் ஆடும் ஈசன்) which means “The Lord who dances on thedais”. This form is present in most Shiva temples, and is the prime deity in theNataraja Temple atChidambaram (Tillai).[28] The dance of Shiva in Chidambaram forms the motif for all the depictions of Shiva as Nataraja. Koothan(ta:கூத்தன்,romanized: Kūththaṉ), Sabesan(ta:சபேசன்,romanized: Sabēsaṉ), Ambalavanan (ta:அம்பலவாணன்,romanized: Ambalavāṇaṉ) are other common names of Nataraja in Tamil texts.[29][30]
The sculpture is symbolic of Shiva as the lord of dance and dramatic arts,[13] with its style and proportions made according to Hindu texts on arts.[14] The two most common forms of Shiva's dance are theLasya (the gentle form of dance), associated with the creation of the world, and theAnandaTandava (dance of bliss, the vigorous form of dance), associated with the destruction of weary worldviews—weary perspectives and lifestyles. In essence, theLasya and theTandava are just two aspects of Shiva's nature; for he destroys in order to create, tearing down to build again.[31]
According toAlice Boner, the historic Nataraja artworks found in different parts of India are set in geometric patterns and along symmetric lines, particularly thesatkona mandala (hexagram) that in the Indian tradition means the interdependence and fusion of masculine and feminine principles.[32]
It typically shows Shiva dancing in one of theNatya Shastra poses, holdingAgni (fire) in his left back hand, the front hand ingajahasta (elephant hand) ordandahasta (stick hand)mudra, the front right hand with a wrapped snake that is inabhaya (fear not) mudra while pointing to aSutra text, and the back hand holding a musical instrument, usually aUdukai (Tamil:உடுக்கை).[14] His body, fingers, ankles, neck, face, head, ear lobes and dress are shown decorated with symbolic items, which vary with historic period and region.[3][15] He is surrounded by a ring of flames, standing on a lotus pedestal, lifting his left leg (or in rare cases, the right leg) and balancing / trampling upon a demon shown as a dwarf (Apasmara or Muyalaka[4]) who symbolizes spiritual ignorance.[14][16] The dynamism of the energetic dance is depicted with the whirling hair which spread out in thin strands as a fan behind his head.[33][34] The details in the Nataraja artwork have been variously interpreted by Indian scholars since the 12th century for its symbolic meaning and theological essence.[19][24] Nataraja is a well known sculptural symbol in India and popularly used as a symbol of Indian culture,[6][7] in particular as one of the finest illustrations ofHindu art.[8][9]
The dance of Nataraja is revealed in a story mentioned in theKoyil Puranam.[28] The symbolism has been interpreted in classical IndianShaiva Siddhanta texts such asUnmai Vilakkam,Mummani Kovai,Tirukuttu Darshana andTiruvatavurar Puranam, dating from the 12th century CE (Chola empire) and later, and include:[14][24][35]
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Padma Kaimal questions some of these interpretations by referring to a 10th-century text and Nataraja icons, suggesting that the Nataraja statue may have symbolized different things to different people or in different contexts, such as Shiva being the lord of cremation or as an emblem of Chola dynasty.[41] In contrast, Sharada Srinivasan questions the link to Chola, and has presented archaeological evidence suggesting that Nataraja bronzes and dancing Shiva artwork in South India was aPallava innovation, tracing back to 7th to 9th-centuries, and its symbolism should be pushed back by a few centuries.[42]
Coomaraswamy summarizes the significance of Shiva's entire dance as an image of his rhythmic or musical play which is the source of all movement within the universe, represented by the arch surrounding Shiva. Secondly, the purpose of his dance is to release the souls of all men from illusion. And third, the place of the dance,Chidambaram, which is portrayed as the center of the universe, is actually within the heart.[28]
James Lochtefeld states that Nataraja symbolizes "the connection between religion and the arts", and it represents Shiva as the lord of dance, encompassing all "creation, destruction and all things in between".[43] The Nataraja iconography incorporates contrasting elements,[6] a fearless celebration of the joys of dance while being surrounded by fire, untouched by forces of ignorance and evil, signifying a spirituality that transcends allduality.[44] Furthermore, Carole and Pasquale note that the deity showcases the eternal cycle of life (Jiva) fromdeath to rebirth, and how a human being should conquer spiritual ignorance and attainself-realization.[36]
In the hymn ofManikkavacakar'sThiruvasagam, he testifies that atNataraja Temple, Chidambaram had, by the pre-Chola period, an abstract or 'cosmic' symbolism linked tofive elements (Pancha Bhoota). Nataraja is a significant visual interpretation ofBrahman and a dance posture of Shiva. The details in the Nataraja artwork have attracted commentaries and secondary literature such as poems detailing its theological significance.[19][24] It is one of the widely studied and supreme illustrations of Hindu art from the medieval era.[45][46]
Srinivasan notes that Nataraja is described asSatcitananda or "Being, Consciousness and Bliss" in theShaiva Siddhanta textKunchitangrim Bhaje, resembling the Advaita doctrine, or "abstract monism" ofAdi Shankara, which holds the individual Self (Jīvātman) and supreme Self (Paramātmā) to be one, while "an earlier hymn to Nataraja by Manikkavachakar ... identifies him with the unitary supreme consciousness, by using Tamil word 'Or Unarve', rather thanSanskrit 'chit'." This may point to an "osmosis" of ideas in medieval India.[47]
According toIan Crawford, professor ofplanetary science atUniversity of London, the cosmic dance of Shiva as Nataraja representsparticle physics,entropy and the dissolution of the universe.[48]
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Stone reliefs depicting the classical form of Nataraja are found in numerous cave temples of India, such as at theEllora Caves (Maharashtra), theElephanta Caves, and theBadami Caves (Karnataka), by around the 6th century.[17][18] One of the earliest known Nataraja artworks has been found in the archaeological site at Asanapat village inOdisha, which includes an inscription, and is dated to about the 6th century CE.[49] The Asanapat inscription also mentions a Shiva temple in the Saivacaryas kingdom.
Literary evidences shows that the bronze representation of Shiva's ananda-tandava appeared first in thePallava period between 7th century and mid-9th centuries CE.[50] Nataraja was worshipped atChidambaram during thePallava period with underlying philosophical concepts of cosmic cycles of creation and destruction, which is also found inTamil saintManikkavacakar'sThiruvasagam.[51]
Archaeological discoveries have yielded a red Nataraja sandstone statue, from 9th to 10th century fromUjjain,Madhya Pradesh, now held at the Gwalior Archaeological Museum.[52][53] Similarly, Nataraja artwork has been found in archaeological sites in the Himalayan region such asKashmir, albeit in with somewhat different dance pose and iconography, such as just two arms or with eight arms.[54]Around the 10th century, it emerged inTamil Nadu in its mature and best-known expression inChola bronzes, of various heights typically less than four feet.[14][19] Nataraja reliefs are found in historic settings in many parts of South East Asia such asAnkor Wat, and inBali,Cambodia, and central Asia.[13][20][21] The oldest free-standing stone sculptures of Nataraja were built byChola queenSembiyan Mahadevi.[50] Nataraja gained special significance and became a symbol of royalty inTamil Nadu. The dancing Shiva became a part of Chola era processions and religious festivals, a practice that continued thereafter.[55]
The depiction was informed of cosmic ormetaphysical connotations is also argued on the basis of the testimony of the hymns ofTamil saints.[56]
In medieval era artworks and texts on dancing Shiva found inNepal,Assam andBengal, he is sometimes shown as dancing on hisvahana (animal vehicle)Nandi, the bull; further, he is regionally known asNarteshvara.[57] Nataraja artwork have also been discovered inGujarat,Kerala andAndhra Pradesh.[58] In the contemporary Hindu culture of Bali in Indonesia, Siwa (Shiva) Nataraja is the god who created dance.[59] Siwa and his dance as Nataraja was also celebrated in the art of Java Indonesia when Hinduism thrived there, while in Cambodia he was referred to asNrittesvara.[60]
In 2004, a 2 meter statue of the dancing Shiva was unveiled atCERN, the European Center for Research in Particle Physics inGeneva. The statue, symbolizing Shiva's cosmic dance of creation and destruction, was given to CERN by the Indian government to celebrate the research center's long association with India.[61] A special plaque next to the Shiva statue explains the metaphor of Shiva's cosmic dance with quotations fromphysicistFritjof 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.[62]
Though named "Nataraja bronzes" in Western literature, the Chola Nataraja artworks are mostly in copper, and a few are in brass, typically cast by thecire-perdue (lost-wax casting) process.[33]
Nataraja is celebrated in 108 poses ofBharatanatyam, with Sanskrit inscriptions fromNatya Shastra, at theNataraja temple inChidambaram,Tamil Nadu, India.[3][5]
In modernyoga as exercise,Natarajasana is a posture resembling Nataraja and named for him in the 20th century.[63] A similar pose appears in the classical Indian dance formBharatanatyam.[64]
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![A damaged 6th-century Nataraja, Elephanta Caves[65]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aElephanta_Island.jpg)
![6th-century Nataraja in Cave 21, Ellora Caves[17]](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=http%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3a1_Dancing_Shiva%2c_Cave_21_at_Ellora.jpg)
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in an Old Dhaka temple ... a stone statue of Nateshwar, a depiction of dancing Shiva on the back of his bull-carrier Nandi
He also points out that these [Bharatanatyam dance] stances are very similar to Yoga Asanas, and in the Gopuram walls at Chidambaram, at least twenty different classical Yoga Asanas are depicted by the dancers, including Dhanurasana, Chakrasana, Vrikshasana, Natarajasana, Trivikramasana, Ananda Tandavasana, Padmasana, Siddhasana, Kaka Asana, Vrishchikasana and others.
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