CONTENTS:- 1. Introduction 2. Concept of Dance 3. Nataraja: Dance and Divinity 4. Dance of the Cosmos and Nataraja 5. The Indian View 6. Evolution of Nataraja 7. Chidambaram: Sculpture, Foundation and Philosophy 8. Amplitute of Worship 9. Ancient Literature on Nataraja 10. Nataraja in Sankrit Inscriptions 11. Nataraja: A World View 12. Temple Construction and Nataraja: Centemporary Times 13. Continuum 14. Shiva Tanadava Stuti
DESCRIPTION
One of the most significant contributions of India to world culture is its conceptualization of the Universe, which incorporates the physical, social and spiritual aspects of reality. This paper Nataraja: The Divine Dance of the Cosmos explores the symbolism of the great iconic God of the Hindu Pantheon from the point of view of various traditions of Indian thought, its underlying philosophy and symbolism, including the theory of dance, architecture and sculpture. Covering among others the great Nataraja temple in Chidambaram to the most recent temple in Samabula Shiv Mandir, Suva, Fiji, Yogaville USA and one near Pondicherry on the seashore based on Literary typographical and empirical evidence. And the recent discovery of Fouth Century BC, Prakrit Ashokanbrahmin script with reference to Lord Adinath at Varanasi. Nataraja dynamic presence coalesces myth and movement. The movement is form outer to the inner. It ranges over the very core of Indian understanding of the relationship of the spirit and the senses. The Divine Dance epitomizes the ceaseless cycles of creation and destruction without beginning of end. The dance of Shiva as Nataraja the Lord of the Cosmic Dance is eternal and timeless, moving in space and beyond space.
