Somaskanda murti / а¤ё а¤®а¤ё а¤• а¤¦ а¤® а¤° а¤¤ Somaskanda (expanded as Saha-Uma-Skanda) is the form of Shiva where he is seen with Parvati and his son Skanda. There are variations of this pose done by dancers where they take the Nataraja pose and lift their right heel. The right leg is in the half-sitting or ardhamandali pose, while the left leg is lifted and is in kuncita pada stance. Another variation is tripataka on the right hand and mrigashisam on the left hand. Alternatively, the right hand can show the damaru / а¤Ўа¤®а¤° with a simhamukha hasta / а¤Іа¤ё а¤№а¤® а¤– а¤№а¤ё а¤¤ and the left hand shows alapadma hasta / а¤…а¤± а¤©а¤¦ а¤® а¤№а¤ё а¤¤. Taking inspiration from the Bhujanga trasita karana / а¤ а¤њ а¤— а¤¤ а¤° а¤Іа¤ёа¤¤ а¤•а¤°а¤Ј mentioned in the Natyasastra, Nataraja can be described as having the right hand in pataka or ardhachandra hasta, left hand in dola / а¤Ў а¤± hasta positioned across the body.

The image of dancing Shiva in this pose is replicated in numerous ways over the centuries and the zenith was achieved in the hands of the Chola period sculptor. Nataraja, meaning Kind of Dance, is an amalgamation of a deeper and transcendental philosophical thought given to us by our ancestors. 2Д§ Manifestations of Shiva dancing Nataraja murti / а¤Ёа¤џа¤° а¤њ а¤® а¤° а¤¤ This form of Shiva is frequently depicted and dominates as THE form of Shiva apt for dance. 3 His dances have been described in detail in Tamil literature such as Umapati s Koyil Puranam / а¤• а¤€а¤± а¤© а¤° а¤Ј, Tirumalainathan s Chidambara Puranam / а¤љ а¤¦а¤® а¤¬а¤° а¤© а¤° а¤Ја¤®, Sekkizhar s Periya Puranam / а¤© а¤°а¤°а¤Ї а¤© а¤° а¤Ја¤®, Tirumoolar s Tirumandiram / а¤° а¤¤а¤° а¤® а¤¦а¤¦а¤°а¤®, and in Unmai Vilakkam / а¤‰а¤Ё а¤® а¤µ а¤±а¤• а¤•а¤®. While, Kodukotti (danced after destroying Tripura) and Kapalam (danced after the severing of Brahma s head) are associated with the Sivaleela, Pandarangam was a war dance performed by Shiva on the battlefield. In the Sangam poem of Kalitogai Aaru ari and anarukku the poet describes Kodukotti / а¤• а¤Ў а¤• а¤џ а¤џ, Pandarangam / а¤© а¤Ўа¤° а¤—а¤®, and Kapalam / а¤•а¤© а¤±а¤® types of dance by Shiva. While it is a common perception that Shiva dances only the Tandava dance, he also dances non-tandava dances. 3 According to Saivaite literature, Shiva danced 64 types of Tandava dances, which he danced in 64 different locations. Among the forms that Shiva took the ones that are important for dance will be seen in detail below. Nataraja murti is one among these Maheshwara murtis. According to different schools of Saivism, there are either 25 or 64 Maheshwara murtis. It is believed that for the benefit of his devotees Shiva manifested into various other forms called Maheshwara murtis.

This Linga Murti / а¤Іа¤± а¤—а¤® а¤° а¤¤ is Arupa Rupa / а¤…а¤° а¤© а¤° а¤©, that is both formless and with a form. As per agamas and Saivaite philosophy, Shiva is worshipped as the Linga murti in the sanctum sanctorum or as the main deity. 1, 2 There is another reason also why Shiva is depicted dancing by our ancient sculptors. Usha trained the milkmaids of Dwarka who, in turn, passed it down to the women of Saurashtra. She was wedded to the prince 1Д¦ of Dwaraka, Aniruddha and thus the art form was transferred to the mortals. Being a dancer par excellence, he taught his dance to Tandu, who taught the art form to Bharata and Parvati and she in turn taught this to Usha, daughter of Asura Bana and an ardent devotee of Shiva. As per legends, Shiva was the progenitor for dance. This is mainly attributed to the Natyasastra and the mythology of how dance came into being. However, Shiva and Vishnu (and their various avatars) are more predominant in displaying their prowess in dance and their mastery over it, and rightly so. Origins of Shiva Dancing Hinduism is probably the only religion where Gods like to dance. In fact, geography was never a restraint as we find dancing Shiva in the Far East, like Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam. Within India, from the Pahari / а¤©а¤№ а¤° and Guler / а¤— а¤± а¤° miniature paintings, to the bronze images of the Chola Empire from the sculpted pillars of Somnath / а¤ё а¤®а¤Ё а¤Ґ to the friezes of Orissa, Shiva has been portrayed in numerous ways dancing. Thanks to the plethora of literature and poems on Shiva, a dancer can put her hand in a basket of ideas and pick any story to describe the dance of Lord Shiva. 5 PAPER 5 DANCE, POETS AND POETRY, RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY AND INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE MODULE 9 SHAIVA PHILOSOPHY THROUGH DANCE When someone says the words Dancing Shiva a dancer can immediately conjure up a mental image of a yogi with a loincloth made of tiger skin, matted hair dancing feverishly.

Kunitha puruvamum thevaram