Siva - The cosmic dancer

According to Classical Physics, Newton’s mechanical model views the world as deterministic.  All that transpires in the universe has a definite cause, giving rise to a categorical effect.  The philosophical basis of Classical Physics is a fundamental division between the “I” and the “world,” the dichotomy of the subject and object.  The world is in motion with respect to fixed laws, according to which material points move.  This mechanistic model is adequate for the description of physical phenomena at a submicroscopic level, where essentially, protons, neutrons, and electrons are the material particles that interact with finite space and linear time to effect movement in the world

In 1905, Albert Einstein initiated the two revolutionary trends of thought in the theory of relativity and the beginning of the quantum theory.  (The complete quantum theory was worked out twenty years later by a team of physicists.  In quantum theory one deals with the probability of finding a particle at a given position.  The theory attempts to combine the principles of quantum mechanics with those of relativity in an effort to describe processes such as high-energy collisions in which particles may be created or destroyed).  Even though Einstein refuted classical understanding of the universe, he still advocated nature’s intrinsic harmony and integrated foundation.  The physicist replaced the erroneous constants of the past, showing that they were only relative, but nevertheless made the speed of light a constant in his physics.  He tried to located God’s order in a universal, while through his theory of relativity, constancy of time and space were disproved.  Einstein, therefore, commented that God does not place dice, so that the natural world is comprised of total harmony and order, and nothing is left to chance.

According to the field theory, reality is nothing but the transformation and organization of the field quanta.  Particles are interactions between fields, and are ephemeral manifestations.  They only appear to be substantial as a result of the dynamic, energetic interplay of the quantum fields

All types of particle-pairs are constantly generated and absorbed by the field.  The “dance” of all possible particles, may be regarded as the fundamental activity of Nature so that:

“what was considered to be ’sunya’ (void), vacuum or nothingness before the discovery of relativistic quantum field is now accepted as ‘purna’ (full) or plenum by the quantum physicists

Indian myth

In East Indian mythology and philosophy, the concept of the cosmic dance is very ancient, representing the Eastern mystic’s dynamic view of the universe.  They have used the image of a “dance” to convey their intuition of reality, personified in the form of the cosmic dance of Shiva (or Nataraja).  The word Shiva means “one whose actions are good,” and the name Shiva is considered to be derived from Shankara meaning auspicious and benevolent.

Eastern mysticism recognizes only one Reality as the Transcendent, and yet It is conceived in many forms.  ‘Advaita’ (Non-Dual) Vedanta recognizes Brahman as the Ground of Reality, or  as  the Ultimate Reality whereas the phenomenal world is ultimately unreal (maya or mithya).  The theistic or devotional schools of medieval India accepted God not only as Formless but often worshipped the Lord in many forms.  Therefore, God in Advaitic understanding was Formless and One, a conception that became remote in the myriad forms that many Hindus worshipped in ardent devotion in daily life.  The Hindu tradition tried to synthesize these myriad forms into the Trimurti (the Hindu trinity).  As a coin has two faces, likewise the Divine has three presiding phases, attributes, or deities:  Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (maintainer), and Mahesvara (change, destroyer i.e. Shiva).  The Nataraja concept of Shiva contains simultaneously his creative, sustaining, and destructive activities.  His Nataraja form is consistent with religious, philosophical, and scientific investigation.  Creation and dissolution are taking place each moment and are symbolized by the Rudra-Shiva dance.  The universal dancer is considered to be Nataraja whose dancing creates the outflow and inflow of the universes, and encompasses all with His eternally still presence as a multidimensional aspect of the cosmic dance

In this supreme cosmic dance:

“particles and antiparticles appear from akasa (space; these micro-particles may generate newer particles; the particles dance vigorously, suddenly they appear, transiently they live…then they disappear.  When they disappear they apparently vanish; but they don’t become nothing…

In the beginning, the particles were unmanifest (avyakta), in the middle they become manifest (vyatka), and in the end they become again unmanifest (avyakta).  There is no gain or loss in the whole process, for the cosmic dance is eternal.  Creation and annihilation are merely part of the cosmic dance.  Their difference lies in degrees of subtleties as they alternate from coarse to subtle existence.  The cosmic process of creation, destruction, manifestation and non-manifestation, worldly evolution and change are fundamentals of Shiva’s eternal dance

Shiva’s aureaole of fire (the prabhamandala) represents the rhythm of the universe and emanates from the lotus pedestal, the Hindu symbol of Enlightenment.  Shiva dances on the prostrate form of Apasmargaurusa, a symbol of human ignorance.  The back right hand carries the damaru, a drum symbolizing creation.  The back left hand holds agni, the fire of destruction.  The front left hand carries a disc and is in the yajahasta (elephant trunk) position. The front left hand is in the abhya-mudra pose (pose expressing fearlessness)

Shiva’s dance is further considered to be tandava (energetic).  The foot held aloft signifies release.  His arms are balanced and yet reflect dynamic gestures that express the rhythm and unity of Life.  The balance of the two hands represent the dynamic balance of creation and destruction.  In the centre of the two hands is Shiva’s face, calm and detached, which signifies the transcendence over the polarity inherent in creation and destruction.  Shiva is pictured dancing on the body of a demon who symbolizes human ignorance, which must be conquered before liberation is achieved

Shiva’s dance represents the dynamic flow and ‘dance’ of the universe.  The dancing universe is a ceseless flow of energy going through an infinite variety of patterns, which merge into one another in a dynamic universal interplay.  His dance symbolizes the daily rhythm of birth and death, and the cosmic cycles of creation and destruction.  Shiva is a reminder that the many forms in the world are maya (not constant, but ever-changing), while He is eternally Real as He continually keeps creating and dissolving the forms in the external flow of His dance.