Embraced by serpents and a circle of fire, Lord Shiva's dancing form, Nataraja stands gracefully on a pedestal, his feet cushioned by the defeated body of a dwarf demon. His sharp features, the illusive fire that represents the cycle of birth and rebirth, and his elegant limbs are all carved carefully by sthapathis into wax, forming a mold for this idol. It's filled with panchaloha (five alloys) bronze that will shine divinely when finished.
As the wax pools away and the mold is opened, the perfect form of Nataraja performing the Tandava (dance of the destruction of the cosmos) emerges. In this form, Lord Shiva offers an end to the relentless cycle of life and it's miseries as represented by the halo around him. He is the creator, the sustainer, and the destroyer himself. In this idol, like many others, he holds a damru in one of his hands, creating his own music to dance to. It is the same damru that created the first noise when the universe was first created. Another one of his hands is in an abhaya mudra, a blessing and a reassurance wrapped all in one. He is always there for all of his devotees, offering protection and whatever else they need from him.
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