The Cosmic Dancer

THANDAVA NRITYA OF LORD NATARAJA

It has been a tradition in India to consider all knowledge sacred and associate the source of each branch of knowledge with a presiding deity called ‘Adhidevatha’. Epic sources like the Shiva Purana and the Skanda Purana relate that Dance was created by Lord Shiva and it is for this reason that one of the principal forms of Shiva which they revere is Lord Nataraja, which means Lord of Dance. Shiva’s dance, popular as Thandava Nritya, occupies a prominent place in the mythological lore of the Hindus and also in the ancient and medieval literature. Some of these writings not merely record the stories of how and when Shiva performed these dances but also delineate the symbolism inherent in them.

Lord Shiva is believed to have performed 108 types of Thandava Nrityas. However, the Shaivite literature gives details of only 64 dances which the Lord is said to have performed at 64 different shrines like Chidambaram, Madurai etc. Even amongst these, only seven are very popular viz 1. Ananda Thandava 2.Sandhya Thandava 3.Kali Thandava 4. Urdhva Thandava 5. Samhara Thandava 6. Gajanta Thandava and
7. Tripura Thandava. Amongst these seven, the most popular is the Ananda Thandava which the Lord performed at Chidambaram. As regards the time factor about the date of these Thandava Nrityas, it has not been possible to establish a chronological order. However, it is normally recognized that the Lord gave His first performance thousands of years ago in Chidambaram, then called Tillai, which was witnessed by Adisesha [Thousand headed serpent on whom Lord Vishnu reclines]. According to the Puranas, Adisesha incarnated himself in the Bhooloka as Sage Patanjali at the instance of Maha Vishnu. Another great sage who witnessed this dance at Chidambaram was sage Vyaghrapada [which means Tiger-footed sage], besides sages Sanaka, Sanandana etc.

Shiva’s most significant dance is said to be the Ananda Thandava at Chidambaram. According to the Shiva Puranam, this cosmic dance was performed by the Lord with a view to subjugate the Ego of some sages in the Daruka Vanam [Daruka forest near Chidambaram] who were the followers of the Meemamsa school of thought which believed in the supremacy of sacrifices and rituals. These sages were under the wrong notion that performance of rituals alone would be sufficient to obtain all the desired results and that there was nothing beyond to learn. With a view to subjugating their Ego and underscore the importance of Self-realisation, Shiva descended to Darukavanam in the form of a wandering mendicant with a bowl in his hand at a time when these sages were performing some sacrifices. Though in the form of a mendicant, Shiva was looking so enticingly charming that the wives of the sages started following him, leaving their sacrificial chores as they were. Shiva was accompanied by the enchanting Mohini who was none other than Lord Vishnu in disguise..

Enraged by the appearance of the wandering mendicant who not only disturbed their sacrifices but also took their wives away from the righteous duties of the sacrifices, the sages with their powers of Yogasiddhi created a ferocious tiger that could devour anything. When they made this tiger pounce on the mendicant with a view to killing him, Shiva tore the tiger to pieces just with the nail of his little finger and wrapped the skin of the tiger around his waist. Defeated in their attempt, the sages then created a venomous cobra to kill Shiva. Shiva, however, gladly picked it up and decorated his neck with it. Confused and overpowered with anger, the sages created a demon dwarf, Muyalaka, by offering magical incantations in the sacrificial fire. This demon, representing their Ego, Ahamkara, rushed to fight the Lord of the Universe, but was immediately suppressed by Shiva merely by the pressure of the toe of his foot. At this stage it dawned upon the sages that the young mendicant was none other than lord Shiva himself in disguise when they apologized and prostrated before his feet. When asked for a boon, the sages desired more Yogic powers from the Lord. However, the Lord explained to them that the root of all sorrow was not the lack of power, but the lack of Self-knowledge. The Lord, thereafter, imparted Self-knowledge to them. It is this Self-Knowledge taught by Lord Shiva to the erring ascetics that forms the subject matter of Sri Ramanamaharshi’s famous composition “Upadeshasaram”

With a view to announcing his triumph over the proud ascetics and the demons in different forms who were sent to destroy him, Shiva performed the Thandava Nritya with ecstasy. The dance was performed as a mark of celebration to symbolize the victory of knowledge over ignorance. This dance which is a clear celebration to mark the happy and ecstatic mood of Lord Shiva is therefore called ‘Ananda Thandava’. It is believed that Ananda Thandava bestows Eternal Bliss [Ananda] of Self-realisation on those who are fortunate to witness the same.

Among those who witnessed the Dance of Shiva were sage Patanjali and sage Vyaghranakha—the two great devotees of Lord Shiva. Besides them, celebrities like Brahma, Vishnu, Nandikeshwara—all ardent devotees of Shiva—descended on earth and participated in the divine dance and music as accompaniments. Vyaghrapada was a sage who ardently worshipped Shiva with Bilva trees and flowers. He was staying in the forests of Tillai [Chidambaram] and doing Tapas with the object of inducing Shiva to come to Tillai and dance at his place. As a result of his penance, Lord Shiva enabled him to climb the steep trunks of the Bilva tree and save him from the thorny bushes, by transferring his feet into those of a tiger. Hence he became popular as Vyaghrapada. Immensely pleased by his austerities, Shiva enabled Vyaghrapada to witness his Thandava at Tillai.

Once when Lord Vishnu was resting on the cosmic serpent Adisesha, His weight suddenly seemed to have greatly increased which was felt by Adisesha. “Why are you so much heavier?” the snake asked Vishnu. The Lord said “I have had a vision of Shiva dancing the Ananda Thandava and I have expanded on account of the happiness I derived out of that happiness”. “Then I too would like to see it” replied Adisesha.
“It so happens” said Vishnu, “ that on earth at this very moment Sage Vyaghrapada is practicing austerities to draw Shiva to dance there in Tillaivanam. I suggest you also go there and help him so that you too will see the Lord dancing ‘Ananda Thandavam”.
That is how both Vyaghrapada and Adisesha in the incarnation of Sage Patanjali witnessed the cosmic dance at Chidambaram.

The great Sanskrit grammarian Panini was another sage who witnessed the Thandava Nritya. According to a legend in the ‘Kathasaritsagara’ of Somadeva, Panini was once defeated in a discussion on Sanskrit Grammar with his rivals and fellow students and could make little headway in his studies. His teacher asked him to go to Himalayas and practice austerities. The student did so and through the grace of Shiva he received the power to witness the Thandava Dance of Nataraja. Panini was provided with the divine gift of ‘Divya Chakshu’ and with this divine gift, Panini indeed saw the Thandava. At the conclusion of the dance, Panini heard 14 sounds emanating from Nataraja’s drum [Damaru]. For Panini, these 14 sounds meant the 14 cardinal sutras of grammar and on them he based his ‘Ashtadhyayi’, the well-known treatise on Sanskrit grammar. These 14 sutras or aphorisms are called ‘The Maheshwari Sutras”.

While Panini made use of the Maheshwari Sutras for composing the Sanskrit grammar, Sage Patanjali made use of them to write three Mahabhashyas [Great treatises]. In Sanskrit, mind, speech and body are referred to as Trikaranas [Three instruments]. Patanjali wrote three treatises which would help these three instruments of their ailments. For remedying the mind he composed the Yogasutras. With a view to avoiding possible wrong pronunciations in Sanskrit, he wrote the Mahabhasdhya on Sanskrit grammar. As the body is a victim of many illnesses and with a view to mitigate the occurrence of such sufferings, he wrote the medical treatise ‘Charaka Samhita’ which gives curative prescriptions.

SANDHYA THANDAVA: According to the Skanda Purana, Lord Nataraja dances every month on the13th day of the waning moon [Krishna Paksha Trayodashi] during a period called “Pradosha Kala” at twilight in the evening. This dance is called “Sandhya Thandava” which attains particular significance on the Mahashivaratri Day. It is a Hindu tradition, particularly among ladies to observe the ‘Pradosha Vrata’ when they avoid eating during this period of Shiva’s dance and contemplate on the smiling face of the Lord Shiva doing Sandhya Thandava. On such women, Lord Nataraja bestows long life on their husbands and takes care of the well-being of their families.
During Sandhya Thandava, Goddess Parvathi, who is seated on the highest peak of the great Kailas Mountains on a gem decked throne, beholds the trident bearer Shiva dance at the evening time. All the celestials assemble to witness the Sandhya Thandava. Saraswathi Plays the Veena, Brahma keeps the rhythm; Indra plays the flute while Lakshmi sings the divine notes of music. Vishnu supports the great dancer by playing on the drum. The sun has just set and the sky is aglow in the golden orange hue to provide a befitting backdrop for the dance.
Many Bharathanatyam dancers choose the Sandhya Thandava as an item of dance for presentation and choreograph the same on the basis of the “Pradoshashtakam” from the Skanda Puranam.

THANDAVA NRITYA AT MADURAI: It is of interest to note that when Lord Nataraja dances, he is normally portrayed with his left leg raised while standing firmly on the right foot. But it is only in Madurai he performs the rare type of dance with his right leg raised straight up so that it almost touches his right ear.
B.M.N.Murthy

There is an unintended error which has crept in in the above article.

In para 5 of the above article, please read the third line as

" to symbolise the victory of knowledge over ignorance"
and not as stated.

I am grateful to Dr. TK. Nagabhushan, a very senior member from USA, who has brought this error tro my notice

BMN.Murthy
29th June 2008




ARTICLE NO. 450---THANDAVA NRITYA OF LORD NATARAJA
Created: Friday, June 27, 2008 9:27 PM