Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in early Indian inscriptions.
(100 words, 5M)
According to scholars, characteristics of the Tandava dance have been described in Bharat Muni's Natya Sastra. It is described as a vigorous dance which is the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution.
In South India, religious dancing was part of the earliest known tradition, where Shiva himself is considered to have invented not less than 108 different dances. Some of his dances are calm and gentle while others are fierce, orgastic, heroic, bold, vigorous and terrible-such as the Tandava dance of Nataraja (South India).
Tandava represents Shiva as the Cosmic dancer. It also symbolises the daily rhythm of birth and death. Thus, Tandava dance is meant to give symbolic expression to religious idea of Shiva being the Destroyer among the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.
The dance performed
by Shiva's wife Parvati in response to the Tandava is known as Lasya which is a gentle and graceful dance.
Ancient Hindu scriptures narrate
When Sati jumped in sacrificial fire in Daksha's Yajna to give up her life, Shiva performed the Rudra Tandava to express his grief and anger.
Shiva Pradosha Stotra mentioned that when Shiva performs the Sandhya Tandava, the other Gods like Brahma, Vishnu, Saraswati, Lakshmi and Indra play musical instruments.
The Bhagwat Purana talks of Krishna dancing on the head of the serpent Kaliya in the form of Tandava.
In some temple sculptures, Ganesha is depicted in eight-armed form, dancing the form of Tandava.
According to Jaina texts, Indra performed Tandava in honour of Rishabha's birth (Jaina Tirthankar).
(100 words, 5M)
According to scholars, characteristics of the Tandava dance have been described in Bharat Muni's Natya Sastra. It is described as a vigorous dance which is the source of the cycle of creation, preservation and dissolution.
In South India, religious dancing was part of the earliest known tradition, where Shiva himself is considered to have invented not less than 108 different dances. Some of his dances are calm and gentle while others are fierce, orgastic, heroic, bold, vigorous and terrible-such as the Tandava dance of Nataraja (South India).
Tandava represents Shiva as the Cosmic dancer. It also symbolises the daily rhythm of birth and death. Thus, Tandava dance is meant to give symbolic expression to religious idea of Shiva being the Destroyer among the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.
The dance performed
by Shiva's wife Parvati in response to the Tandava is known as Lasya which is a gentle and graceful dance.
Ancient Hindu scriptures narrate
When Sati jumped in sacrificial fire in Daksha's Yajna to give up her life, Shiva performed the Rudra Tandava to express his grief and anger.
Shiva Pradosha Stotra mentioned that when Shiva performs the Sandhya Tandava, the other Gods like Brahma, Vishnu, Saraswati, Lakshmi and Indra play musical instruments.
The Bhagwat Purana talks of Krishna dancing on the head of the serpent Kaliya in the form of Tandava.
In some temple sculptures, Ganesha is depicted in eight-armed form, dancing the form of Tandava.
According to Jaina texts, Indra performed Tandava in honour of Rishabha's birth (Jaina Tirthankar).