According to Hindu Scriptures, the Hindu Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshwar (Lord Shiva) are responsible for the respective roles of creation, safety, and destruction of the universe. Lord Shiva is understood for the destruction but not an arbitrary one, and the destruction is for exercise.

At the point of Maha-Pralaya, creation ends whilst manifestation is withdrawn returned into the Great Void. This is while Lord Shiva releases the unfavourable energies to dismantle all of the introduction by appearing a cosmic dance known as Shiva Tandav. This shape of Shiva as a cosmic dancer is called Nataraja.

While there are 19 one-of-a-kind avatars of Shiva, however, ‘Nataraja’ isn't always an avatar however Lord Shiva himself because the divine dancer.

Nataraja is Shiva in the course of the apocalypse dances called the cosmic dance of Shiva “tandav,” symbolizing the interaction of dynamic and static divine strength glide, which incorporates 5 concepts of eternal energy- creation, maintenance, destruction, illusion, and emancipation. As technological know-how states’ energy can neither be created nor destroyed, the destruction initiated via Shiva with his cosmic dance is a medium for recreation, and the cycle by no means ends.

His cosmic dance in an aureole of fireplace, causing wild thunderstorms everywhere in the international, and now not only the earth is affected, however also the Sun, the Moon, and the stellar our bodies together with his raveled hair, marks of ash on forehead, the damaru, and trident. He lifts his left leg balancing the right above a demon of lack of awareness.

This cosmic dance of Shiva is first-rate defined inside the popular Shiva Tandav Stotram composed through Ravana. 

Nataraja – The Lord of Dance

The creative shape of Lord Shiva, Nataraja, is assumed to have appeared near the city of Chidambaram at the confluence of two rivers, Vellar and Cooleran whilst a collection of sages attempted to control Gods with black magic and stricken absolutely everyone. Lord Shiva then took a form of a beggar known as Bhikshatana to position an quit to the arrogance of the sages. Bhikshatana became so lovely that even the Mohini avatar of Lord Vishnu accompanied him, and so did the sages’ better halves.

Irked with the aid of those events organization of sages threw dreadful serpents on him, which Bikshadana wore as ornaments; they sent a tiger with magical energy, he tore the pores and skin of that tiger and wore it as his loincloth. Then, an elephant from sacrificial fires became sent, which changed into killed by using Bikshadana. Knowing that nothing became running against Bikshadana, they submitted all their powers and gave start to a Rakshasa named Apasmara, a symbol of vanity and lack of awareness. But the lord over whom no magic labored stepped at the Rakshasa and danced gracefully; this ecstatic dance of Shiva is ‘Tandav or the cosmic dance,’ and the lord turned into referred to as ‘Nataraja’ the King or Lord of dance. This dance made sages realize who the beggar changed into and eliminated their vanity.

 Nataraja Symbolism

Nataraja as a symbol is a wonderful invention combining Shiva’s position as creator, preserver, and destroyer in a single photograph. Each of the elements within the photograph has a completely unique that means to it.

The Damaru Shiva holds in his upper proper hand is stated to make the first sound of advent, the pulse of the universe, the Maya, the divine hearth (Agni) at the higher left hand signifies the holocaust, along with his decrease right hand he makes Abhayamudra; the gesture that calms all the fear and the left-hand makes the gesture of Gaja hasta, the image of salvation and liberation.

His right foot stamps on the dwarf determine, Apasmara Purusha, constitute illusion and lack of knowledge, main humanity far from the reality. The raveled hair unfold throughout the dance. His electricity and desolate tract disperse; his lock consists of a skull, a datura blossom, and a crescent moon depicting that Shiva is constantly gift even though he's invisible.

Ganga, the holy river, is living in his hair, which signifies advent and destruction. The  eyes painting the sun and the moon, and the 1/3 eye defines understanding and insights. Together they represent an equilibrium of three Gunas- Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas.

In his Nataraja form, Shiva dances within a flaming halo (Prabha Mandala) that symbolizes time and is provided in a circle as it's miles cyclical and by no means-finishing. Though the cosmic dance releases electricity, ardour, and desolate tract, Shiva has a smiling face.

The Lasya Dance
The Lasya or the mild shape of dance, referred to as ‘Ananda Tandavam’ or dance of bliss, is carried out via the Goddess Parvati after the destruction. This dance is accomplished for the creation of the arena after obliteration. Both of his dance takes vicinity in a single’s Chitrambalam (within the sky of 1’s thoughts), that's portrayed because the middle of focus situated on the altar of 1’s heart.

Thus Nataraja, the king of dance, is related to the advent and destruction of the world, or we may also say of phantasm and lack of awareness that lead humans faraway from reality.