Transcript: When you think of the staggering symbols that the Indians produced, I mean, the Dancing Shiva for example, we have never produced anything as comprehensive as this. The Dancing Shiva, those little bronze statues, it is the Shiva with four arms dancing with one foot raised. Well, I go into the details, they are really quite extraordinary. The figure stands within a great circle, sort of halo, which has flames going out of them, the symbols of flame and this is the circle of mass energy, space, time, I mean this is the material world. The great world of all embracing material world with its flames, within this Shiva dances. He is called Nataraja, the Lord of the Dance, and he dances. He is everywhere in the universe. This is his dance, the manifestation of the world called his Leela, his play. His sense of reign upon the just and the unjust and he is not beyond good and evil, of course, it is all an immense manifestation of play. He has this long hair, which is the hair of the yogi, contemplative and it streams out to the limits of the universe. Therefore, this sort of yogic knowledge of this contemplation includes everything. He has four arms. In the upper right arm, he holds a little drum, which is the drum which summons things into creation, you beat upon this drum things come into existence. In his left arm he holds a fire, which is what destroys everything. He both creates and destroys. His lower right hand is held up in this attitude, which means be not afraid in spite of everything, it is all right. The other hand points down at his feet and one foot is planted squarely on the back of a repulsive dwarf, this infinitely powerful dwarf called Muyalaka, who is the ego, and he has to break the back of the ego, you see. What he is really pointing at is the other foot, which is raised, and this means this foot is raised against gravitation and is the symbol of spiritual contemplation. The whole thing is there, you see. The world of space and time, and matter and energy, the world of creation and destruction, the world of psychology, I mean, how do you get out of this, I mean, if you don’t break the back of the ego you are lost, and if you don’t practice contemplation, there will be no liberation for you. I mean, we don’t have anything remotely approaching such a comprehensive symbol, which is both cosmic and psychological, and spiritual. It is really most unfortunate that we have such miserable symbols. This is a part of the regular Hinduism, that is specifically Shiva and then one of the manifestation of course is called Bhairava of Shiva, who is also dancing, but he dances in cemeteries to remind us that the dance of life isn’t always spiritually, I mean, that he dances just as much in misery and death as in life in relation. This has to be accepted and of course again it is only by the lifted foot that we can accept it. I mean it is actually is in completely compatible with the modern scientific idea. I mean, it includes the world you see of mass, energy, space, and time, and the idea of the infinite energy dancing timelessly and forever through this world, dancing through human mentality too, I mean, that the world is felt to be, of course a kind of outrage because the play goes on even inside ourselves although we are senti and beings, and yet the hand is raised, everything is finally all right in spite of everything if as Buddha says, ‘I will show you sorrow in the ending of sorrow.’ The ending of sorrow is putting your foot on the back of the dwarf and raising the other foot against gravity into the state of contemplation. The whole thing is there stated in this single, extremely elegant, I mean, these Shiva images from the south of India are very, very elegant, they are the most beautiful pieces of sculpture, the best of them. But it is a shame that we don’t have any good symbols like this to remind us who we are and what we can do about it of anything. No, we are very, very poor in it, I mean, we have some of the Christian symbols which are not really, which simple [indiscernible] symbol of the cross is fairly good, but it doesn’t take into account this sort of cosmic side of life. I mean, it doesn’t take in regard mass energy, space and time, which is essential. It doesn’t take into account, I mean, as it stands it doesn’t take into account the importance of contemplation. I mean, there are other symbols of course within Christianity which do, but a single comprehensive symbol like the Shiva symbol, we do not have and it is very unfortunate. This whole business of the organized manipulation of symbols, I mean, the human mind is a symbolific instrument, it exists to manufacture symbols and turn immediate experience into symbols with the purpose of managing in fairly convenient way. The question is, can we get on with fairly scientific symbols, realistic symbols, and then concentrate on the immediate experience. I don’t know. I mean, I simply don’t know whether this is possible, as I thought general attitude towards the world. I think it is certainly possible isolated into videos, but whether in fact, it will turn out be something which appeals to great numbers of people, I have no idea. (Transcribed by me)

Jatadhari

Thank you so much!

You're welcome! :)

We were just studying this in our Indology class. Thanks for sharing this!

Shyam श्याम मलिक Malick Check this out!

You're welcome, Akshay Chavan! It is a labour of love... transcribed this a long time back. :)

G.K. Chesterton thought differently about symbol of cross. from G.K. Chesterton’s Orthodoxy "As we have taken the circle as the symbol of reason and madness, we may very well take the cross as the symbol at once of mystery and of health. Buddhism is centripetal, but Christianity is centrifugal: it breaks out. For the circle is perfect and infinite in its nature; but it is fixed for ever in its size; it can never be larger or smaller. But the cross, though it has at its heart a collision and a contradiction, can extend its four arms for ever without altering its shape. Because it has paradox in its centre it can grow without changing. The circle returns upon itself and is bound. The cross opens its arms to the four winds; it is a signpost for free travellers." –Orthodoxy, p. 33

The Shiva is pure and supreme consciousness, Supreme Brahman, Kshetragna,the omniscient,the universal enforcer of Law..one infinite, eternal, unchanging, and unchangeable For his nijanand he manifests in prakriti This is dualistic sankhaya dashan.. this unfathomable universe we know,we imagine and all other universes originates from him and merge in him..He is supreme divine beyond Human imaginations.. Aum Namah Shivay

:)

For me He is the supreme and almighty. He is the only undisputed existence . We can't criticise Him for anything. Krishna is my friend whom I can complain but shiva is the final destination. Only nod down no words....

1008 thanks ....

Thank You it's a good message and good for knowledge who are confused to see this Natraj Murti in Tandav form Thanks once again

Adesh Mahadeva

Beautiful! I have such a thing for Shiva!

Grand Salute to Adolus Huxley for such a pure meaning of Natraj - real Devotee of Lord Shiva !!!

Om name shiwaye namaha

Feeling great to be part of RBSI, Dhanyismi.

Just brilliant..

Superb post. Sharing.

Om namasivaya om namasivaya sivaya nama om

I must also add that the first person to bring to notice to the world about the importance of NATARAJA was Anand commarswamy.

Natraj siva.nice.

Nataraja - A comprehensive symbol. We all should understand the significance and should explain to younger generation.

Om namah shivay

Appreciable on f b.

Om namo shivayo

Beautiful Ntraj!

Too complex for younger people ! Let's Swamijis simple advise " be strong loving simple and stick to karma yoga bhakti yoga and finally gyan yoga !"

om namah shivaye

Om UmaMaheshwaraayaNamah

Jai baba volenath......

Om Thillaiyampathi Natarajar Charanam. Ayyappa Bakhtargal Sangam Srirangam

Bhagwan Natraj ki jai

Omm nomo sibio

O 'm namoh Shivaya.. Thanks for the Sharing