#162: Nataraja, India's new diplomatic symbol
Everything has a reason (3.5 mins read)
G20 is the circle of the world.
At Bharat Mandapam, India is using great symbolic reference to host the 'world’
How?
Nataraja's outer circle resembles "circle of the world"
Nataraja fills & over steps this circle! (just like India's diplomatic ambition🇮🇳😉)
Know story here
The iconic Nataraja is inspired by the idols at three Chola temples🛕
• Thillai Nataraja Temple of Chidambaram
• Uma Maheswarar Temple of Konerirajapuram
• Brihadeeswara temple of Thanjavur
But what's story of Nataraja origin?🤔
Lord Shiva, the Mahakala (death & time) is believed to be a great ascetic and patron of ascetics.
He invented 108 different dances, some calm and gentle while others fierce.
What does it symbolize?🙏🏻
The Nataraja represents interplay of both energies: dynamic & static
It holds five principles of eternal energy👇🏻
Creation, preservation, destruction, illusion and emancipation
The Cosmic Circle, or the circle of the world, is known as the prabha mandala. This circle symbolizes the cyclic nature of creation & destruction
Dancing Pose is where the Ananda Tandava (dance of bliss) reflects balance of life
The Nataraja crushes a dwarf of illusion Apasmara under his feet while holding a dumroo and flame in his top two hands
Dumroo is sound of creation while the frame is power of destruction, the circle of life, you see? 👀
The majestic lord holds Ganga and crescent to represent the flow of knowledge as the moon is all about cyclic nature of time
Top all of it with a raised hand in abhaya mudra of protection; a perfect combination of the safe and evil, all in one.
The Nataraja form is a representation of profound philosophical and cosmic truths.
A symbol of the eternal rhythm of the universe, the dance of creation and destruction, and the balance of opposing forces. (just like India's diplomatic ambition)
Read this story for the first time?
Hi, at @CSEWhy I invite you to support me! You can do that in three simple ways:
Become a blog contributor and have your write ups featured on my blog. Write me an email if you’d want to be a contributor at whycse@gmail.com
Share the link to this post on your WhatsApp story
-OR- Contribute a small amount (Pay What You Want) by clicking here
(I send a valuable gift to everyone who makes a contribution)
To find links to my Twitter, Telegram, YouTube and Podcast Visit my Website
