his neck and arms suggest the existence of evil in life but yet ultimately incapable of doing any harm. The right leg of Shiva is stamping the evil demon. Apasmara or Muylagan suggests the trampling down of ignorance sin and evil by the Lord. The circular frame of ‘Prabhavali’ of fire (lights) 36 ‘tatva-s’ suggests the vast space and the fullness of the Universe.

The flying hair of Shiva symbolizes the vast expanse of space as He is ‘Vyomakeshi.’ His knot of ‘jatajut’ symbolizes the forest of knowledge. And so goes on-the interpretation of Shiva Nataraja. What a superb creation which envelopes the mundane, the Illusory world and the supreme spirituality. The face of Shiva in this Nadanta figure is every serene and peaceful; who created this? No one knows; May be it is the evolution from the collective activity of many Indian Artists.

The Dance of Nataraja is believed to symbolize the action of Cosmic energy as Creation, preservation and Destruction of the Universe. The ‘purana-s’ say that during these dances the whole congregation of Gods, demigods, and Saints present themselves in order to render their obeisance to Shiva. Shiva is called Sabhapathi, the Lord of the assembly of gods.