The Cosmic dance of Lord Shiva:

The universe consists of matter, we all are matter. Anti-matter is that which cancels out with the matter. It is based on this particular concept that the CERN has made a particle collider within their underground premises and are experimenting on colliding the subatomic particles at high speed to make antimatter. It is a huge revolutionary project which involves a lot of risks. In case anything went wrong and the antimatter produced comes in touch with the matter, i.e.. our world, then the whole planet would burst out in a matter of few days. However, it is nothing to worry about, as the CERN has ensured every protective measure to conceal the Anti-matter if produced and see to it that it never get in touch with our planet which is all composed of matter.

Now coming to the point, what is fascinating is that the Indian Vedic scriptures hold information about the whole universe which the modern science is still immature to find out. The greatest minds of the 20th century from all over the world such as Nikola Tesla, Bohr. Heisenberg and Carl Sagan did admit the fact that most of their findings or works are based on the Vedic texts in India. The findings in those texts are far more advanced than modern science.

Nataraja Nritham

For instance, consider the image of the dancing Shiva Nataraja. Shiva Nataraja is Lord Shiva in his Nataraja avatar. The cosmic dancer who with his dancing feet creates and then destroys the world for the next phase to begin. The cosmic dance or the Nataraja Nritham of Lord Shiva Nataraja. Purely is related to the Anti-matter research done at CERN. It has the creative and destructive power. All his various dance postures symbolise the creation, preservation and destruction of the universe.

Thousands of years before the Nataraja Shiva was portrayed as the cosmic dancer and everything CERN. And our modern science are trying to figure out about the Subatomic particles. And Antimatter can be studied in this very rhythmic, ecstatic cosmic dance of Shiva. It is his dance of bliss and out of it, the matter is formed.

The Nataraja dance posture

His legs are bent, which suggests an energetic dance. His long, matted tresses, are shown to be loose and flying. Out in thin strands during the dance, spread into a fan behind his head. Because of the wildness and ecstasy of the dance.

. On his right side, meshed in with one of the flying strands. Of his hair near his forehead, is typically the river Ganges personified as a goddess. From the Hindu mythology where the danger of a mighty river. Is creatively tied to a calm river for the regeneration of life.

. The upper right hand holds a small drum shaped like an hourglass that is called a ḍamaru in Sanskrit. A specific hand gesture (mudra) called ḍamaru-hasta. Sanskrit for “ḍamaru-hand”) is used to hold the drum. It symbolizes rhythm and time.

. The upper left hand contains Agni or fire, which signifies forces of creation and destruction. The opposing concepts show the counterpoise nature of life.

. A cobra uncoils from his lower right forearm, while his palm shows the Abhaya mudra (meaning fearlessness in Sanskrit). Suggesting not to fear nearby evil. As well as evil and ignorance surrounding the devotee as he or she follows the righteousness of dharma.

. The second left hand points towards the raised foot which suggests the viewer to be active and dance despite the circumstances. Or alternatively as a sign of upliftment and liberation.

Shaivism

. The face shows two eyes plus a slightly open third on the forehead, which symbolize the triune in Shaivism. The eyes represent the sun, the moon and the third has been interpreted as the inner eye. Or symbol of knowledge (jnana), urging the viewer to seek the inner wisdom, self-realization. The three eyes alternatively symbolize an equilibrium of the three Guna : Sattva, Rajas and Tamas.

. The dwarf on which Nataraja dances is the demon Apasmarapurusha (Muyalaka, as it is known in Tamil). And which symbolises action and dance that leads to victory over demonic evil and ignorance.

The slightly smiling face of Shiva represents his calmness despite being immersed in the contrasting forces of universe and his energetic dance.

Shiva, Nataraja & Physics

One of the theories that is being thrown around in science over the last few years is Constructal theory. What they say is that whether you take an atom, a human being, an elephant or the cosmos. The fundamental design is the same. It is only the complexity that increases in sophistication.

This is something we have always said in Yoga. The microcosm and the macrocosm are essentially the same design. It is from this that the yogic practices began. We said anda, pinda, and brahmanda. The ingredient that makes this life, the individual person, and the cosmos – are three manifestations of the same thing. They are all in the same synchronicity. And because it is the same design. You can put one into the other. You can eat a carrot and make it into a human being because it is the same design.

Chidambaram temple

The nearest analogy and the closest description you can give for the way the cosmos is functioning is that it is a dance. Because it all seems to be at random, but there is perfect organization and synchronicity behind it. It is just that most people’s idea of organization is too intellectual and divisive. For example, let us take a nice, manicured garden and a forest. A garden means everything is organized. A forest means no organization. But if you do not attend to the garden for three months. It will be gone. But a forest can live for millions of years without your attention. So which would you consider as better organization?

At the Chidambaram temple, there is the Nataraja, Shiva as the Lord of Dance. Natesha or Nataraja is one of the most significant forms of Shiva. When I visited CERN in Switzerland. Which is the physics laboratory on the planet, where all the atom-smashing takes place.

The creation is a dance, of Shiva and Shakti. When we say Shiva is Nataraja, we are not talking about an individual dancing. You might have noticed that in the depiction of Nataraja, there is a circle around him. The circle is always the symbol of the cosmos because when anything moves, the most natural form that happens in the existence is a circle. Anything that happens by itself is a circle or an ellipsoid. Which is a slightly distorted circle –because a circle is the shape of least resistance. The planet, the moon, the sun, these are all circles.

Nataraja

This is why the circle around Nataraja symbolizes the cosmos. He is a cosmic dancer. That is how he is always described. This is not about an individual dancing across the cosmos. We say the cosmos is in a dance and the dance is guided by a certain intelligence. Since we are individuals and we understand everything as separate life forms, we individualize it as Nataraja for our own perception. The word “Shiva” literally means “that which is not” or “that which is nothing.” It is nothing, it is empty space, but it is dancing. Because it is dancing, everything is happening.

Nataraja is a significant visual interpretation of Brahman and a dance posture of Lord Shiva.The Ananda Tandava of Shiva is said to symbolize five divine arts ( Pancha Kritya ) as creation. Protection , dissolution , embodiment and bestowment of grace .

In essence it symbolizes the continuous cycle of creation and destruction.The Cosmic Dance takes place in every particle and is the source of entire Energy and Consciousness .The movement and dynamism of Lord Shiva is Shakti. Pervading in the universe as Shiva Shakti .

Such was the extent of science. Keep following us for more.