King (
raja) of the dance (
nata). Expression for
Shiva as lord of the worldplay. In his cosmic dance he displays his five activities: creation, maintenance, destruction, embodiment and liberation.
In the pictures of Nataraja one of Shiva's feet stands on the demon Apasmarapurusha, the embodiment of disbelief and worldliness; the other, uplifted foot symbolizes divine grace. The dance may be interpreted on an individual, and a cosmic plane. The circle of flames, in which Nataraja is dancing, is the expression of cosmic energies.
A
murti of Nataraja.