QUES . Discuss the Tandava dance as recorded in the early Indian inscriptions. UPSC 2013 G S MAINS PAPER 1
HINTS:
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.
Ancient Hindu scriptures narrate that 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.
Forms of Tandava
There are two forms of Tandava – the Ananda Tandava and the Rudra Tandava.
Rudra Tandava – Shiva, the God of constructive destruction, transforms into his most vicious form while performing this Tandava. The Rudra Tandava often symbolises the destruction of the cosmos. It also signifies the release of the suppressed anger that germinates within.
Ananda Tandava – is the dance of bliss where the intrinsic nature of Shiva emerges as Shivam where he is in his purest form – Satchidananda. A cause and its effect do not bind this experience of pleasure.
Incidents where Tandava was performed
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).
The dance performed by Shiva’s wife Parvati in response to the Tandava is known as Lasya which is a gentle and graceful dance.
