Shiv THANDAVA

NATARAJA COSMIC DANCE is not without a meaning, function and symbolism. When He decides at the opportune moment, he rises to dance, He takes on the functions of Brahma and Vishnu and creates and preserves the universe itself. He represents the aspect of the Supreme Being that continuously dissolves to recreate in the cyclic process of creation, preservation, dissolution and recreation of the universe. Lord Shiva is absolute which does not have any parents which never takes birth which is all alone without association with any of the creatures or creations enjoying in the Self.

God is the only one who is dependable for anybody or anything to surrender to as it is the only perennial Being. As Pashupati or the Lord of living beings , He is the Lord of all living creatures and their souls, be they devas or asuras or humans or other creatures - they all are ‘pashus’. The thandavas allegorically represents the five principle manifestations of eternal energy — creation, destruction, preservation, salvation, and illusion. This is represented by His five activities:

'Shrishti' -creation and evolution); 'Sthiti' –preservation and support; 'Samhara' - destruction and evolution;
 'Tirobhava' - illusion and 'Anugraha' - grace, release, emancipation. Between Nataraja and the Rudra Thandava is Shiva dancing in his violent mood. But to show all his manifested moods thandava has been sub-classified:

1. 'Tripur Thandava': Shiva thandava after the demonTripurasur was killed with His Trishula. This thandava reflects Veert- courage and Roudra – extreme anger.

2. 'Ananda Thandava' : After slaying Tripurasur, Shiva is still beaming in anger. Goddess Uma performed 'Lasya' dance with eroticism. Her thandava is an embodiment of Ullasa or pleasure and Umang meaning Excitement to please the Lord. Ananda thandava is thus the Dance of Bliss by the Pair. It symbolizes the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction.
Their overall temper is paradoxical of two paradigms – Shiva’s external activities and His inner tranquility.

3. 'Gauri Tandava': In this dance form, Shiva and Parvati dance together in 'Shringar Rasa'. ‘Rasa’ means flavor and ‘Shringar’ is the rasa of love, art, beauty and spiritual devotion

4. 'Kalika Tandava': Shiva takes the Bhairava manifestation in order to destroy evil and wicked.

5. 'Sandhya Tandava': Shiva reflects three ‘rasas – Roudra, Banyanak and Sandhya. Shiva carries His wife Sati on His shoulders after her death. He dances in mourning her. He expresses His sentiments in Karuna Rasa. This gets intense as He expresses extreme anger - Roudra Rasa and His terror as Bhayanak Rasa

6. Uma Tandava : Shiva expresses conjugal affection, love and attraction in its purest and simple form towards His consort. This is the thandava version of foreplay

7. Samhar Tandava : Shiva expresses His desire to destruct the entire universe.

Parvathy’s Lasya
Even atoms are performing energy dances in the universe without intending violent results. In the end they find an equilibrium. On his own, His eternal cosmic dance can be fierceness of Nataraja thandava that vigorously shakes the earth. Rudra thandava kicks up dusts of destruction, preservation, salvation and illusion. The uniting inner tranquillity and the balance is Parvathi’s feminity - lasya; the soft, loving, gentle and grace to produce anantha thandava in togetherness – the cosmic Dance of Bliss. Without Her balance is no completeness and auspiciousness. Her lasya movements are graceful and erotic. It is most certainly the feminie version of thandava and not some simple dance movements to woo Shiva’s embrace.

According to the Puranas Parvathi adapts Her lasyas to ‘jarita lasya’ and ‘yauvaka lasya’ according to the circumstances. This is depicted in Shiva’s vigorous thandavas in cremation grounds in the dark nights but balanced by Her shringarik lasya in tranquillity of the twilight.

Parvathy is also watching thandavas as a witness. In the Lalita Sahasranama is said to be “maheshvara-mahakalpa- mahatandava-sakshini” that ie in ever changing kalpa the thandava is without bhava; the cosmic dance is both change and changelessness and she is the witness. Om

Info Courtesy: Yogi Ananda Saraswati
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