Dance is divine, said Bharata Muni, the Master of classical Dance. Bhavananubhavathvam Bharathathvam
The ancient mystics discovered that Man is a miniature Universe. The physicist Fritjof Capra defined the dance of atoms and sub-atomic particles as the dance of Lord Shiva. ” The Cosmic Dance”, he said, ” is the dance of sub-atomic matter” !
All Indian arts manifest the Law of Correspondences. Between Microcosm and Macrocosm, between Man and the Universe. The beauty of the eternal Universe is celebrated in the beauty of the human body. The rhythmic movements of the dancer symbolise the dance of the Universe, by the Lord of Dancers, the Lord Shiva Himself. ” The Dancing Shiva is the dancing Universe” declared Capra !
The Dance of Bliss of Lord Shiva, called Ananda Tandavam, is the manifestation of the Cosmic Energy in five activities
Srushti – Creation, unfolding, pouring forth
Sthithi – Preservation, maintenance
Samhara – Destruction or taking back
Tirobhava – Concealing and hiding the Transcendent Reality
Anugraha – Bestowing Grace
It is He that is immanent in the Play – Himself the Play, Himself the Player, Himself the Playground !
