balletmama Posted February 26, 2003 Share Posted February 26, 2003 Maybe many people -- especially on this board -- already know this, but I just found out today, and I thought it might be of interest on this board. In Hinduism, one of the manifestation of the god Shiva is Natraj or Nataraja, the god of dance who dances the universe into existence. Here is a link to a fairly simplistic site about Nataraja; I like the image, which most of us have seen for years but which I never had a name for before: http://www.indianartcraft.com/shiva-king-of-dancer.htm I am not proselytizing, by the way! Am not a Hindu -- obviously, since I only just found out about this major god -- but am interested in symbols. I love the image of a deity who continually sustains all of creation by dancing. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted February 26, 2003 Share Posted February 26, 2003 That's OK - Diaghilev wasn't a Hindu either, and he produced "Le Dieu Bleu" for Nijinsky as Shiva. Unfortunately this work of "Golden Age" Fokine now seems to be lost, more's the pity. Link to comment
Mary J Posted February 26, 2003 Share Posted February 26, 2003 It is my understanding, though, that Shiva also dances all life out of existence, so he is sometimes considered the god of both creation and destruction. Like a lot of religion, life is seen as cyclical, so it makes sense that both birth and death are governed by the same deity. Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted February 26, 2003 Share Posted February 26, 2003 The Destroyer God is Kali, sometimes portrayed as a woman and Shiva's consort. Link to comment
Mary J Posted February 27, 2003 Share Posted February 27, 2003 I thought Kali was the god of red paint who wanted the sacrificial ring from Ringo in HELP! - but seriously, if you look at most dancing shiva statues, he is circled by flames because the fire that creates and purifies also destroys. (I actually know more about the elephant god, but no one ever suggested he was a dancer!) Link to comment
Mary J Posted February 27, 2003 Share Posted February 27, 2003 I went back on the Indian art site posted by Balletmomma and much to my suprise there is a painting of Ganesha, the elephant god, a story of his dancing, and a painting of him in a position that approximates sur le cou pied! Brahma says to him "Surely you are a son of Shiva! . . . You will be known by people as the Master of the Dance. All who perform this art in town and in city, in temple and in court, must first invoke your blessing." So I stand corrected! Link to comment
balletmama Posted February 27, 2003 Author Share Posted February 27, 2003 No body type requirements in the Hindu theology of dancing, I guess. ;) Link to comment
Mary J Posted February 27, 2003 Share Posted February 27, 2003 No body type requirements, but four arms must be tough when it comes to port de bras! Link to comment
Mme. Hermine Posted February 27, 2003 Share Posted February 27, 2003 Actually I always thought Kali had 8 arms, and in fact the original title for the Beatles' Help! was "Eight Arms to Hold You". "Say no more. I can say no more." Link to comment
Mel Johnson Posted February 28, 2003 Share Posted February 28, 2003 That's what bugged me about Lord of the Dance. Now if Michael Flatley had worn an elephant mask.... Link to comment
Mary J Posted February 28, 2003 Share Posted February 28, 2003 Mme. Hermine - you're right, Kali has eight (you do know your Beatles stuff!) but Ganesha has four, representing his four particular areas of expertise, including writing. Link to comment
Recommended Posts