"Shiva Nataraja - Lord of the Dance." Each of the Gods represent one aspect of Brahman. The god usually wears only a short dhoti which is tied around his waist with a sash. what is shiva nataraja responsible for doing bringing to life the endless of cycle of birth and rebirth, stamping out evil and ignorance, balancing contradictory qualities like creation and destruction, dancing the world into existence Read more about the Vishuddhi Chakra and Shiva’s Blue Throat. It is an epithet, an aspect and a form of Lord Shiva as the cosmic dancer of the whole creation in his role as the creator, preserver, destroyer, concealer and revealer. dancing the world into existence, balancing contradictory qualities, for example creation and destruction, bringing to life the endless cycle of birth and rebirth. It is an image seen in museums, temples, restaurants, and esoteric shops across the world, and it is wonderfully rich in iconography and hidden meaning. In this remarkably standardized form, the god is shown dancing within a flaming halo (prabha mandala) which represents Time and which is shown as a circle to symbolize the Hindu belief that it is both cyclical and without end. [29] Nataraja is also shown with his wife Parvati as they dance together. Shivaling literally means the body of Shiva. Shiva dances flamboyantly and gracefully and yet somehow appear completely normal given the situation. The fire represents the energy that is responsible for creation and also the dissolution of the worlds at the end of creation. [16] Padma Kaimal questions some of these interpretations by referring to a 10th-century text and Nataraja icons, suggesting that the Nataraja statue may have symbolized different things to different people or in different contexts, such as Shiva being the lord of cremation or as an emblem of Chola dynasty. This license lets others remix, tweak, and build upon this content non-commercially, as long as they credit the author and license their new creations under the identical terms. [25] Natesa (IAST: Naṭeśa) is another alternate equivalent term for Nataraja found in 1st-millennium sculptures and archeological sites across the Indian subcontinent. Pieter Claesz made which of the following types of artworks? His long, matted tresses, are shown to be loose and flying out in thin strands during the dance, spread into a fan behind his head, because of the wildness and ecstasy of the dance. [14], Nataraja is celebrated in 108 poses of Bharatanatyam, with Sanskrit inscriptions from Natya Shastra, at the Nataraja temple in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. Blessings of Worshipping Lord Nataraja . Shiva also wears jewellery – necklaces, armlets, and anklets. Carmel Berkson, Wendy Doniger, George Michell, "If this is Citambaram-Nataraja, then where is Tillai-Kūttaṉ? [26], The dance of Shiva in Tillai, the traditional name for Chidambaram, forms the motif for all the depictions of Shiva as Nataraja. Bibliography [5][6] Archaeological discoveries have yielded a red Nataraja sandstone statue, from 9th to 10th century from Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, now held at the Gwalior Archaeological Museum. [8][16], Nataraja is a well known sculptural symbol in India and popularly used as a symbol of Indian culture,[17][18] in particular as one of the finest illustrations of Hindu art. [28], According to Alice Boner, the historic Nataraja artworks found in different parts of India are set in geometric patterns and along symmetric lines, particularly the satkona mandala (hexagram) that in the Indian tradition means the interdependence and fusion of masculine and feminine principles. Even more prominent is the figure of Ganga, the personification of the river Ganges, who, according to Hindu mythology, was brought gently from the heavens down to earth in the god's hair. The dancing Shiva became a part of Chola era processions and religious festivals, a practice that continued thereafter. Each Hindu God of the trimurti of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva are each part of the godhead and each are responsible for one aspect of him. Ancient History Encyclopedia Limited is a non-profit company registered in the United Kingdom. Conversely, in Shiva's upper left hand he holds agni, the divine fire, which will destroy the universe. [16], The form is known as Nataraja in Tamil Nadu and as Narteśvara (also written Nateshwar[23]) or Nṛityeśvara in North India, with all three terms meaning "Lord of the dance". a. The dance the smiling Shiva is performing is the Tandava, the cosmic dance which both creates and destroys the universe. In 2004, a 2m statue of the dancing Shiva was unveiled at CERN, the European Center for Research in Particle Physics in Geneva. [35], An essential significance of Shiva's dance at Tillai, the traditional name of Chidambaram, can be explained as:[36], Nataraja, states James Lochtefeld, symbolizes "the connection between religion and the arts", and it represents Shiva as the lord of dance, encompassing all "creation, destruction and all things in between". Creating a Shrine to Lord Shiva Get a sitting Shiva for a calm shrine. The symbolism in the art has been variously interpreted by scholars since the Chola empire era:[7][16][30], The above interpretations of symbolism are largely based on historic Indian texts published in and after 12th-century, such as Unmai Vilakkam, Mummani Kovai, Tirukuttu Darshana and Tiruvatavurar Puranam. Ancient History Encyclopedia. Literary evidences shows that the bronze representation of Shiva's ananda-tandava appeared first in the Pallava period between 7th century and mid-9th centuries CE. Very rarely we come across his images in the sanctum sanctorum of any Shiva temple. [38], Nataraja is a significant visual interpretation of Brahman and a dance posture of Shiva. The cobra motif is repeated and hangs slain from Shiva's right arm. A Shivaling is usually a round or cylindrica… The figure of Shiva Nataraja has become perhaps the most widespread icon of Hinduism, and the bronze sculptures are still produced today in parts of southern India and especially around Chidambaram where ancient legend tells that Shiva once performed his dance of creation and destruction in a grove of tillai trees. On his right side, meshed in with one of the flying strands of his hair near his forehead, is typically the river, Four-armed figures are most typical, but ten-armed forms are also found from various places and periods, for example the, The upper right hand holds a small drum shaped like an hourglass that is called a, A cobra uncoils from his lower right forearm, while his palm shows the, The lower left hand is bent downwards at the wrist with the palm facing inward, we also note that this arm crosses Naṭarāja’s chest, concealing his heart from view. The flames of the ring sprout from the mouths of makaras or mythical sea creatures shown at the base of the sculpture. The triumvirate consists of three gods who are responsible for the creation, upkeep and destruction of the world. [2][12] He is surrounded by a ring of flames, standing on a lotus pedestal, lifting his left leg (or in rare cases, the right leg) and balancing / trampling upon a demon shown as a dwarf (Apasmara or Muyalaka[3]) who symbolizes ignorance. If one has the ability to place the statue in the northeastern corner of a garden etc, then do … True or false: artists have often been influenced by scientific discoveries. Nataraja form of Shiva is a very popular deity, worshipped with intense fervor all over the country. How do practitioners cultivate mental calm in the Japanese zen garden? His dance is called Tandavam or Nadanta, depending on the context of the dance. Accordingly in this cosmic dance of Shiva, called Ananda Tandava, meaning, “the Dance of Bliss”, the Nataraja is represented in his triple role as Creator, Preserver and Destroyer and also symbolize the daily rhythm of birth and death. The beat of the drum is also considered to provide the heartbeat of the cosmos, the maya. His dance is called Tandavam or Nadanta, depending on the context of the dance. While Shiva is the Adiguru, the one who makes him speak and distributes knowledge is Parvati. The ring is more arch-like in the first bronze sculptures, as can be seen in one of the earliest surviving, the c. 875 CE sculpture within the Shiva temple at Nallur near Tanjavur. It is normally called as the cosmic dance. Sometimes the god's hair is topped with a fan of konnai leaves. In the positive sense he shreds the negative ideas and gives way to positive and the creative once. Where is the Japanese zen garden (4.3.12) located? > In God's endless dance of creation, preservation, destruction, and paired graces is hidden a deep understanding of our universe. What is Shiva Nataraja responsible for doing? Typically, the two ends of the sash billow to the god's dancing movement and reach out to join the ring of fire. The temple has mythical roots and a Shiva shrine existed at the site when the town was known as Thillai. Next to the symbol of AUM, it is perhaps the most potent, powerful and popular sacred symbol in Hinduism, which is worshipped, meditated upon and worn on the body by many devotees. If Shiva as Nataraja does Tandava (dance), Parvati as Shivakamasundari does Laasya (the expressions behind the dance). In Tamil, he is also known as “Sabesan” (Tamil: சபேசன்) which splits as “Sabayil aadum eesan” (Tamil: சபையில் ஆடும் ஈசன்) which means “The Lord who dances on the dais”. Shiva's right foot is shown stamping on the dwarf figure Apasmara Purusha, who holds a cobra and who represents illusion and ignorance, leading humanity away from truth. Ancient History Encyclopedia. www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/hinduism/deities/shiva.shtml Especially, it can be said about Shiva Nataraja or God of Dance. Lord Shiva can be depicted in … Nataraja is perfectly ok outside; although it is a tad unorthodox. She asks questions and Shiva responds with answers and solutions to those questions. Ancient History Encyclopedia, 08 Sep 2015. [37] The Nataraja iconography incorporates contrasting elements,[17] a fearless celebration of the joys of dance while being surrounded by fire, untouched by forces of ignorance and evil, signifying a spirituality that transcends all duality. Nataraja – Shiva as the Cosmic Dancer Ancient History Encyclopedia. A) dancing the world into existence B) balancing contradictory qualities, for example creation and destruction C) bringing to life the endless of cycle of birth and rebirth D) stamping out evil and ignorance E) all of the other answers [47], The oldest free-standing stone sculptures of Nataraja were built by Chola queen Sembiyan Mahadevi. The metaphor of the cosmic dance thus unifies ancient mythology, religious art and modern physics. [41] The Asanapat inscription also mentions a Shiva temple in the Saivacaryas kingdom. The pose and artwork is described in many Hindu texts such as the Anshumadbhed agama and Uttarakamika agama, the dance relief or idol featured in all major Hindu temples of Shaivism. In later sculptures Shiva also wears a bell around his standing leg. Generally, Lord Shiva is shown dancing with a hand holding damru (drum) in the Abhaya mudra. The symbol of matted hair is that Shiva is the Lord of Wind or Vayu, that every … What is Shiva Nataraja responsible for doing? Zen dry gardens are designed to be a microcosm of the larger earthly landscape. Nataraja is most often depicted through a statue. Tribhanga is the dance that is commonly used in the traditional India culture and art. He compiles all, and delivers his blessings. The greatest of Nataraja temples is in Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu, which also represents one of the five fundamental elements that make up the universe - the ‘space’. What is Shiva Nataraja responsible for doing? All the karmas done by man in the past, and those that he is doing now or will be doing in the future are all taken into account and paid back using the trident by Shiva. He holds an MA in Political Philosophy and is the Publishing Director at AHE. Cartwright, Mark. Mark is a history writer based in Italy. Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization. The image of Shiva as Nataraja was especially popular in the Chola period, when craftsmen produced large quantities of the figure sculpture in bronze and, measuring up to 1.4 metres in height, they were often carried in religious processions and festivals to represent the god. [7][13] The dynamism of the energetic dance is depicted with the whirling hair which spread out in thin strands as a fan behind his head. First, it is seen as the image of his rhythmic or musical play which is the source of all movement within the universe. Gravity is the most familiar of forces, it is what keeps us from flying off the face of the earth, and is responsible for maintaining order in the universe, as it were. ahh! Secondly, the purpose of his dance is to release the souls of all men from the snare of illusion. all of the other answers. The details in the Nataraja artwork have attracted commentaries and secondary literature such as poems detailing its theological significance. If Shiva is yogi, Parvati becomes yogini. Early examples can be identified by the straightened sides of the ring of fire, as mentioned above, but also by the absence of Ganga and the fact the individual flames have only three points. The history of Pattadakal goes back to a time when it was called... Ganesha (also known as Ganesa or Ganapati) is one of the most important... Thanjavur (Tanjavur or Tanjore) is a temple site in the Tamil Nadu... Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. all of the other answers. [27], The two most common forms of Shiva's dance are the Lasya (the gentle form of dance), associated with the creation of the world, and the Tandava (the vigorous form of dance), associated with the destruction of weary worldviews—weary perspectives and lifestyles. [34] In contrast, Sharada Srinivasan questions the link to Chola, and has presented archaeological evidence suggesting that Nataraja bronzes and dancing Shiva artwork in South India was a Pallava innovation, tracing back to 7th to 9th-centuries, and its symbolism should be pushed back by a few centuries. [citation needed], As the Lord of Dance, Nataraja, Shiva performs the Ananda Tandava (dance of bliss), the dance in which the universe is created, maintained, and dissolved. Brahma is the creator and creates all things in the cosmos. Ryoan-ji, Kyoto. Last modified September 08, 2015. Shiva is represented in a variety of forms: in a pacific mood with his consort Parvati and son Skanda, as the cosmic dancer (Nataraja), as a naked ascetic, as a mendicant beggar, as a yogi, as a Dalit (formerly called untouchable) accompanied by a dog (Bhairava), and as the androgynous union of Shiva and his consort in one body, half-male and half-female (Ardhanarishvara). Nataraja (Sanskrit: Lord of Dance) 100% symbolism of religion, art and science merged as one. [19][20], The word Nataraja is a Sanskrit term, from नट Nata meaning "act, drama, dance" and राज Raja meaning "king, lord"; it can be roughly translated as Lord of dance or King of dance. [4], The classical form of the depiction appears in stone reliefs, as at the Ellora Caves and the Badami Caves, by around the 6th century. It is an image seen in museums, temples, restaurants, and esoteric shops across the world, and it is wonderfully rich in iconography and hidden meaning. https://www.ancient.eu/article/831/. The term Nataraja means the representation of Shiva during the performance of his “dance of furious bills”.Shiva Nataraja is depicted in a pose called “tribhanga”. Submitted by Mark Cartwright, published on 08 September 2015 under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike. Shiva takes on the destructive aspect of Brahman. The northeastern shastu vastra rule is really more of a guideline. [5][6] Around the 10th century, it emerged in Tamil Nadu in its mature and best-known expression in Chola bronzes, of various heights typically less than four feet,[7] some over. fleeting nature of life What is Shiva Nataraja responsible for doing? For only $5 per month you can become a member and support our mission to engage people with cultural heritage and to improve history education worldwide. a Dancing the world into existence b Balancing contradictory qualities, like creation and destruction c Bringing to life the endless of cycle of birth and rebirth d Stamping out evil and ignorance e All of the answers. His special interests include pottery, architecture, world mythology and discovering the ideas that all civilizations share in common. [54], Though named "Nataraja bronzes" in Western literature, the Chola Nataraja artworks are mostly in copper, and a few are in brass, typically cast by the cire-perdue (lost-wax casting) process. This page was last edited on 2 February 2021, at 14:22. NATARAJA he is. As a creator he creates, upholds and also destroys the worlds. [7] His body, fingers, ankles, neck, face, head, ear lobes and dress are shown decorated with symbolic items, which vary with historic period and region. Shiva, as many other important Hindu gods, is a complex character with a myriad of traits, sometimes seemingly in conflict with each other. All these expressions of Shiva’s character as NATARAJA, Dakshinamurthy, Rudra, etc are distributaries to a huge river called “Shiva- the Lord who is the closest divinity can get to humanity”. Shiva is providing his own music, as in his upper right hand he holds a small drum – the damaru (usually taking the shape of an hour-glass) – which provides not only rhythm but also reminds that it was this drum which made the first sounds of the creation. CERN has Nataraja statue (which is Shiva in his brahmandanrityam stance) Brahmandam means Universe, nrityam means Dance. For Archaeological ruins in Bangladesh, see. The dance of Shiva in Tillai, the traditional name for Chidambaram, forms the motif for all the depictions of Shiva as Nataraja. Cite This Work Shiva Nataraja (Lord of the Dance)by Peter F (CC BY-SA). Sadhguru explains the symbol of Shiva being depicted with a blue throat, revealing how a certain dimension of the energy body called the vishuddhi chakra is located at the pit of the throat and is responsible for filtering out harmful influences. All the three forms of time, assimilate into the trident of Shiva. [42] Nataraja gained special significance and became a symbol of royalty in Tamil Nadu. Nataraja holds a tongue of flame in his upper left hand. Shiva is a complex character with a myriad of traits, sometimes seemingly in conflict with each other. [9][10][11], The sculpture is symbolic of Shiva as the lord of dance and dramatic arts,[9] with its style and proportions made according to Hindu texts on arts. [49], The largest Nataraja statue is in Neyveli, in Tamil Nadu. The dance the smiling Shiva is performing is the Tandava, the cosmic dance which both creates and destroys the universe. A) dancing the world into existence B) balancing contradictory qualities, for example creation and destruction C) bringing to life the endless of cycle of birth and rebirth D) stamping out evil and ignorance E) all of the other answers. Shiva as a dancing figure first appeared in Indian stone temple sculpture in the 5th and 6th century CE, and it was not until the 10th century CE that the now familiar free-standing sculptural representation, typically in bronze, became standard. The slightly smiling face of Shiva represents his calmness despite being immersed in the contrasting forces of universe and his energetic dance. This form is present in most Shiva temples, and is the prime deity in the Nataraja Temple at Chidambaram. Matted Hair / Jata. License. Some Rights Reserved (2009-2021) under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license unless otherwise noted. Cartwright, M. (2015, September 08). The great Hindu god Shiva has many guises and many representations in art, but perhaps the most familiar is as a dancing figure within a circle of fire, that is as Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the Dance. [42], Stone reliefs depicting the classical form of Nataraja are found in numerous cave temples of India, such as the Ellora Caves (Maharashtra), the Elephanta Caves, and the Badami Caves (Karnataka), by around the 6th century. Cartwright, Mark. 12 Feb 2021. Shiva's lower right hand makes the abhaya mudra gesture of blessing which calms all fear, and the lower left arm sweeps across his torso with the hand pointing to his left foot in the gesture of gaja hasta, symbol of salvation and liberation. true. Shiva in sanskrit means “the auspicious”. Eventually, though, a perfect circle becomes the norm. In other words he is responsible for the changes in the form of death and dissolution. We have also been recommended for educational use by the following publications: Ancient History Encyclopedia Foundation is a non-profit organization registered in Canada. Related Content [8] Nataraja reliefs are found in historic settings in many parts of South East Asia such as Ankor Wat, and in Bali, Cambodia, and central Asia. realistic and still-life paintings. Shiva Natarajaby Jean-Pierre Dalbéra (CC BY). The energy and wildness of the dance is shown in his bent knees and the extravagant spreading of the god's hair. dancing world into existence, balancing contradictory qualities, bringing to life the endless cycle of birth and rebirth True or false: artists have often been influenced by scientific discoveries. [21][22] According to Ananda Coomaraswamy, the name is related to Shiva's fame as the "Lord of Dancers" or "King of Actors". Nataraja Temple, also referred to as the Chidambaram Nataraja temple or Thillai Nataraja temple, is a Hindu temple dedicated to Nataraja – Shiva as the lord of dance – in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, India. [7] It typically shows Shiva dancing in one of the Natya Shastra poses, holding Agni (fire) in his left back hand, the front hand in gajahasta (elephant hand) or dandahasta (stick hand) mudra, the front right hand with a wrapped snake that is in abhaya (fear not) mudra while pointing to a Sutra text, and the back hand holding a musical instrument, usually a damaru. ...symbolism. An Introspective Reading of Tēvāram Hymns", Shiva as Lord of the Dance (Nataraja), Chola period, c. 10th/11th century, "Shiva Nataraja: A Study in Myth, Iconography, and the Meaning of a Sacred Symbol", "A journey to the past with dancing Shiva", Shiva Nataraja: Shifting Meanings of an Icon, Sharada Srinivasan, "Shiva as 'cosmic dancer': on Pallava origins for the Nataraja bronze", "Shiva's Cosmic Dance at CERN | Fritjof Capra", Śiva's Dance: Iconography and Dance Practice in South and Southeast Asia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Nataraja&oldid=1004420100, Articles with dead external links from July 2017, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles having same image on Wikidata and Wikipedia, Articles containing Sanskrit-language text, Instances of Lang-sa using second unnamed parameter, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2018, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, He dances within a circular or cyclically closed arch of flames (. Free. But, in the Nataraja statue, Lord Shiva represents the core of all major developments responsible for the existence of the universe.Placing a Nataraja statue in a house or office brings happiness & prosperity. In our time, physicists have used the most advanced technology to portray the patterns of the cosmic dance. [2][4], A damaged 6th-century Nataraja, Elephanta Caves[55], 6th-century Nataraja in Cave 21, Ellora Caves[5], 8th-century Nataraja in Kailasa temple (Cave 16), Ellora Caves, Ithyphallic 8th-century sandstone Nataraja from Madhya Pradesh, Sukanasa with Shiva Nataraja in Pattadakal, Karnataka, The oldest known Tamil bronze Nataraja, 800 AD, British Museum[56], Shiva-Nataraja in the Thousand-Pillar-Hall of Meenakshi Temple in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, In the Shiva temple of Melakadambur is a rare Pala image that shows the ten-armed Nataraja dancing on his bull, Nandi, Modern statue gifted by India at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland, In modern yoga as exercise, Natarajasana is a posture resembling Nataraja and named for him in the 20th century. "Shiva Nataraja - Lord of the Dance." [8][16] It is one of the widely studied and supreme illustrations of Hindu art from the medieval era. Nataraja (Sanskrit: नटराज) means king or lord of the dance. [48], The depiction was informed of cosmic or metaphysical connotations is also argued on the basis of the testimony of the hymns of Tamil saints. He is also known as “Sabesan” which splits as “Sabayil aadum eesan” in … The word "Nataraja" means the king of dance. by raking the gravel regularly It represents tirodhāna, which means “occlusion, concealment.”, The face shows two eyes plus a slightly open third on the forehead, which symbolize the triune in, The dwarf upon whom Nataraja dances is the demon. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms. [14][15] The details in the Nataraja artwork have been variously interpreted by Indian scholars since the 12th century for its symbolic meaning and theological essence. [50], In the contemporary Hindu culture of Bali in Indonesia, Siwa (Shiva) Nataraja is the god who created dance. What is Shiva Nataraja responsible for doing? His legs are bent, which suggests an energetic dance. [58], Nataraja pose in Bharatanatyam classical Indian dance, Hindu God Shiva depicted as Lord of Dance, "Nateshwar" redirects here. Nataraja (Tamil: நடராஜர்), (Sanskrit: नटराज, romanized: Naṭarāja) is a depiction of the Hindu god Shiva as the divine dancer. Shiva is also seen often in a peaceful mood together with his wife Parvati, as a nude ascetic, like a beggar, as Nataraja the extraterrestrial dancer, as the Dhakshinamurthy yogi, and also as the partly female and partly male unification of Shiva together with … The king of expression. [24] Narteśvara stems from Nṛtta same as Nata which means "act, drama, dance" and Ishvara meaning "lord". [2][3] The pose and artwork is described in many Hindu texts such as the Anshumadbhed agama and Uttarakamika agama, the dance relief or idol featured in all major Hindu temples of Shaivism. Our latest articles delivered to your inbox, once a week: Numerous educational institutions recommend us, including Oxford University and Michigan State University and University of Missouri. [45] In medieval era artworks and texts on dancing Shiva found in Nepal, Assam and Bengal, he is sometimes shown as dancing on his vahana (animal vehicle) Nandi, the bull; further, he is regionally known as Narteshvara. He is responsible of the dynamism in the world. Retrieved from https://www.ancient.eu/article/831/. [51] Siwa and his dance as Nataraja was also celebrated in the art of Java Indonesia when Hinduism thrived there, while in Cambodia he was referred to as Nrittesvara.[52]. The Cosmic Dance of Shiva Lasya Tandava (Nataraja) is a dance of creation and destruction of the universe the two aspect of god Siva ... distances. SYMBOLISM of SHIVA NATARAJA. In almost all the Shiva temples, worship is generally made to Shivalingas only. Shiva's locks also contain a skull, a datura blossom, and a crescent moon which represents the idea that Shiva is ever-present even if sometimes he is not always visible. Web. all of the other answers. Shiva Nataraja - Lord of the Dance. The statue, symbolizing Shiva's cosmic dance of creation and destruction, was given to CERN by the Indian government to celebrate the research center's long association with India. Books The great Hindu god Shiva has many guises and many representations in art, but perhaps the most familiar is as a dancing figure within a circle of fire, that is as Shiva Nataraja, Lord of the Dance. The other two gods are Brahma and … What is Shiva Nataraja responsible for doing? Accordingly, in his guise as Nataraja he is represented in his triple role as Creator, Preserver and Destroyer. [43][44] Similarly, Nataraja artwork has been found in archaeological sites in the Himalayan region such as Kashmir, albeit in with somewhat different dance pose and iconography, such as just two arms or with eight arms.