LORD NATRAJA

LORD NATRAJA

TOPIC: Art & Culture

Context- A police team nabbed a few suspects and found that a gang had planned to smuggle the idols, including those of Nataraja, Kali, Murugan, Vinayagar and Nagadevathai.

Concept-

Lord Natraja

• Nataraja (Lord of the Dance), the Hindu god Shiva in his form as the cosmic dancer, is represented in metal or stone in many Shaivite temples, particularly in South India.
• It is an important piece of Chola sculpture.

Features of the Nataraja sculpture:

• The upper right-hand holds the drum, which signifies the sound of creation. All creations spring from the great sound of the damru.
• The upper left-hand holds the eternal fire, which represents the destruction. Destruction is the precursor and inevitable counterpart of creation.
• The lower right hand is raised in the gesture of Abhay mudra signifying benediction and reassuring the devotee to not be afraid.
• The lower left-hand points towards the upraised foot and indicates the path of salvation.
• Shiva is dancing on the figure of a small dwarf.
  • The dwarf symbolises ignorance and the ego of an individual.
• The matted and flowing locks of Shiva represent the flow of river Ganges.
• In ornamentation, one ear of Shiva has a male earring while the other has female.
  • This represents the fusion of male and female and is often referred to as Ardhanarishvara.
• A snake is twisted around the arm of Shiva.
  • The snake symbolises the kundalini power, which resides in the human spine in the dormant stage. If aroused, one can attain true consciousness.
• The Nataraja is surrounded by a nimbus of glowing lights which symbolises the vast unending cycles of time.