abode of Consciousness, which is the heart of man. In other words, only when one
becomes self-realised and experiences the existence of the pure conscious Atma
inside one’s heart, inside one’s inner-self, that he can dance in ecstasy, lost in bliss
and oblivious of the surrounding world.
During this form of cosmic dance that is known as ‘Tandav’ (pronounced as
‘Taan-dav’), Lord Shiva is depicted as having crushed under his feet the demon of
ignorance called ‘Apasmara Purusha’. This demon of ignorance is created when the
creature forgets the truth and reality of his true ‘self’ and that of existence as a whole,
and the killing of this demon stands for overcoming ignorance and its attendent
delusions. One hand is stretched across his chest and points towards the uplifted foot,
indicating the release from earthly bondage of the devotee. The fire represents the
final destruction of creation. But since Lord Shiva is the ‘Maha-Dev’, the great God,
he is simultaneously responsible for bringing to an end this creation as well as
creating it once again.
Therefore, this dance of the Nataraj is also an act of creation whereby the Lord
arouses dormant energies and scatters the ashes of the universe in a pattern that will
form the design, the contours and the texture of the ensuing creation.]Hkk¡x /krwj vgkj Nkj yiVkofgaA
tksxh tfVy ljks"k Hkksx ufga HkkofgaAA51AA
lqeqf[k lqykspfu gj eq[k iap frykspuA
ckenso Qqj uke dke en ekspuAA52AA
bhām̐ga dhatūra ahāra chāra lapaṭāvahiṁ.
jōgī jaṭila sarōṣa bhōga nahiṁ bhāvahiṁ. 51.
sumukhi sulōcani hara mukha pan̄ca tilōcana.
bāmadēva phura nāma kāma mada mōcana. 52.
51-52. ‘Bhang-Dhatura (an intoxicating hemp; Cannabis Sativa or Tetrahydro
Cannabinols) are his staple food. He smears ash on his whole body. He is a difficult
(stern) Yogi (ascetic) by nature as he is difficult to please because he has no
attachment towards anything in this world and lives a dertached life of renunciation
and dispassion. He is not concerned with anyone, nor bothers to please anyone. He is
inclined to be angry and wrathful at the least provocation (especially when his
meditation and contemplation are disturbed). And he does not like enjoying material
objects, pleasures and comforts of this world. [Well, as an ascetic, these are natural
traits. (51)
You have a beautiful face and enchanting eyes, but he has five faces and three
eyes! His name is ‘Bamdeo’ (because it literally means someone who lives an
unconventional way of life). He is the crusher or vanquisher of the pride, ego,
arrogance and haughtiness of Kamdeo-cupid (the patron God of love and passions).
[The five heads of Shiva stand for the ‘Panch Vyom’ or the five forms that the
sky element is said to have. According to Vedanta, the concept of the sky or ‘Akash’
has many connotations. According to one interpretation, there are five subtle skies
representing the space surrounding the five sheaths or Koshas present in the body of a
creature. They are the sheaths that surround the Atma and are called ‘Panch Akash’.
These are the following—(1) the Food Sheath called Anna Maye Kosh; (2) the Vital
Air Sheath called Pran Maye Kosh; (3) the Mental Sheath called Manomaye Kosh; (4)
the Intelluctual Sheath called Vigyan Maye Kosh; and (5) the Bliss Sheath called
Anand Maye Kosh. Refer—Mudgal Upanishad, 4/5 of the Rig Veda.