Shiva

What is going to be
covered?
• Some Important
General Knowledge
• Key ideas of art
• Key ideas of Aesthetics
• Symbolism of the Hindu
Tradition
Who is Siva?
• God Siva is looked upon
-Creator,
-Preserver and
-Destroyer of all existence
-the Cosmic Dancer who animates the universe
from within.
• Siva is everything
 Who is Siva?
• Nataraja
- the greatest of all
dancers
• These dances and the
appearance of Siva
symbolises the key ideas of
art, aesthetics and
symbolism of the Hindu
tradition.
• The Cosmos is his theater -He is
 Key ideas of art
(The three dances)
First dance – Order and
Harmony of the cosmos

Evening dance in
Himalayas with the divine
chorus
Siva is two handed in this
dance.
Cooperation of the gods
clearly indicated in their
position of chorus.
 The second is called
-Tandava and is performed
in cemeteries and burning
grounds. Where Siva is ten
armed, dances wildly. With
Devi with troops of
capering imps.
-the bonding between the
Half god half demon
heavens and earth (the human
world). The Dead and the
Living.
• Thirdly, the Nadanta dance.
• Gods angered amongst
themselves and soon anger
directed to Siva.
• Incantations as a mean of
destroying him.
• But Siva dances and seized
tiger Snake etc
• His mystic dance destroys.

• Third – Death. The Soul.

• He dances with elements (nature)
• His dances with Phusis

He is the life cycle.

He creates, he destroy, he creates,

he destroys and so on.
Destroy – new life – new life destroy
– new life – all creation PROCEEDS
from destruction - death that is.
Aesthetics
• HIS power in mind and matter
• Dance represents his five activities
• Pancakritya viz: Srishti - overlooking
creation and evolution
• Sthiti -Preservation support
• Samhara - Destruction and evolution
• Tirobhavajh - Veiling embodiment
illusion and also giving rest.
• Scatters the darkness of illusion maya
• blurs the thread of causality karma
• stamps down evil mala, anava, avidya.
• showers Grace and lovingly plunges the soul
into the ocean of Bliss
• He removes the sins of man and maintain
order and harmony by removing all
‘darkness’.
 Symbolism in the art of Hindu
tradition
• Just as the fire infuse in the essence and
clearness into the dry wood, so has God
done with man.
• THE SOUL IS WHAT THIS REFERS TO. God
creates
Creation and
arises from the infuses
drum and the soul with man.
protection proceeds from the hand of hope
from fire proceeds destruction the foot held
aloft gives release.

Anugraha release salvation grace

CENTRAL MOTIF OF THE DANCE IS
THIS COSMIC ACTIVITY
Capeare exckhart
 Use picture to illustrate

• This interweaving and interchange

and orderly harmony.
• End~ Much appreciated you are for
your attention =)

Done by
Roy (Sylphine) & Kelvin
(Knein)~