Nataraj or Nataraja - Great Lord of the Dance
Keep in mind that there are many sects and denominations along with numerous interpertations of Hinduism.
Nataraja
-"King of the Dance" or "King of Dancers". God as the Cosmic Dancer. Nataraja is art and spiritiality in perfect oneness, chosen to depict the Divine because in dance that which is created is inseperable from its creator, just as the universe and soul cannot seperate itself from God." Satguru Shivaya Subramuniyaswami.
The most famous image that represents Hinduism depicts the Nataraja, the Great Lord in his dance of destruction and creation, while trampling down the demon of ego that hinders our progress to enlightenment.
Shiva the Hindu god of destruction is also known as Nataraja, the Lord of Dancers (In Sanskrit Nata means dance and raja means Lord).
The dance of Shiva is symbolic of the dynamic character of creation and destruction, of the place of the individual in the cosmic order and of the order itself. A complex balance of opposition is achieved here with a simplicity that has rarely been paralleled.
The Lord of the Dance.
One of the derivations of the word Rudra denotes running and constant movement, the pulsation of life, its steps. Therefore Shiva is also perceived as the Cosmic dancer, Nataraja.
The symbolism of Shiva Nataraja is religion, art and science merged as one. In God's endless dance of creation, preservation, destruction and paired graces is hidden a deep understanding of our universe.
Represents the constant biodance of life- creation, maintenance and transformation and indicates the perfect balance between life and death.
Lord of the Dance - who dances the world into and out of existence.
Shiva as Lord of the Dance.
Here, Shiva dances within a circle of flames, representing cosmic order and the radiance of his dance
Shiva's unending Dance of Creation, Preservation and Destruction is art, science and religion merged as one.
This is Shiva engaged in a cosmic dance. It is believed that the energy from this dance sustains the cosmos, and when Shiva is finished with this dance, this universe will end and a new one will begin.
Nataraja is the Divine Cosmic Dancer.
