Standing poised on a lotus pedestal and encircled in the ring of the cosmic fire, the Nataraja statue is the perfect depiction of the amalgamation of spirituality and art. Over the years, it has amassed much popularity and can often be seen gracing a myriad of venues. One of the most remarkable Nataraja statues is installed at the prestigious CERN.
While Nata means dance, Raja translates to king or lord. Hence, Nataraja means the Lord of Dance. By depicting him in a dancing pose, the Nataraja statue represents Lord Shiva as the controller of every movement in the universe. This representation of Lord Shiva gained popularity during the reign of the Chola rulers, and this is when many Nataraja bronze statues were created. Glimpses of the legacy they left behind can be seen in almost every part of the world today.
A lot of symbolism is visible in the Nataraj statue. But three of the symbols represent Lord Shiva’s roles in the universe - the damru in his hand is a symbol of him being the creator, the hand in Abhaya mudra is symbolic of him being the protector, and the fire of destruction in his hand indicates that he is also the destroyer of everything that has been created.
Lord Nataraja (Dancing Lord Shiva) Statues & Idols
There are two forms of dance that Lord Shiva performs in his Nataraja form. One of the forms is Lasya, which is the dance of creation, and the other one is Tandava, also called the dance of destruction.
The multiple arms of Nataraja symbolize his divine powers. He holds a damru and plays it as he dances to its beats. He also holds Agni in one of his hands at the back.
One of his hands in the front is in Abhaya mudra, which indicates that the Lord will protect the devotees. Hence encouraging them to be fearless. A serpent can also be seen wrapped around his wrist.
His other hand points towards the left foot that he raises across his body. This gesture of his hand symbolizes the Lord’s encouragement for his devotees to surrender themselves to him.
A ring of fire can also be seen around him. It is this cosmic fire that he uses to destroy the universe.
Trampled under the foot of the mighty Lord lies the demon Apasmara, who symbolizes ignorance, desire, and greed.
In every Nataraja statue, Lord Shiva can be seen standing on a lotus, which is an important symbol in the Hindu religion and stands for purity and beauty.
The dwarf demon Apasmara is under the foot of Lord Shiva in the Nataraja Murti. The demon is the physical manifestation of greed, selfishness, and ignorance. It is said that Lord Shiva subdued the demon to preserve knowledge in the world. Lord Shiva only subdues the demon and does not kill it because killing him would disturb the necessary balance between enlightenment and ignorance. Without ignorance, it would become very easy to gain knowledge, leading to its devaluation.
According to one Hindu tale, Apasmara was blessed by the Gods with the boon of immortality and could cause seizures and memory loss in people. This power of his caused him to wreak havoc in the lives of people by manipulating their thoughts and minds. When he dared to use his powers against Goddess Parvati, it was Lord Shiva who decided to take the form of Nataraja and defeat the demon by trampling him under his feet.
Another story narrates the incident of a group of sages residing in the Thillai forest who grew ignorant and believed they could control the Gods with the power of their rituals and magic. To break their pride, Lord Shiva appeared before them in the form of Bhikshatana and was accompanied by Lord Vishnu in Mohini form as his consort.
The attractive form of Lord Shiva enchanted the wives of the sages, and this enraged them. In their fury, they summoned the demon Apasmara. However, the demon was defeated by Lord Shiva as he took the Nataraja form, stepped on his back, and performed the Ananda Tandava.
The rishis bowed and surrendered to Lord Shiva's divine form and accepted his supremacy over their powers and magic.
28" Nataraja in a Stylized Ring of Flames In Brass | Handmade | Made In India
The Nataraj statue is generally placed at creative centers like dance institutes because it boosts the flow of creative energy. However, it is also considered very auspicious to install a Nataraja statue at home. It blesses the house with positivity and brings peace to the homeowner. It is also considered good for attaining prosperity and good health. However, it must be kept in mind that the expression of Lord Shiva in the murti is that of relaxation and joy, and the idol should be placed in the east direction. The idol must be kept in clean surroundings and treated with respect.
Lord Shiva’s enchanting form as Nataraja has cast a spell over populations, spreading far and wide. Adorned with fine jewels and dressed in a veshti, the deity stands in a blissful dance posture, symbolizing the victory of knowledge over ignorance. When depicted in this form, Lord Shiva is revered as the creator, preserver, and destroyer of the universe.
The Nataraja statue is often seen as a beautiful addition to the decor of many homes. While some people prefer brass statues and figurines, most of them like to opt for a Nataraja bronze statue to be installed in their homes.
From the caves of Ellora to the premises of CERN, the idol of Nataraja is visible worldwide and is a rare gem that stands as a symbol of spirituality and art.
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