| As this power
travels up the canal, higher and more wonderful powers of vision and knowledge are gained
till the goal is reached, of union with God. The
whole figure stands on a lotus referred to in connection with Kundalini Sakti. Thus the
dance represents all the five-fold acts of God. The great interpreter of Oriental art,Dr.
Ananda Coomaraswamy, therefore describes the form of Nataraja as the Synthesis of
Religion, Science and Art.
In all the temples of the South, where Nataraja's idol is
worshipped, the left leg is found to be lifted in dancing posture, but
there is an exception to this at Madurai where the right leg
is lifted. The site where Siva danced at Madurai is called
Velliambalam, the Hall of Silver, in contrast to
Ponnambalam-the Hall of Gold-in Chidambaram. |
