Hinduism is a vast religion that contains many of the most well-known esoteric spiritual stories and legendary truths. In Hindu literature including the Vedas, epics like the Mahabharata and Ramayana, and many Hindu Puranas, these tales are mentioned. Lord Shiva's incarnation as Nataraj is the subject of one of the wildest myths involving Hindu deities. The most sought-after deity, Nataraj, is revered and regarded as both dangerous and sacred at the same time. Here are some fascinating details concerning the legend of the Lord Nataraja Statue. When viewers gaze at the picture, it simultaneously seems calming and terrifying. Many visitors, fans, and devotees are left speechless by the exquisite and incredible craftsmanship of the one-of-a-kind Nataraj sculpture.
Iconic Nataraja Story
In the first legend, Lord Shiva once had a delightful notion of dancing Natraj while relaxing with Maa Parvati while seated on Mount Kailash. Maa Parvati was invited to compete in a dancing contest with Lord Shiva to discover who could dance most effectively. Suddenly, Maa Parvati took the form of Maa Kali, took over as the show's presenter, and asked all of the gods to perform and join as audience members. Lord Vishnu was given the responsibility of judging the dance competition.
A number of gods provided musical beats, and Lord Shiva danced a blissful dance known as Aanand Tandava to the rhythms provided by the gods. Everyone was enthralled by Lord Shiva's magnificent dancing. Shiva's dance pleased Maa Kali, who blessed him with the knowledge that his version of Tandava, known as Anand Tandava, would be well-liked and would remove people's woes. Nataraj idol Wall Paintings is the static Natya stance of this dance.
In accordance with a different legend, Lord Shiva performed the Rudra Tandava to subdue the dwarf demon Apasmara. Apasmara, the demon, is a symbol for cosmic illnesses including epilepsy, spiritual ignorance, and sicknesses. Apasmara developed more abilities and expanded in strength. He began causing trouble in the cosmos as a result, upsetting the sages and ruining everything in his path. Since the demon cannot be slain, it became crucial to have him under control. Apasmara's death would signify that knowledge might be attained without effort and hard labor.
Shiva then traveled to a location where sages were conducting rites one day with Maa Parvati, who was dressed as a beggar. The holy pair was received by the wives of sages, but the male sages gave Apasmara the command to assault them. Maa Parvati was assaulted by Apasmara, who rendered her comatose. Because of this, Lord Shiva became enraged, assumed the shape of Lord Nataraj, began to execute the Rudra Tandava, and crushed Apasmara under his feet.
The Symbolism of the Nataraja Pose
Nataraja performs his dance in the realm of illusion. As he spins around in his dancing frenzy, his hair stands out in many strands. His hair is decorated with a skull, a crescent moon, and the Ganges river, which is considered to be sacred.
Shiva comes across as an ascetic due to his unruly hair, which represents a rejection of society. With his wife and family, he plays the role of a grhastha, or householder.
The fiery Prabhamandala ring that surrounds Shiva is a representation of the universe, complete with all of its illusion, pain, and suffering. Ocean waters' inner edge is ignited by their outer edge. Several Lord Shiva Idols feature water and fire on different levels.
Ganga the goddess in Shiva's hair
In this image, the Ganges goddess is seen nesting in Shiva's dreads. The Ganges, which now flows through Nataraja's hair, was originally located in heaven. When the divine Ganges was required on earth, she refrained from descending because she understood that the impact of her descent would be too great for the planet to bear. Shiva, incarnated as Nataraja, consented to use his tangled hair to break the sacred Ganga's fall, stopping it as it traveled toward the Himalayas and Northern India.
Kama, the god of nightly love, lives because of the crescent moon in his disheveled hair. Shiva gives life new energy by bringing about various seasons through waxing and waning of the moon.
Nataraja cobra
Nataraja has a snake wrapped around his neck and upper arms to represent his control over the deadliest of creatures. The Hindu doctrine of reincarnation is also represented by snakes. Human souls transition from one life to the next as a result of their natural process of molting, or shedding, their skin.
Hand gestures used by Nataraja
Shiva frequently has a drum, or damaru, in the shape of an hourglass in his back right hand. The rhythmic sound that Nataraja dances to as he perpetually creates the universe is symbolized by the drum. The right hand in the front is making the abhaya-mudra, or "fear not," gesture by holding its palm outward and pointing up.
Agni (fire) is carried in his hand or in a vessel by his back left hand. The flames stand in for the corrosive force with which Shiva dances at the conclusion of each cosmic age, purging sins and dispelling illusion.
Nataraja-style dancing Shiva
With the wrist limp and the fingers pointing toward the raised foot, the front left hand is crossed over the chest in the gahahasta (elephant trunk) position. For those who approach him, his lifted left foot bestows eternal bliss. The dwarf of ignorance is firmly stepped on by the other foot, allowing knowledge to emerge.
Dwarf demon beneath Natarja's foot.
In this role, Nataraja is known as Natesa and dances above the corpse of the demon Apasmara that he has killed. The dwarf demon Apasmara is a metaphor for people who don't understand the falsehood of the idea that opposites, like good and evil, don't exist.
Lord Nataraja significance
Shiva is portrayed as the origin of all movement in the cosmos, and is symbolized by the arch of flames in the Hindu god Nataraj sculpture, or home decor items according to legend. The dance aims to liberate men from the delusion of the concept of "self" and the physical world. Chidambaram, a city in South India that some Hindus refer to be the universe's center, hosted the cosmic dance. Shiva's five acts are represented by the dance's gestures, which include creation (the drum), protection (the "fear not" hand gesture), destruction (the fire), embodiment (the foot placed on the ground), and release (the foot raised).
FAQs (FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
Why shouldn't we keep the Nataraja idol in our home?
The Nataraja idol shouldn't be kept inside the house, per vastu. In Nataraja's idol, Lord Shiva is depicted as being in the Tandava position. The Nataraja idol or image shouldn't be kept inside the house because this manifestation of Shiva is destructive.
Who is Nataraja's under leg?
Nataraja's right foot is firmly planted on the demon Muyalaka, a terrible little subhuman creature. Muyalaka, a dwarf who is incredibly evil-minded, embodies ignorance and is the embodiment of a greedy, possessive self.
Who is Lord Nataraja's wife?
These Pancha Kriya dances are represented by the cosmic dance of Lord Nataraja and his consort Sivakami.
What do Shiva Nataraja's four hands stand for?
Deities are pictured with multiple arms in Hindu art to symbolize the power of the divine. Shiva Nataraja's four arms each display a different pose or hold a different object to symbolize his strength and array of abilities.
Why is there a Nataraja statue at NASA?
Because of a comparison made between Nataraj's cosmic dance and the contemporary study of the "cosmic dance" of subatomic particles, the Indian government decided to honor this deity. One of the associate member countries of CERN is India.
Conclusion
The stunning Nataraj Murti is a representation of Hindu mythology that upholds Indian tradition and culture. In the formation, the significance of culture and art in creating a happy world is clearly reflected and emphasized. You can buy God Idols Online from eCraftIndia if you are looking for Nataraj murti. It demonstrates how important dance and music are for allowing feelings to flow freely while simultaneously releasing negative energies by creating a connection with happy and positive energies. Purchase beautiful unique crafted Decorative Showpieces Online as your loved ones present. You can give them on their special days.