Nāṭarāja

views updated

Nāṭarāja (Skt., ‘Lord of the dance’). Śiva, the cosmic dancer, especially in the Tāṇḍava dance. His dance manifests creation, sustenance, destruction, balance, and liberation. Śiva as Nāṭarāja appears in his familiar dancing form from the 5th cent. CE onwards, at e.g. Ellora and Elephanta.