Immortals of Meluha

Shiva folded his hands into a namaste, bent low and said, ‘Guruji, could you just give me a
minute please? I need to prepare for the dance.’
Dancing was something Shiva knew as well as warfare. Facing east, he closed his eyes and
bowed his head slightly. Then he bent down on his knees and reverentially touched the ground
with his head. Standing up, he turned his right foot outwards. Then he raised his left leg off the
floor in a graceful arching movement till the foot was above knee height, as he bent his right
knee slightly to balance himself. His left foot pointed in a direction exactly between the bearing
of his right foot and his face. Only a calm breeze broke the almost deathly silence that
enveloped the audience. The Guruji, Sati and Krittika looked in amazement at Shiva. They did
not understand what he was doing but could feel the energy that Shiva’s stance was emanating.
Shiva raised both his arms in an elegant circular movement to the sides to bring them in line
with his shoulder. His right hand was moulded into a position like it was holding an imaginary
dumru, a small, handheld percussion instrument. His left hand was open with its palm facing
upward, almost like it was receiving some divine energy. He held this pose for some time; as
his glowing face showed that Shiva was withdrawing into his own world. Then his right hand
moved effortlessly forward, almost as if it had a mind of its own. Its palm was now open and
facing the audience. Somehow, the posture seemed to convey a feeling of protection to a very
surprised Sati. His left arm then moved slowly from its shoulder height position to come in front
of him with the palm facing down. The left arm stopped moving when the hand was pointing
almost directiy at the left foot. Shiva held this pose for some time. And then began the dance.
Sati stared in wonder at Shiva. He was performing the same steps as her. Yet it looked like
a completely different dance. His hands moved effortlessly as his body moved almost
magically.
How could a body this muscular also be so flexible? The Guruji tried helplessly to get his
dhol to give Shiva the beats. But clearly that wasn’t necessary. For it was Shiva’s feet which
were leading the beat for the dhol!
The dance conveyed the various emotions of a woman. At the beginning it conveyed her
feelings of joy and lust as she cavorted with her husband. Then it conveyed her fury and pain on
the wrongful death of her mate. Even with Shiva’s rough masculine body, he managed to
convey the tender yet strong emotions of a grieving woman.
Shiva’s eyes were open. But the audience realised that he was oblivious to them. Shiva was
in his own world. He did not dance for the audience. He did not dance for appreciation. He did
not dance for the music. He danced only for himself. Rather, it almost seemed like his dance
was guided by a celestial force. Sati realised that Shiva was right. He had opened himself and
the dance had come to him.
After what seemed like an eternity the dance came to an end, with Shiva firmly shutting his
eyes. He held the final pose for a long time as the glow slowly left him. It was almost like he
was returning to this world. Shiva gradually opened his eyes to find Sati, Krittika and the Guruji
gaping at him in complete awe.
The Guruji was the first to find his voice. ‘Who are you?’
‘I am Shiva.’
‘No, no. Not the body. I meant who are you?’
Shiva crooked his eyes together in a frown and repeated, ‘I am Shiva.’
‘Guruji, may I ask a question?’ asked Sati.
‘Of course you may.’