The Cosmic dance of Lord Shiva. Image Courtesy – Marathi News
Lord Shiva, Mahadev or popularly known as Bholenath is one of the principal deities and is revered as the destroyer as well as transformer with the divine Trinity along with Lord Brahma (The Creator) and Lord Vishnu (The Preserver). Lord Shiva is an assertive symbol of yoga and meditation, embodying spiritual wisdom and cosmic balance. His ‘Third Eye’ (Trinetra) symbolises the balance of opposing forces in the universe. He is also revered as ‘Pashupati’, the lord of animals, signifying his connection to nature and all living beings.
Hindus believe in the divine power of destruction and recreation, which destroys the illusions and imperfections of this world, paving the way for beneficial changes.
The fanatic cosmic dance of Lord Shiva is called ‘Tandav’, and the hymn of praise dedicated to Him in honour of his dance is famous as ‘Shiv Tandav Stotram‘. The amazing description of Shiva was originally composed by Ravan, an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and a complex figure of Hindu mythology who is remembered for his arrogance, ego and above all for his villainous acts in the classical text of ‘The Ramayan’. But on the contrary, Ravan was a great priest, scholar, administrator and great warrior.
Read: The difference between Namah & Swaha in a Mantra
The mythological story evoked that once Ravan attempted to uproot Mount Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva and tried to take it with him to Lanka. Lord Shiva decided to teach Ravan a lesson. He pressed the entire mountain hard with his big toe. Ravan’s hand got crushed under the weight of the Mountain. Ravan could not sustain the unbearable pain and cried out Shiva’s name created in hymns. The hymns were filled with poetic brilliance and deep devotion seeking his forgiveness which in turn came to be known as ‘Shiv Tandav Stotram’. Lord Shiva was very much impressed by Ravan’s devotion and bestowed him with many boons.
The fanatic cosmic dance of Lord Shiva is called ‘Tandav’ and the hymn of praise dedicated to Him in honour of his dance is famous as ‘Shiv Tandav Stotram’. Image Courtesy – PNG Magic
The stotram with 15 quatrains highlights the cosmic dance that eliminates all negative energies. It’s verses describe Lord Shiva’s majestic forms including his ‘Third Eye’, the crescent moon on his head, the serpent around his neck and The Ganga flowing from his head locks. The third verse of this stotram hails Shiva, whose compassionate glance removes all hardship. It offers a timeless message of balance, humility & devotion. This also reminds us that even in moments of despair or arrogance, sincere devotion can lead to divine grace. The Stotram also has the power to uplift the soul and bring peace of mind. The cosmic dance symbolises the eternal cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction, reflecting the dynamic nature of the universe, where destruction paves the way for new creation. The vibration of the stotram eliminates the negative energies, purifying the mind and the surrounding environment.
In this context, a scientific revelation is worth speaking about in this article. In July 2012, in the SERN scientific laboratory, one fundamental atomic particle was invented, which is called ‘Higgs-Boson’ or ‘God’s Particle’ in general nomenclature. The ‘Higgs-Boson’ is considered the root particle of this universe. On the entrance gate of that SERN laboratory, one Shiva idol is depicted in the form of Nataraj. Beneath this idol, there is a famous quotation of the Austrian scientist, Fritjoy Capra – “Science has concluded that the perpetual creation and destruction of the universe is like the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva”.
